10.11.2023
Despite the help of technology, there are concerns about labour shortages in the sector and the profitability of farming. Can technology and more efficient use of location data be part of the solution?
Courage, technology and (spatial) data is needed for a bright rural future in Finland
There are about 43,000 agricultural and horticultural entrepreneurs in Finland. About 15,000 of them produce 95% of the food consumed by Finns. Some entrepreneurs need only a few tools and support to be successful in terms of using technology. At the other end of the spectrum, there are several high-tech producers who make effective use of automation, robotics and artificial intelligence.
"For example, we have dairy farms where most of the work is done by milking robots, feeding robots and cleaning robots. It is quite common. The use of technology is constantly increasing," says Harri Mäkivuokko, CEO of ProAgria.
Artificial intelligence and robotics are evolutionizing the working day of the farm worker, providing everyday assistance – not a moment too late and partly out of necessity.
“It is already difficult to find labour in agriculture and young people are not interested in working in the sector. It’s the eleventh hour to start using technology to ensure that food can continue to be produced safely and efficiently in Finland,” says Liisa Pesonen from Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).
The need to evolve
In terms of digitalisation, the agricultural sector has taken giant leaps forward. Ten years ago, the Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing were hype, and over the years they have become mainstream.
"It's been quite a change. For example, there is a lot more data available from sensors, and there has been a constant increase in computing power," says Liisa Pesonen.
According to Harri Mäkivuokko, the food sector is a growth sector, and food production in Finland can multiply in the future. One reason for this is climate change. It opens up new opportunities for Finland. According to Mäkivuokko, it is particularly important to give the sector's professionals confidence in the future: now is not the time to give up.
"Farmers are motivated to develop their businesses. Mid-tech farmers can make a real leap to high-tech. Technological innovations will find buyers if they offer ways to make farming more profitable and everyday life easier,” predicts Mäkivuokko.
Liisa Pesonen from Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke).
How could geospatial technology be used?
Geospatial data is a relatively unfamiliar term in the agri-food sector. However, geospatial technologies such as GPS are widely used. There is potential for growth.
According to Mäkivuokko, there is a need for applications that help to see the big picture. The problem at the moment is that there is a lot of data, but it is difficult to put it together in a way that farmers can use.
Farmers could also make better use of the data they collect as a competitive advantage in a tightening market if they had easy ways to do so.
“For example, a farmer could use his own data to calculate a price with and without a carbon footprint and then use the data to support negotiations. Technology could also help the entrepreneur solve scarcity problems. For example, AI could help monitor agricultural side streams and indicate when the market is in need of certain products for sale," says Liisa Pesonen.
- What else do Harri Mäkivuokko and Liisa Pesonen think about the rural future in Finland? The full article has been published in Positio magazine (Positio-magazine.eu). Read the full article: Courage, technology and (spatial) data is needed for a bright rural future in Finland
Do you have an idea for how technology and data can improve the way farms do business? Do you want to learn about funding opportunities, test environments and find partners and networks to support your implementation? Contact the Location Innovation Hub - we coach businesses and public administrations to develop their business using location technologies.
02.11.2023
The University of Helsinki is running a new seminar series called GeoSPA (Space, Place, Analysis). The seminars will feature guest speakers from the top of the geospatial world. On Wednesday 8 November, Dr. Grant McKenzie (Department of Geography, McGill University) will provide a glimpse into the research currently underway at McGill University's Platial Analysis Lab.
17.10.2023
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03.10.2023
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25.09.2023
Want to become a professional drone operator? Learn with the DroneMaster online course, which is free and open to everyone.
21.09.2023
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19.09.2023
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13.09.2023
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