FarmBuild

A platform for the distribution of agriculture science web services through the Agriculture and Resources (A&R) group of the Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR).

The need

In meeting the demands of growing markets and delivering production gains, while demonstrating responsible management of natural resources, Victoria's agricultural industries face a challenge. The scientific research of A&R has developed, enhanced and maintained a wide range of models, measurement tools and datasets to improve:

• the use of farming inputs (eg. water and nutrients)
• soil health
• product yield and quality
• offsite impacts.

However, improving agricultural production systems requires translation of this science into practical, everyday decision support on farm. Leveraging digital technologies and services is the essential and timely next step to addressing this need.

The challenge

Agricultural software and service companies are well established in providing:

• data management services for their clients
• data gathering services through sensors, testing and monitoring
• farm management services to support decisions on farm.

However, they do have a limited capacity to undertake and provision their own agricultural research to inform these decisions. Research science is essential to the translation of data into information to support decision making on farm.

Limited capacity to conduct research presents a barrier to developing science based support services for their clients, and adopting research and development from organisations such as DEDJTR that can be consumed by their data and farm management services.

The connection

FarmBuild responds to this challenge by providing agricultural software and service companies access to scientific research outputs and key agricultural datasets as on-line functions. FarmBuild is an agriculture science web service/ application programming interface (API) distribution model. These online functions will allow the science to the built into their data and farm management support services, and could be integrated across Victorian agriculture industries of horticulture, dairy, red meat and grains.

Not only does the integration of science based algorithms, information and key agricultural datasets into service provision benefit agricultural production, it adds significant value to the A&R knowledge base and provides A&R with access to the rapidly expanding cloud-based farm management environment informing future research and development needs.

For further details visit the FarmBuild website, where you can register your interest.

To access the GitHub and DEDJTR web services you must register and acknowledge the terms and conditions.

For further information contact Andy McAllister on (03) 5833 5281 or email andy.mcallister@ecodev.vic.gov.au