Producer Connectivity Engagement

Summary

Connectivity issues have been identified as a major challenge for the industry and a key limiting factor on productivity increases.

This project extends MLA’s work on connectivity by partnering with March IT to run a series of red meat industry events showcasing connectivity solutions. March IT will engage with producers and discuss current services and working processes, providing insights and thought leadership on end-user solutions.

Objectives

The main objectives of this project were to:

• host a connectivity demonstration showcasing working mobile communications equipment (used in the field)
• demonstrate working solutions and discuss individual producer requirements
• register producers for connectivity evaluation and design studies, and their interest for future innovative R&D investment.

Key findings

The project identified that of the approximately 800 producers that were spoken to, approximately 90% of producers could benefit from improved connectivity. This ranges from the internet service they are currently operating on and/or the distribution of an internet service throughout their property.

Producers need to be able to accurately demonstrate what type of return on investment on telecommunications services will provide for their business so they can justify the costs to increase their connectivity.

Benefits to industry

This project brought information on connectivity solutions directly to producers and will provide a number of opportunities for producers to participate in industry connectivity studies.

Connectivity has been identified as a clear barrier to productivity increases, with a large proportion of producers having limited awareness of connectivity opportunities and corresponding limited plans to invest in communications infrastructure.

This project addresses the gaps in awareness and will attempt to drive interest in the opportunities that telecommunications can provide on farm and to drive adoption of these technologies.

MLA action

Outcomes of the project have demonstrated that the feasibility of local Wi-Fi networks to support the deployment of Digital AG IoT devices and also inform future strategic pathways for Digital Ag projects.

Future MLA research will include quantification of business case value propositions for IoT use cases.