Issue link: https://htpgraphics.uberflip.com/i/464860
AGRICULTURE EDITION 19 AGROVISTA UK | and ensures that the most up-to-date knowledge is available to all staff, in real time, through the development of cloud technology. » The combination and application of current and emerging technology to create practical, effective on-farm solutions requires our annual R&D investment of 8% of profit. The challenges for the future are greater still. The changing legislative, environmental, technological and social landscapes will mean that R&D manufacturers are directing a decreasing percentage of their budgets towards active substances (pesticides, fungicides and herbicides) for use within Europe. The estimated percentage was 7.5% of the total in 2012, and on a sharp downward trend. Fewer still of the existing active substances will be available to farmers to protect their crops from yield loss over the next decade. A recent report by the agricultural consultants Andersons estimates that 87 of the 250 products registered for use in the UK could be threatened by legislative changes. Of these, 40 are classified as highly likely to be lost or their use restricted. What could this mean? » The loss of these active substances is estimated to reduce yields by 4–50%, while potentially accelerating the build-up of resistance to the remaining substances. » Total profit from farming could decline by 36%. » Consequent restructuring will increase the size of farm units. Consequently, greater attention to detail will have to be given to extract the maximum effectiveness from a declining armoury of available inputs. Precision agriculture techniques will be critical for the future success of many businesses, and many of the techniques of the future do not exist today. In order to lead the way in this technological future, Agrovista is researching and developing the industry best practices of the future. We believe that, in order to maximise yields and farmer profitability, all available technology must be directed towards creating alternative solutions and communicating these to the farming community. The key to success will be knowledge and its transfer to the farm. Recent advances in cloud computing have allowed Agrovista to create AXIS, a unique web portal that permits the immediate exchange of information precision agriculture techniques will be critical for the future success of many businesses, and many of the techniques of the future do not exist today " " The AXIS cloud portal – a unique web portal that permits the immediate exchange of information between advisers and growers, and storage of precision data and technical information, allowing access anywhere