Opportunity

Sugar Research Australia is the sugar industry’s peak research body and Dylan’s role is to be the intermediary between researchers and growers.

Essentially, whatever is keeping a grower awake at night, Dylan communicates those concerns to researchers and then supports the researchers to find a solution.

“Once we get the solution, we then feed it back to the growers and help them adopt it.”

As a mining engineer turned cane grower, Dylan knows firsthand the trepidation around the financial outlay for the types of technology that support improved agriculture practices and profits.

And that is when Dylan had a light bulb moment.

In the past five to ten years the accessibility and accelerated technology of home automation has opened the window of opportunity for those in the sugar cane industry.

He said “home automation systems such a Google Nest and Alexa have good support systems in terms of user interface software and accessibility. But it’s just a matter of trying to use those switches and sensors to apply it to an irrigation pump or a valve to be able to open and shut a hydrant.”

He said “it’s about making irrigation easier and more profitable for growers – which in most cases doesn’t require new technology to be designed. It’s more retrofitting what is already available at your local hardware shop or electronics supplier.”

Results

Some of the results you can expect from this low-cost solar Wi-Fi base station technology include:

• Simplifying irrigation processes and increasing profitability.
• Access to live data.
• Improved irrigation management and communication networks.
• Real-time internet connectivity.
• Strengthened Wi-Fi signals to expand internet access to devices such as pumps, sensors on irrigators, moisture probes, security cameras, and more.

Dylan said “growers are intrigued that they can purchase these tech products to monitor and control their irrigation systems, off a shelf at Bunnings.”

Sugar Research Australia Central have set up demonstration farms, which showcases the retrofit of these automaton systems so growers can see how their pumps can turn on and off remotely or automatically– making irrigation as efficient as possible.

“These tools, like an automated pump controller are low cost but improve your irrigation efficiency within a few weeks.”

Dylan also said “Sugar Research Australia is focused on building more value from their products and services. There is an appetite to drive productivity and look for alternative products – it is an exciting step in the right direction. If you’re a farmer, you need to be maximizing your return. You need to be always thinking – how can I grow more with less?”