A new collaborative study programme from Lincoln University focuses on using cutting-edge digital technologies to boost productivity and reduce environmental impacts in the primary industries.
The Master of Precision Agriculture, to be taught from next year, will be awarded by Lincoln but draws on expertise from the University of Canterbury and Lincoln Agritech Ltd to provide a novel combination of existing and new courses. Industry representatives have also expressed interest in the programme.
Lincoln University Senior Lecturer in Engineering and Programme Director, Dr Majeed Safa, says joint efforts are required in the primary industries to improve production, lower emissions and embrace the entire value chain.
“Part of this journey involves using more digital technologies in the primary production industry.
“There’s a need for people with appropriate knowledge, skills and capabilities at all professional levels, such as decision-makers in large farming corporations and primary industries and organisations engaged in food production value chains.
“The Master of Precision Agriculture will provide this.”
The goal of the programme is to produce graduates with the technical skills necessary to move directly into the precision agriculture field.
“They will become technical leaders, working as data-driven scientists, consultants, or sustainable production managers,” Dr Safa says.
“The programme covers different agricultural sectors, including arable farming, horticulture, dairy and the sheep and beef industries, which offers plenty of scope for career options.
“Digital-based agricultural systems are different to current mainstream approaches, so they’re at the cutting edge of primary production practices.
“As larger amounts of data become available from new sensors and advanced monitoring methods, new possibilities exist.
“These include advanced decision-making algorithms to determine the required amounts and locations of fertiliser, irrigation water and seeds to apply to fields or be fed to animals.”
Using digital technologies in agriculture also embraces new data science, such as AI-based data analysis and decision support systems.
Another boon for students of the programme is that industry representatives are already showing a strong interest in the new Master’s degree. FAR has endorsed it as an “important step of Lincoln University” and has said they would be happy to lend “support or endorsement”.
This will connect students with industry from the beginning of their studies.