Almost everybody in the agriculture industry is handling data: farmers, their staff, accountants, agronomists, partners, suppliers, you name it.
The more data a farmer has stored in the cloud, the more opportunities to collaborate with advisers to use the data, on any authorized device, anywhere with an internet connection with smartphones, tablets, desktops, tractor or combine displays.
However, although cloud technology has evolved quickly, today’s cloud solutions often result in integration issues, incompatibilities, and operational complexity. Aggregating data into a single location from all of the farm’s multiple sources is a very complicated and technical process right now. When it comes to getting all of that useful iron data up into the clouds, it really becomes more like a big, lead balloon.
Complications in Cloud Computing
A few years ago, farmers started using a wider variety of product brands to meet their needs, thus creating a need to access and share different data. Not only is agricultural equipment one of the major generators of this data, but these machines also require data to operate efficiently and support precision farming. For the farmer, managing the farm effectively is dependent on getting all of the data into the best location so it can be analysed to optimize decisions for the future.
Almost every cloud has a unique infrastructure for providing network services between servers, apps, and storage. There are differences such as network addressing and architecture, directory services, firewalls, routers, data hubs, identity services, naming services, etc. There are also differences in security policies, rules for updating software, policies for using data, etc. Application users and owners usually have little choice in cloud security matters.
For years, everyone has solved it on their own in a different way, using what is called “middleware,” the connective tissue, so to speak, that provides common services and capabilities to applications outside of what’s offered by the operating system. The differences and complications make cloud computing for the farmer very “stormy” at best.
Many different players have started creating their own solutions independently and as the agricultural industry expands, the use of data in making crop and livestock decisions is only increasing. A number of solutions enabling multiple platforms to exchange data are on the market today, but there still is no guideline for the agriculture industry.
Harmonization is on the Way
The Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation (AEF) is known as the group making ISOBUS better. And now, we’ve started on a new chapter: the interoperability between clouds, again making life easier for the farmer. We have all the main agriculture OEMs onboard and together we intend to reduce the complexity in the sector.
We kicked off a new project called the “Agricultural Interoperability Network,” or AgIN for short. AgIN is a peer-to-peer network intended for agricultural software providers who would like to enable their customers to use their data in any ag platform. There were approximately 60 participants from various AEF member companies in that first meeting attending from different corners of the globe.
We will be harmonizing by creating guidelines for AgIN with the intent of simplifying data sharing for the end users, growers and operators. AEF members will be able to use AgIN to make sure their data flows through this whole network. If you are an AEF member, you have access to the guidelines and you are able to start building your software to these guidelines and standards.
The network will be a concerted and non-discriminatory governed network that streamlines peer–to-peer interfaces to other platforms but unlike the multitude of solutions on offer today, the AgIN ensures reliability and trust of the services in the network. AgIN is really just one level higher to bring interconnectivity in the clouds.
Optimizing Farm to Fork for the Future
Farmers are painfully aware of the problem: efficiently sharing their farming data with various platforms to allow them to be as efficient as possible while also being good stewards of the land. Today the clouds are not able to exchange even GPS coordinates with each other.
To optimize “farm to fork,” players in the ag industry need to be interconnected and interoperable to enable the exchange of data, not just for reporting, but to have a feedback channel to improve operations. Our approach of interconnecting clouds will resolve it, making life much easier for everyone.
Learn more about the AEF at www.aef-online.org
Article Written by by AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY ELECTRONICS FOUNDATION (AgIN), AEF
