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Cultivating Innovation: Exploring the barriers to implementing ag technology

Some have said that agriculture does not have an innovation problem – it has an implementation problem.

While survey results indicated respondents are aware of the benefits that technology can provide for their farm, there are various barriers preventing them from implementing new technology. Respondents were asked what those barriers were and given the option to select multiple responses. The biggest factors revolved around costs – 53 per cent of respondents reported an inability to determine ROI for implementing new technology, and 53 per cent also reported entry/start-up costs as a barrier. Both of those factors had relatively similar levels across age groups and roles within the farm, however only 30 per cent of farmers who were not involved in purchases reported entry of costs as a concern.

Darcy Herauf, director, FCC Ag Expert, says when it comes to costs and ROI, things aren’t always as straightforward as simply looking at the total on a balance sheet. “It’s hard [with] technology to articulate what the ROI is. ROI isn’t always dollars and cents. Sometimes it can be more family time, less stress, more efficient operation. It can be a lot of things.”

Indeed, owners and workers’ time was also a significant factor in the survey results, with 38 per cent of respondents reporting that time to review, make decisions, implement or train for new technology were a barrier. Additionally, 37 per cent of respondents said the complexity of technology or the learning curve – however, this also showed some variance by page group. Younger respondents (under 45) were less likely to report this as a concern, with 31 per cent of respondents stating that this was a barrier for them.

That complexity, Herauf says, can eat into ROI as well. “You can’t go in and fix one problem with technology for a farmer and create three new [problems],” he says, adding “You shouldn’t have to sell a consultant with your technology in order for the farm to use it.”

Notes:
• Only 30% of respondents who were not involved in purchases reported entry costs as a concern.
• Younger respondents (under 45) were less likely to report this as a concern, with 31% of respondents stating that this was a problem
• Younger respondents (under 45) were more likely to report this as a concern, with 30% stating that this was a problem.
• Respondents who identified as not having reliable internet were significantly more likely to identify this as a concern, with 24% responding in the affirmative.
Icons courtesy of FLATICON.

The technical aspects of the equipment was also a concern for some; 34 per cent of respondents said they found outdated equipment to be a barrier, and 22 per cent said compatibility between hardware and software systems was a barrier. Additionally, this stat over-indexed in younger respondents; those under 45 were more likely to report this as a concern, with 30 per cent identifying this as a barrier.

Other concerns included: overwhelming number of choices (21 per cent), lack of service in rural areas (20 per cent), lack of education around new products (20 per cent), lack of reliable high-speed internet (19 per cent) and data security concerns (14 per cent). With data security concerns, respondents who identified as not having reliable internet were significantly more likely to identify this as a concern, with 24 per cent selecting this as a concern.

Alex Melnitchouck, chief technology officer, digital ag at Olds College, says there are some areas of the country he calls “precision ag hell” because of a number of infrastructure-related issues, including lack of connectivity. Not only is this holding purchasers back, but Melnitchouck also says this is holding back the industry altogether.

“The basic digital transformation of the agricultural industry takes much longer than the digital transformation of other industries.”

Eight per cent of respondents chose “other” as an option as well. 

Watch: Barriers to the adoption of technology in agriculture