Farmers have been using technology in agriculture production for well over 100 years, in fact, an argument can be made that the agriculture industry was the first major industry in the U.S. to accept technology as an investment into saving time and reducing costs in the long run (i.e the Cotton Gin). Technology is now being developed and integrated at a rate that some consumers and businesses cannot keep up with, and this is not the fault of developers or consumers, but rather an opportunity to streamline access to technology and eventual adoption by making it easier for developers to reach consumers and for consumers implement the right technology for their needs.
Dealerships and mobile service providers make this possible, and this model is nothing new. This model has existed for decades, this is how large tractor manufacturers and chemical companies do so well; they partner with dealers and service providers on a local/regional level, to ensure the consumer in a given market can access, review, and implement the best available options. With so much agtech develop, particularly over the past decade, the market for emerging technologies in agriculture is massive, which can seem overwhelming to the consumer. From labor automation solutions to equipment tracking, soil moisture data to drone spraying and crop monitoring, there are dozens of companies in these verticals all offering the same value or similar, but which one is the right one for the farmer? How can the farmer discover the differences between irrigation automation A and irrigation automation B?
That's where an agtech dealer, consultant, or service provider can help, such as Cypress AgriTech. Streamlining the agtech marketplace is important for several reasons:
Farmers can now work through a consolidated channel, with well-vetted, sustainable technologies, choosing the technology with the best value proposition and efficacy for their unique operation.
AgTech developers and manufacturers can now focus on what they do best - product development and continuous improvements, leaving distribution, implementation, and service up to trusted partners covering specific regions.
Dealers and service providers build a relationship with the farmer, understanding what changes need to be made to optimize the technology solution, and passing that information onto the developer, acting as a liaison and saving the farmer time along the way.
Streamlining technology adoption in agriculture can certainly be improved upon, and we anticipate this will get better through time. There are cool new shiny objects coming to market, and then there are shiny objects that work, and those are what will survive over time and continue to grow. With strong collaboration between farmers, technology producers, and technology providers, this is possible, but we have a long way to go.
If by now you're not convinced about the need to streamline access and adoption of technology in agriculture, ask yourself this:
If 20 different smart phones came out at the same time as the original iPhone release in 2007, which one would you choose? How long would it take you to compare and contrast before narrowing your search down to only a couple options? Or would you be so overwhelmed by the options; you'd choose not to adopt that technology at all?
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