Summary
In mid October 2017 a group of 16 Western Australian producers, researchers, consultants and extension providers travelled to the north island of New Zealand, joined by 3 more professionals from the Eastern States, to attend 3 joint international agricultural technology conferences (7th Asian-Australasian Conference on Precision Agriculture; 1st Asian-Australian Conference on Precision Pastures and Livestock Farming; Digital-Farmer and Grower 2017), then partake in a study tour of related activities in the southern part of the North Island. It is understood that this is the first study tour of its kind in the red meat industry, whereby these four links of the ‘R&D production supply chain’ spent a week learning , sharing, networking and building relationships together in another country.
The Study Tour was initiated from a WA Livestock Research Council (WALRC) workshop whereby specific producers, researchers and consultants were invited to attend to ‘brainstorm’ ideas, exploring technologies and potential technological solutions to improve efficiency, productivity and profitability in livestock systems, through improved feedbase management, in WA. During this workshop it was agreed that New Zealand producers were seen as leaders in this field and that there would be value in visiting those who are doing it well to learn more about their challenges and successes in the adoption of technologies, given overcoming barriers to adoption was something discussed at length by the group. Weeks later one of the workshop attendees shared the link to the Precision Agriculture international conferences being held in NZ, and the seed was planted to make this study tour a reality.
WALRC distributed an Expression of Interest through its networks, following discussions with the MLA Meat Donor Company to ascertain avenues for funding whereby the attendees could pay half the cost of the trip and have their contributions matched. This resulted in the attendance of 19 people from the red meat industry R&D production supply chain, coming together to attend the three conferences, then travel on a bus together for two and a half days to meet with NZ producers, researchers, consultants and agribusiness leaders at their businesses to help the group understand how particular technologies are being used (including the challenges of introducing them to operations), to learn, share ideas and build valuable networks that will undoubtedly have lasting benefits for all.
Achievements of the trip were far reaching, both for the attendees and those from NZ who were visited. Strong networks were forged during the week that will see work progressed across Australia and between NZ and Australia. A Whats App group was created prior to the week to share information, and used throughout the week, then has continued to be the main point of contact for the whole group to discuss and progress ideas. On return, a debrief workshop was held, with as many of the attendess present as possible. Ideas for projects stimulated by the tour were discussed, then three chosen for further investigation. These three ‘concepts’ were discussed and developed, with the intent for progression in the new year, into possible projects. Plans were also made for another workshop at a time that is not so busy for producers, to revisit these concepts and progress further, with additional guests invited with expertise in the those fields. It is anticpated that at least two of these concepts will be worked up into funding proposals to be submitted in 2018. These three concepts are in the areas of hyperspectral imagery, livestock monitoring systems and whole mixed farm management software.
