Harnessing the power of Big Data in Agri-Food supply chains

Big Data has the potential to transform the way we produce, process and manufacture the food of the future.

With recent advances in the technologies used to collect data across the food supply chain, there is an urgent need to harness the power of this information in order to benefit from the new insights, practices and products.

For example, sensors and other connected devices can be deployed to collect data, but challenges can arise when there are issues with data exchange and interoperability between different data sets. Financial and digital economy sectors are showing growing interest in Agri-Food opportunities, with a number of new exciting services and products coming on the market, including insurance and hedging products for risk management, and data analytics services.

Software applications with machine learning could play an important role in collecting, analysing, and integrating data – with the potential to deliver connected information as part of the Internet of Things (IoT) and guide more accurate decision making within the Agri-Food supply chain.

SCI’s Agrisciences Group and the Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) are organising an event, with support from Agrimetrics, on 22nd November in London to focus on key needs of the Agri-Food sector in using data, discuss the existing barriers, and present a number of potential solutions and joint initiatives.

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Speakers

A stimulating programme is being developed, with several industry experts and top innovators already confirmed to speak:

• Unblocking the smart food chain – Andrew Loftus, Commercial Director at Hectare Agritech Ltd
• Decision support in harvesting processes – Thilo Steckel and Robert Fillingham, Claas
• Using Big Data to predict emerging risks in the Agri-Food chain – Paul Brereton, Fera
• Data sharing platforms as part of the Digitisation of European Industry (DEI) strategy – David Bisset, iTechnic
• IoT data acquisition, data modelling to support decision making, and publishing FAIR data to support future grower services – Derek Scuffell, Syngenta
• From insight to action – putting big data in the hands of small businesses – Andrew Fearne, University of East Anglia
• How FSA uses data including data governance and ownership – Dr Sian Thomas, Food Standards Agency

Delegate pitches

• Simon Davis, Agrimetrics
• Professor Simon Pearson, University of Lincoln
• Martin Merry, Epimorphics
• Richard Councel, Stable
• Roeloef Kraemer, Agricompas
• Clive Blacker, Precision Decisions
• Hugh Crabtree, Farmex
• Jonathan Lodge, City Farm Systems
• Sachin Shende, KisanHub

The afternoon session will feature discussion groups aiming to help build connections between the stakeholders, forecast next big developments, and identify ways to reduce barriers for using Big Data in Agri-Food supply chains. Discussion themes will touch on specific opportunities in livestock, arable and horticultural sectors, connectivity across the whole supply chain and retail, and Agriculture 4.0.

Abstract submission is open for a limited number of posters, and there are exhibition and sponsorship opportunities.

You can find out more about the Turning Data into Decisions in AgriFood event on 22nd November in London on the SCI website by clicking here.

If you have a specific enquiry about using data in Agri-Food, please contact KTN’s Dr Liliya Serazetdinova who will be happy to discuss opportunities for innovation in this area.