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Châtenay-Malabry (FR - 92290), December 13, 2021 EFITA newsletter / 1017 - European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Food and the Environment Do not miss the Virus Jokes in English and French The informatique-agricole.org site now offers you the possibility of subscribing the RSS feeds of its two newsletters See RSS feeds to implement to ensure that you continue to receive this newsletter To unsubscribe this newsletter, please contact me directely: guy.waksman(a)laposte.net if this link Unsubscribe does not work. Please note that I changed the presentation of the links that are embedded in the name of the web service. To correspond with me (GW), please use this address: guy.waksman(a)laposte.net To subscribe the efita newsletter (please ask your friends and colleagues to test this link) Efita Newsletters subscription The Fifth wheel There were a lot of funny inventions made, that never were widely used. This movie shows a car with an additional fifth wheel that should make parking a lot easier. Voir vidéo Signalé par Georges LARROQUE Mél : larroque.georges(a)orange.fr Two-thirds of Gen Z believe current food systems are ‘destroying the planet’: survey, AFN, by Jack Ellis Four-fifths of young people in Generation Z think that we urgently need to make food production and consumption more sustainable – while two-thirds believe that our existing agrifood systems are “destroying the planet,” recent survey findings suggest. The research was commissioned by EIT Food, the EU’s agrifood innovation agency, and involved a survey of slightly over 2,000 members of Gen Z — that is, 18 to 24-year olds — in France, Germany, Poland, Spain, and the UK. According to a summary of the findings from EIT Food: - 78% of respondents agreed with the sentiment that society needs to take “urgent action to make the ways in which we produce and consume food more sustainable.” - 66% said that extant systems of food production and consumption are “destroying the planet, and that the situation is only getting worse.” - 61% said the agrifood industries have “become less sustainable in recent years.” - Furthermore, 64% of Gen Z respondents said that the sustainability credentials of the food they eat have become more important to them in the past 12 months; while 65% said they believe that their age group “cares more” about food sustainability issues than older generations. …/… See agfundernews.com Avant l’informatique Weekly newsletters about ICT in Agriculture in English and French Both newsletters have around 14000 subscribers. >>> Last weekly EFITA Newsletters in English (created in 1999) Efita Newsletters >>> Last weekly AFIA Newsletters in French (created more than 20 years ago in 1997) Afia Newsletters >>> Statistics for the last efita newsletter >>> Last issue of the afia newsletter >>> Last available satistics for the afia newsletter Profond Carl Sagan paragraph: Pale Blue Dot A NASA Mission was leaving the solar system when, at the request of Carl Sagan, it was commanded by NASA to turn its camera around and take a last photo of Earth across a great expanse of space. This video's accompanying words spoken by Carl Sagan are even more relevant and moving today. See our earth Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory: Femme distribuant du grain à des poules, ferme à Bazincourt, 1886, de Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) FutureFarming.com > Nearly 40 field robots in new and updated buying guide What field and harvest robots are commercially available in 2022 and at what price? What can they do and for how long? Our new buying guide with nearly 40 commercially available robots gives the answers to all your questions and more. > Number of field robots in operation doubled since 2020 > 10 robots compete for Best Field Robot Concept Award 2021 > AgroIntelli launches new long-range Robotti field robot > Wiferion automates charging of field robots in outdoor areas > Methane tractors – a real climate change solution? Will methane-powered tractors make a dent in agriculture’s significant current contribution to climate change? Only if their adoption rises in tandem with the adoption of another on-farm technology. > Discover new Ag Tech auto steer system The availability of economical, high-precision automated steering boosts the adoption of precision farming technology across all size farms. > Field robots: These are the Best Field Robot Concepts of 2021 Vermeer, Horsch and Ripe Robotics won the Best Field Robot Concept Awards 2021. > Video: Autonomous haulm topper missing automatic depth control In a collaboration between manufacturers a haulm topper was converted to fit onto the Robotti 150D. > Investments: Kubota invests in plant growth monitoring start-up Kubota invests in Bloomfield Robotics, a company delivering plant growth monitoring services to tree crops. > Carbon markets: Bayer lets farmers measure carbon footprint Carbonview is to enable farmers to report, analyze and better assess their end-to-end supply chain carbon footprint. > Picking robots: Fifteen Harvy500 picking robots to harvest blueberries Fifteen Harvy500s, Fine Field’s fully automatic harvester, will harvest blueberry on twelve European farms next season. > Buying guide: Nearly 40 field robots in new and updated buying guide What field and harvest robots are commercially available in 2022 and at what price? What can they do and for how long? See futurefarming.com The Role of Culture in Innovation, by Taylor Barkley Over the past two hundred years, innovation has lifted humanity from subsistence to prosperity. But innovation is not inevitable. In fact, these last two centuries have been a blip in human history, which was mostly technologically stagnant. Like a flowering plant, technological progress needs the right environment to thrive. Specifically, it requires a culture that embraces innovation. See humanprogress.org The Future of Farming Automation: What Are the Short- and Long-Term Opportunities? Agricultural robotics -- a hot-button topic to be discussed at the upcoming VISION Conference -- continues to be accepted for some tasks, paving the way for fully autonomous vehicles in the future. See precisionag.com Field to Market Releases Fourth National Indicators Report Findings highlight urgent need for renewed focus from value chain on understanding and creating enabling conditions to support widespread transition to sustainable practices. See precisionag.com NEVONEX Simplifies the Transition to Digital Services Powered by Bosch, the platform styles itself as a joint partner solution for “smart” digital agriculture. As an independent, manufacturer-agnostic platform, NEVONEX links machinery and workflows through software applications to increase yields, save time and reduce costs. See precisionag.com Agmatix Tackles Data Standardization with Innovative Platform Israeli agtech start-up digitizes and standardizes field trial data, agronomic experimentation. See precisionag.com Truterra Carbon Program Pays $4 Million to Farmers for 200,000 Metric Tons of Carbon Stored in First Year Truterra's 2022 carbon program is now open, on the heels of high farmer interest and participation in its inaugural program. See precisionag.com New Tendencies Reshaping Agriculture: 5 New Approaches in the Sector Artificial intelligence, along with new engineering technologies, brings agriculture to a fundamentally new level. See precisionag.com Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory: The peasant family, 1871-1872, de Jean-François Millet, National Museum of Wales CNH Industrial makes 2 acquisitions in 1 week to boost precision ag capabilities, AFN, by Jack Ellis Digital ag platforms xFarm & Farm Technologies merge to become ‘Spotify of agtech’, AFN, by Jennifer Marston Italian digital ag platforms xFarm and Farm Technologies have joined forces to form xFarm Technologies. The new company will provide a “full digital farm management platform” offering AI and IoT solutions, with 80,000 farms and 1 million hectares under management, it says. Founded in 2016, xFarm collects data from the field via a network of sensors. This data can then inform farmers’ decision-making and strategies in order to waste fewer economic and natural resources and respond more quickly to situations in the face of climate uncertainty and its consequences. Farm Technologies is best known for Idroplan, its smart irrigation platform that helps farmers determine, via data and algorithms, the precise frequency and quantity of water needed by different crops. XFarm Technologies’ newly appointed CEO Matteo Vanotti tells AFN that the two startups had worked together for the last few years and that their marriage is a “no-brainer.” He says the combined platform will be a faster, better product for clients when it comes to digital management of the farm. …/… See agfundernews.com Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory: La Cardeuse de Jean François Millet, National Museum of Wales The Agriculture Community 2020: The People Behind the Product (23 Sep 2020) The agriculture industry, like most others at the moment, is assessing where there are untapped skills from currently underrepresented groups of people. Organizations are increasingly looking at diversity and inclusion in the workforce, as well as outreach schemes for attracting more women and a younger generation to the industry. New Ag International conducted a huge survey (August 2020) of agriculture industry professionals from around the world on the diversity of the workforce and importance of sustainability within the community. The results of the 322 responses, presented in this report, reveal unique insights into the people behind the products. Key Insights - 81% of respondents think that women are 'hugely' or 'slightly' under represented in the agriculture industry. - 69% of respondents think that cultural/ethnic minorities are 'hugely' or 'slightly' under represented in corporate roles. - 53% of respondents' organizations have outreach schemes or investment programs to encourage a more diverse workforce. - 44% of respondents think sustainability should be the most important factor when their organization is making decisions on its future. See informaconnect.com Bayer, Bushel & AWS launch carbon measurement tool for US farms, AFN, by Jennifer Marston & Jack Ellis New Ag International The world’s leading resource on high-tech agriculture, featuring biological control, biostimulants, specialty fertilisers, irrigation, precision agriculture and much more. See newaginternational.com Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory: The Sower, 1847-1848, de Jean-François Millet, National Museum of Wales Global farmers facing fertilizer sticker shock may cut use, raising food security risks, Reuters, by Emily Chow, Roberto Samora & Bernadette Christina Munthe (seen in AFN Newsletter) - Fertiliser prices hit highs this year on tight supplies and soaring energy costs - Expensive fertiliser will add on to global food inflation and cost pressures - Farmers worldwide from Brazil to India feel the supply pinch - Reduction in fertiliser application could impact crop output and growth See reuters.com China’s vegetable prices surge 30.6% in November as food costs soar, CNBC, by Evelyn Cheng (seen in AFN Newsletter) - Fresh vegetable prices in China surged by 30.6% in November from a year ago, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. - The price of pork, a staple in Chinese diets, remained well below the highs of last year with a year-on-year decline of 32.7% in November. But pork prices rose 12.2% from October. - Food prices are on the rise globally, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. See cnbc.com/ Food delivery app Grab raises $4.5bn following record-breaking SPAC deal, AFN, by Jack Ellis - Singapore-based Grab has completed its merger with Nasdaq-listed special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Altimeter Growth Corp. - The app, which provides meal and grocery delivery, cloud kitchen, ride-hailing, and digital financial services throughout Southeast Asia, raised $4.5 billion from the deal at a valuation of $40 billion – making it the world’s largest SPAC transaction to date. - Its stock opened the day priced at $13 per share and rose almost 19% in early trading, before losing 21% to close on $8.75. - Grab reported a 9% drop in year-on-year revenues in Q3 2021 and its net loss widened to $988 million, compared to $621 million a year earlier. - It’s yet to turn a profit overall, though it says its food delivery business is nearing EBITDA breakeven. See agfundernews.com Here’s why Tenacious Ventures backed a green ammonia startup, AFN, by Jack Ellis With prices rising to all-time highs and growing awareness about its environmental footprint following COP26, fertilizer has been in the news lately like never before. A variety of startups are working on next-generation technologies that enable more efficient and more environmentally friendly fertilizer use – from microbial solutions that ‘create’ biofertilizer in the soil, to AI-powered machinery that is more selective in applying existing products to the field. Melbourne-based Jupiter Ionics is taking another approach: it’s aiming to use its “electrochemical” process to manufacture smaller amounts of ammonia, a key fertilizer ingredient, on-site or closer to the farm. This way, it believes it can reduce agriculture’s reliance on the industrial-scale production of ammonia and the harms it can do to the environment – while reducing the possibility for future supply chain shocks at the same time. .../... See agfundernews.com The map we need if we want to think about how global living conditions are changing Part of our mission at Our World in Data is to make the big global problems understandable — and we often do this by showing maps. But despite the popularity and familiarity of world maps, they can mislead our understanding of global living conditions because they only show us where the world’s landmasses are. They don’t show us where people are. To show where the world’s people live, we need a population cartogram — a geographical representation of the world where the size of the countries are drawn not according to the distribution of land, but according to the distribution of people. In this article from September 2018, we present a detailed population cartogram, zooming in to the different world regions and describing what this people-centered perspective can teach us. COVID-19 update: How do death rates from COVID differ between vaccinated and unvaccinated people? To understand how the pandemic is evolving, it’s crucial to know how death rates from COVID differ by vaccination status. The death rate is a key metric that can accurately show us how effective vaccines are against severe forms of the disease. In this article we explain why it is essential to look at death rates by vaccination status rather than the absolute number of deaths among vaccinated and unvaccinated people. We also visualize this mortality data for the United States, England, and Chile. Ideally we would produce a global dataset that compiles this data for countries around the world, but we do not have the capacity to do this in our team. As a minimum, we list country-specific sources where you can find similar data for other countries, and we describe how an ideal dataset would be formatted. → Explore our global vaccination dataset, alongside cases, deaths, hospitalizations, testing, and other metrics by country in our COVID Data Explorer. ourworldindata.org: Our World in Data is a project of the Global Change Data Lab, a non-profit organization based in the United Kingdom (Registered Charity Number 1186433). Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory: Winter The Faggot Gatherers, 1868-75, de Jean-François Millet, National Museum of Wales
Wilson Greatbatch, the American engineer who created the first implantable pacemaker. Thanks to his work, and a lucky mistake, millions of people have been saved from an early death. See humanprogress.org US Prisons overpopulated (NYT Newsletter) Good jobs? (Bloomberg newsletter) Burn out? (Bloomberg newsletter) Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory: The Joyless Winter Day, by J Farquharson (Scotland - 1846 - 1935)
Gene edited sex selection may spare animal suffering, by Pallab Ghosh, BBC Science correspondent Scientists have used gene editing technology to create female-only and male-only litters of mice. Their technique could prevent the destruction of hundreds of thousands of unwanted mice used in research. The team says it could also prevent the slaughter of millions of male chickens in the UK, which are culled because they don't lay eggs. The government is considering allowing gene editing to be used by the livestock industry in England. The technique, which has been outlined in the academic journal Nature Communications, deactivates a gene involved with embryo development. The system can be programmed to kick in for either male or female embryos at a very early stage of development - of between 16 and 32 cells. The researchers believe that the technique could work on farm animals and they are in discussions to set up scientific pilot studies with the Roslin Institute near Edinburgh, which is among the world leaders in gene editing of livestock. Dr Peter Ellis of Kent University told BBC News that if the results do translate from the lab to commercial use, they could have a "far reaching" impact on animal welfare. See bbc.com Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory: Un coin de vigne (1886) d'Édouard Debat-Ponsan (1847-1913) 200 years ago, everyone lacked democratic rights. Now, billions of people have them. When French revolutionaries stormed the Bastille prison in 1789 in pursuit of liberty, equality, and fraternity (and weapons), they could not have imagined how far democratic political rights would have spread a mere 200 years later. In the 19th century, there were few countries one could call democracies. Today, the majority are. But the mere number of countries does not tell us how many people enjoy democratic rights. When Tunisia became democratic in 2012, its population of 11 million gained the political rights that came with it. When India democratized in the 1950s, this same transition affected almost 400 million people. In this article we explain how political regimes are classified, how many people live under different regimes, and how this has changed over time. While the number of people with democratic political rights has increased dramatically, these rights are still far from universal — and far from inevitable. The Role of Culture in Innovation, by Taylor Barkley Over the past two hundred years, innovation has lifted humanity from subsistence to prosperity. But innovation is not inevitable. In fact, these last two centuries have been a blip in human history, which was mostly technologically stagnant. Like a flowering plant, technological progress needs the right environment to thrive. Specifically, it requires a culture that embraces innovation. See humanprogress.org El tomate no es natural, es un tesoro creado por el ingenio humano Las variedades actuales son una creación humana, fruto de una larga historia que abarca numerosas culturas y tradiciones agrícolas. Ver elpais.com El día a día de cuatro agricultores y ganaderos El aumento de los costes de producción en la cadena alimentaria ahoga al sector agrario, que no percibe las subidas en el precio final de sus productos Ver elpais.com
Two factory workers are talking The woman says, "I can make the boss give me the day off." The man replies, "And how would you do that?" The woman says, "Just wait and see." She then hangs upside-down from the ceiling. The boss comes in and says, "What are you doing?" The woman replies, "I'm a light bulb." The boss then says, "You've been working so much that you've gone crazy. I think you need to take the day off." The man starts to follow her and the boss says, "Where are you going?" The man says, "I'm going home, too. I can't work in the dark." The distribution of this efita newsletter is sponsored by vitisphere.com Please, contribute to the content of your efita newsletter, and advertise your events, new publications, new products and new project in this newsletter. Without your support, it will not survive! Contact: Guy WAKSMAN E-mail: guy.waksman(a)laposte.net To read this newsletter on our web site See Efita The archives of this newsletter See Efita About the EFITA mailing list You can use the efita moderated list (> 15000 subscribers) to announce any event / product / web site / joke (!) related to IT in agriculture, environment, food industry and rural areas. If you want to subscribe a friend, please fill in his form. If you do not wish to receive our messages, please fill in the following form... |