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Weekly newsletters about ICT in Agriculture in English and French
Both newsletters have around 14000 subscribers.

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Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory: A Digger, 1881, by Vincent Van Gogh

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COP26: Crunch time for climate, by Mark LYNAS
See allianceforscience.cornell.edu


ShaYoFae (Share Your Farming Experience), a French Agtech start-up, a new and sensible way to develop (and benefit from) info exchanges between farmers and between farmers and their neighbours
See shayofae.com
Contact: Hervé ESCRIOU
E-mail: herve.escriou(a)betadigitis.com


The pandemic’s true death toll

How many people have died because of the covid-19 pandemic? The answer depends both on the data available, and on how you define “because”. Many people who die while infected with SARS-CoV-2 are never tested for it, and do not enter the official totals. Conversely, some people whose deaths have been attributed to covid-19 had other ailments that might have ended their lives on a similar timeframe anyway. And what about people who died of preventable causes during the pandemic, because hospitals full of covid-19 patients could not treat them? If such cases count, they must be offset by deaths that did not occur but would have in normal times, such as those caused by flu or air pollution.

Rather than trying to distinguish between types of deaths, The Economist’s approach is to count all of them. The standard method of tracking changes in total mortality is “excess deaths”. This number is the gap between how many people died in a given region during a given time period, regardless of cause, and how many deaths would have been expected if a particular circumstance (such as a natural disaster or disease outbreak) had not occurred. Although the official number of deaths caused by covid-19 is now 4.9m, our single best estimate is that the actual toll is 16.5m people. We find that there is a 95% chance that the true value lies between 10.2m and 19.2m additional deaths.

See economist.com/

Future Farming

> Russian unmanned tractors to hit the fields in large numbers
The St. Petersburg Tractor Plant (PTZ) and the developer of artificial intelligence systems for robotic agricultural machinery Cognitive Pilot will start the world’s first mass production of Kirovets tractors operated by an AI-based autopilot system

> Robot tractors: Dragone Black Shire, Italian robotic tractor for heavy work
Italian company Dragone showed the Black Shire robotic tractor at Eima. The manufacturer wants to build as many as 200 of them by 2022.

> Artificial pollination: Edete robotic pollinator boosts pistachio yields by 24%
Edete has completed a pilot of its new robotic pollinator. Supplementing wind pollination boosted yields in a California pistachio orchard by 24%.

> Autonomous sprayers: McConnel autonomous sprayer is spot on
McConnel is developing an autonomous spot sprayer attachment for its existing ROBOCUT RC56, fitted with Trimble guidance.

> Plant protection: Pessl Digital Plant Protection receives EIMA Mention Award
Pessl Instrument’s integration of a physical weather station, a weather forecast system and a tracking device, received a EIMA Mention Award.

> Field robots: Premiere: autonomous/robotic orchard sprayer
Hol Spraying Systems' autonomous orchard sprayer can not only spray, but also refill automatically and take care of mowing, weeding and fertilisation.

> Field robot concepts: Who will win the Best Field Robot Concept Award 2021?
The international agricultural robot event FIRA and Future Farming magazine will award prizes for the Best Field Robot Concept of 2021.

> Weed seed bites the dust
There’s an urgent need for tackling the problem of weed resistance to herbicides, and newish technologies are being refined – and launched – right now to address the issue.

> Spraying technology: Experimenting with mounted sprayer Ecorobotix Ara (video)
Ara, the mounted sprayer, is able to drastically reduce chemical products use with precise spraying.

> Slurry: Determining slurry quantities in advance with Topcon
Cerfontaine equipped its slurry injector with a Topcon X35 console, and the AGI-4 receiver/controller in combination with the CL-55 telematics module.

> Soil health: Measuring soil health through carbon dioxide flush
Measuring carbon dioxide flush can be used to measure soil health and relate crop yields reliably, according to a new study.

> Sustainability: “Tinder of Bees” connects farmers with beekeepers
The Brazilian start-up Converge created a geolocation application that aims to connect beekeepers with farmers.

> Start-ups: Nutrient technology start-ups to start trials in New Zealand
Finistere Ventures and Innovation Endeavors revealed the first five companies selected for the Farm2050 Nutrient Technology Trialing Platform.
See futurefarming.comv

Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory: A Girl Raking, 1881, by Vincent Van Gogh

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Myeasyfarm presentation - A French start-up AgTech for easy connected precision farming
See video


2022 PrecisionAg Awards Of Excellence: Nominations Are Now Open

Nominate an outstanding individual for one of four PrecisionAg Awards of Excellence.
See precisionag.com


VISION 2022 - Accelerating Connected Solutions
Learn More About VISION


Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory: A Digger, 1881, by Vincent Van Gogh

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Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory: Man Putting Potatoes in a Sack, 1881, by Vincent Van Gogh

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Nearly 10,000 users utilize AGORA’s new content portal after its launch

In July 2021, FAO AGORA launched an updated content portal, aimed at improving the overall user experience and improving users’ ability to access available resources. Since its launch, nearly 10,000 users, representing up to 150 countries have utilized the new content portal.
See fao.org


Improving functionalities of AGRIS network related webpages

FAO constantly strives to improve its knowledge sharing capabilities. Recently, services for the AGRIS network have been updated and improved.
See fao.org


Jeremy Wilson: Recognizing the Value of Connected Solutions

As EFC Systems works to change the farmgate conversation, empowering growers and ag retailers with integrated tools to drive success.
See precisionag.com


HTS Ag Partners with Hylio to Offer Agricultural Spray Drones

The Texas-based spray drone manufacturer will help HTS Ag bring the latest technology to producers across the Midwest.
See precisionag.com

Farmer marketplace DeHaat scores $115m in India’s biggest-ever agtech round, AFN, by Jack Ellis

Ag marketplace DeHaat has raised $115 million in Series D funding, it announced today. The round was co-led by Belgium’s Sofina and Indian branch of the UK’s Lightrock.

Singapore sovereign fund Temasek participated as a new investor, with existing backers including RTP Global, Sequoia Capital, Naspers-affiliated Prosus Ventures, and Dutch development bank FMO also taking part.

The nine-figure haul is the largest on record for an Indian agtech startup, according to AgFunder data.
.../...
See agfundernews.com


Digital Twins in Agriculture: Breakthrough or Hype?

Prospera Technologies CTO Raviv Itzhaky makes sense of digital twins and their potential in agriculture.
See precisionag.com


Indigo Acquires Soil Metrics, Reaffirms Commitment to U.S. Carbon Program

New investment will drive discovery in soil carbon science and adoption of agriculture as a nature-based climate solution.
See precisionag.com


Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory: Worn Out, 1881, by Vincent Van Gogh

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AFN Africa: Investing in knowledge & information to accelerate innovation in African agriculture

There’s a $1 trillion market opportunity in Africa’s agriculture sector. Or there could be, if farmers, agri-processors, and other key players in the food value chain are enabled with the right technologies, resources, and capital between now and 2030.

There is also enormous social and environmental impact potential in the sector, which provides livelihoods for nearly 70% of the African workforce. In fact, building a stronger, more productive, and more resilient agriculture sector in Africa touches nearly all of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

As the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, we at FMO have long understood the critical role of agriculture in the economic development, poverty alleviation, and food security of emerging markets, particularly African countries. We have supported the agriculture industry since our inception more than 50 years ago and increased our focus with the establishment of a dedicated Agri, Food & Water department in 2012. Our strategy for building capacity and driving investments in the sector is multi-faceted, and includes direct and indirect investments in agribusinesses, as well as technical assistance and ecosystem building efforts across the agri-value chain.
…/…
See agfundernews.com

How often have you heard or thought, “why does it cost so much to develop an app?”

The cost of software development is not inconsequential, but it is the centrifugal force that is transforming agriculture, and rapidly becoming table stakes. A better question may be, “what is the cost if we don’t develop one?” Here’s what you need to know before making decisions.
See precisionag.com


Skyward Apps Expands Its Developers’ Training on Software Security Risks

Maryland agriculture technology firm takes added steps to protect client applications.
See precisionag.com


Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory (?????): Study of a Treepar, 1882, by Vincent Van Gogh

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Indigo Ag acquires Soil Metrics to boost carbon MRV capabilities, AFN, by Jack Ellis

Indigo Ag has acquired Soil Metrics, a firm which carries out assessments of soil carbon sequestration, for an undisclosed sum.

The pair had already partnered on the acquirer’s Carbon by Indigo program, which works with farmers to generate revenue from their soil carbon sequestration activities through measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) selling offsets.

Fort Collins, Colorado-based Soil Metrics describes itself as a “team of data scientists and climate change wonks who […] measure and model soil carbon data to shed light on land usage and associated greenhouse gas emissions.”

In a statement, Boston-based Indigo said that the acquisition will “further enhance and scale the premier carbon MRV system powering its industry-leading carbon farming program.”
…/…
See thevisionconference.com


European Soil Data Centre Newsletter No.135 (Oct. 2021) -
See esdac.jrc.ec.europa.eu


France was from 1750 one of the first countries engaged in the demographic transition

A French demographist (Emmanuel Todd) estimated that France has been the first country where the birth rate started to decrease, and this from 1750. It made the link with the French Revolution: the fall of the birth rate and the desire for freedom would have participated in the same movement of search for happiness...

Indeed, it is difficult to be happy with 10 children… most of whom dying in infancy.The graph below is taken from Our World in Data confirms the slowdown in the birth rate in France at least from 1800. France was by far the most populous country in Europe and if I remember correctly, the second country the most populous in the world after China.The optimism of the 1950s would match the increase in population. And our current uncertainties would match the stagnation of our population???

Source: Max Roser, Hannah Ritchie and Esteban Ortiz-Ospina (2013) - "World Population Growth". Published online at OurWorldInData.org

Voir ourworldindata.org

Food Waste Market Map: Invest in food waste solutions to fight hunger & climate change, AFN, by guest contributor: Alexandria Coari

Alexandria Coari is vice president – capital, innovation, and engagement, at ReFED, a food waste-focused nonprofit based in Chicago, US.

In the fight against food waste, capital providers play a critical role in funding waste reduction solutions. ReFED estimates that approximately $14 billion is needed each year to launch and scale solutions. Corporate finance and spending is the most appropriate capital type to cover the majority of the investment needed each year to cut food waste by 50% by 2030 (in accordance with national and international goals), since food businesses can receive direct, measurable, and tangible benefits through lower costs, new revenue potential, and increased consumer goodwill. But there are opportunities for capital providers of all types to drive the adoption of food waste solutions – many of which have a strong potential for investment returns.
…/…
See agfundernews.com


The demographic transition everywhere except in Africa

Source: Max Roser, Hannah Ritchie and Esteban Ortiz-Ospina (2013) - "World Population Growth". Published online at OurWorldInData.org.

Voir ourworldindata.org

Perspective: ‘Silent Earth’ is simply alarmism from an anti-pesticide trustee, by Amanda Zaluckyj, The Farmer’s Daughter USA

.../...
The good news is that Goulson is wrong. The surveys and studies he’s conducted and relies upon are flawed and incomplete, to say the least. Fortunately, scientist Matthew Moran and his hand-selected team published a comprehensive study in 2020 that challenged Goulson’s conclusions. Moran’s approach took raw data spanning decades for various insects in North America. Guess what? They found no significant change in population.

Unfortunately, “all fine here” doesn’t garner as many clicks as “the world is ending.”

Maybe I’m being too hard on Goulson. After all, he’s from the UK, so maybe he doesn’t know that U.S. farmers’ use of pesticides has changed significantly since the 1960s. In fact, we’ve reduced the amount applied per acre by almost 60 percent. We’ve slashed pesticide toxicity by 98 percent. And we’ve curtailed pesticide persistence in the environment by half. Pesticide use peaked in 1972, and it decreased most years afterward through 2008.

And here’s the more important thing: We have really, really good reasons for using those pesticides. For example, the Weed Science Society of America worked with Kansas State University to determine what would happen if weeds were left uncontrolled in North America’s corn and soybean fields. They determined it would slash yields by 50 percent and result in annual economic losses of $43 billion. Food security nationwide would be devastated.
.../...
See agdaily.com


Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory (?????): Fishermen’s Wives Returning to the Village, by Andreas Achenbach

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See jaysonlusk.com

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See data.worldbank.org

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If we pit money against the planet, the planet will lose every time. Don’t Pit Money and the Planet Against Each Other, by Christopher Barnard

A flawed narrative has taken hold of the mainstream climate movement. Climate policies tend to get measured by the number of zeros behind them, as activists pontificate that we must tackle climate change at ‘any cost’ – providing political cover for proposals like a nearly $100 trillion Green New Deal. Just recently, climate author Dr. Katharine Wilkinson wrote on Twitter, “money is made up. The planet is real.” The implication is clear: money, and by extension the capitalist system it ‘props’ up, must be subordinate to our environmental concerns.

On the face of it, this appears a noble enough principle. After all, you can’t really put a price on clean air and water, beautiful landscapes, or one’s emotional connection to the outdoors. The logic is fatally flawed, however, for several reasons.
.../...
Climate solutions, therefore, shouldn’t come “at any cost.” They should be attractive, realistic, and optimistic. Empowering innovation and the development of clean technologies is a solution that not only benefits the planet but is also economically viable and ultimately affordable for everyday citizens. Our goal should be to create solutions that are less expensive and more efficient than the status quo. Then and only then will the cost of climate action be worth it for the average individual. It’s simple economics.

Ultimately, the reality is that we want to tackle climate change because it greatly affects human life. More severe storms, flooding, droughts, and warmer temperatures are already affecting our food supply, health, and economies. Yet, the solution can’t be worse than the disease. Climate policy must be measured by cost-benefit analyses, not extremist predictions or utopian, anti-capitalist rhetoric.

If we pit money against the planet, the planet will lose every time.
See humanprogress.orgv


Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory: La récolte des betteraves, de Georges Laugée

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