Rural Technology Partnerships Key Theme for MobileTECH

Rural Technology Partnerships Key Theme for MobileTECH

MobileTECH has established itself as a major technology event for New Zealand’s primary industries. Since the inaugural event ran back in 2013, the goal has always been to showcase and promote, direct to the user, the latest mobile technologies designed to enhance the productivity of local farms, crops, orchards and plantations.

“While the event has now seen hundreds of innovations showcased, one trend that has continued to surprise us is just how collaborative the nature of the agri-tech industry really is”, said MobileTECH Programme Manager, Ken Wilson.

Technology partnerships are a key theme in MobileTECH 2016 this year. The programme will feature a number of presenters, including Evelyn Seewald from Fonterra, Sophie Stanley from Figured and Collier Isaacs from FarmIQ, discussing how they’re building effective partnerships to maximise the potential of new operational data being collected from the farm out in the field.

“We have worked with many innovators over the years and it is not uncommon to see technology stalled because large companies refuse to talk to external companies,” said Mr Wilson.

This is certainly not the case with agri-tech developers.

“Many of the primary industry’s best minds meet at MobileTECH each year and this time we have placed a greater focus within the programme on the development community itself,” said Ken Wilson. “The technologies this year on show will not just be benefiting the farmers, but also offer unique opportunities to developers and suppliers as well. It’s about creating a platform for change.”

Today most corporate farms and rural operators run their own R&D teams in close partnership with several mobile technology suppliers at any one time. In this new digital age there are very few ‘one size fits all’ or ‘jack of all trades’ technologies that will ensure success.

It is the partnership of developers, innovators, technologies and users that will drive productivity throughout the primary sector.

With the onset of big data, the Internet of Things, cloud technologies and apps, the industry needs to discuss ground rules on just how that data will be shared and ultimately used. This is the case for each sector. Andrew Cooke from Rezare Systems will ask the hard questions on data ownership, common formatting and sharing externally.

Further information on the MobileTECH 2016 programme, which runs in Rotorua on 30-31 March 2016, can be found on the event website, www.mobiletech.events.

ENDS

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