Tracy Davids from the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) stressed the sheer volume of data that can be collected in a single season. “If you use that data wisely, by analysing it, learning from it, and sharing it, it can help farmers far beyond those currently able to adopt the technology,” she explained. She also noted how data plays a vital role in managing risk, allowing farmers to make informed decisions in real time and enabling service providers to offer support precisely when needed.
Grain SA’s Mike Ellis pointed out that larger commercial farms are often able to adopt new technologies far more quickly than smaller ones. For smaller-scale farmers, access to these innovations can lag by up to five years, an issue that needs urgent attention if the sector is to move forward collectively.
Lafras Cronjé from John Deere emphasised the practical benefits of smart farming: time, fuel, and chemical savings, which ultimately lead to higher yields and lower carbon emissions. He added that the cost of technology is already coming down. “We’ve introduced Precision Ag Essentials to make this technology more affordable and easier to use,” he said. “You don’t need the latest tractor to access the latest tools.”
From a financial perspective, Nedbank’s Gideon Rossouw raised the critical question of designing financing solutions that enable broader access. “How do we take the technology that’s already working and make it available to those who currently don’t have access to it?” he asked. “How do we help new entrants find a foothold in agriculture?”
The session highlighted a key takeaway: while advanced technologies hold immense potential for transforming agriculture, their true impact will be measured by how accessible and scalable they become across the sector, regardless of farm size or starting point.