In a recent survey, 86% of farmers and agricultural industry professionals stated they believe cost is the biggest barrier to the use of technology on farms.
The survey was carried out by the Institute of Agricultural Management (IAgrM) ahead of the annual National Farm Management Conference in November.
The results also found 89% of respondents agreed that a return to regenerative agricultural practices can work in harmony with the use of technology.
When asked what they believe will cause the biggest disruption to agricultural and environmental management in the years ahead, 49% cited economic or cost uncertainty, and 46% said climate change.
The majority of respondents said they were already using regenerative practices.
A total of 61% said they used minimal or no-till, 48% use diverse cropping rotations, 44% integrate livestock into arable systems, and 29% provide constant soil cover through the use of stubble or cover crops.
It was a similar trend for the uptake of technology, with 63% using farm management planning and recording software.
A total of 45% use telematics and GPS tracking, 42% use livestock tech, and 41% use precision agronomic support systems.
IAgrM chairman, Carl Atkin-House said it was interesting to see such a high proportion of respondents agree that regenerative agriculture and technology can work together.
“From the survey results, it’s clear that these two could go very much hand-in-hand, as demonstrated by the vast majority of respondents believing so,” Atkin-House said.
He added that it was “clear” they would need to look at how the two would go together, when the cost of technology was “so high on the agenda for so many”.
The National Farm Management Conference takes place at the QEII Centre in London on November 7, 2023.
The conference title for this year is ‘What is the farm for? Technology v Tradition: The Future of Agricultural & Environmental Management.’
The opening session focuses on to the “two biggest challenges facing humanity”: Climate change and biodiversity loss.
Speakers include Oxford University Prof. Charles Godfray, Conservative Environment Network representative Sam Hall, and chief executive officer (CEO) of Rabobank in the UK, Will Jennings who will set the scene for the important debates about regenerative agriculture and agri-tech.
