Reproducible sustainable farming systems
Basic information
Project Title
Full project title
Category
Project Description
The goal of the project is to take a proven system of sustainable agriculture and through universal design enable producers to use that system. Food systems are changing, with the rise of the machine age there is a greater push and emphasis towards sustainability. The goal is to give farmers insights relating to their own farming practices that consider environmental factors and ecological factors will benefit both farmers and the environment.
Project Region
EU Programme or fund
Description of the project
Summary
The current goals for the project are to create an artifact that informs/aids commercial farmers in the consideration, adaptation, and implementation of ecological farming practices. The research and artifact will be informed by numerous opinions and stakeholders in the industry.
There is a need for commercial farmers to become not just more conscious and concerned about the environment but adapt and implement sustainable practices. With industrial agriculture taking up an estimated 30% of all emissions in Ireland. Overcoming pushback and apprehension around the adoption of sustainable practices seems to be a real problem facing the industry and the environment.
The creation of a reproducible sustainable farming system has the potential to increase uptake of sustainable practices which will benefit both farmers, the environment, and society. Giving farmers insights relating to their own farming practices that consider environmental factors and ecological factors has the potential to be extremely valuable.
Key objectives for sustainability
This project will take the best system of sustainable agriculture and use it. Through examining new initiatives and schemes that are taking place in both Ireland and Europe, such as the farm to fork strategy, the biodiversity strategy which aims for one-quarter of European farmland to be farmed organic by 2030, and the signpost program by Teagasc which is aiding farmers in Ireland in becoming more sustainable.
The research will aid in identifying the best system of sustainable farming leading to the creation of an artifact that will help farmers implement that system. As opposed to many devices on the market such as field management systems for instance that are used to promote chemical pesticides and fertilizers, the research for this project is driven by the concept of local sustainability.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
A range of methodologies will be applied throughout the project, centered around qualitative and quantitative approaches. As sustainability in farming involves everybody, I wish to consider social research methods, such as reviewing and evaluating literature and programs/initiatives relating to my idea. Also developing knowledge by conducting stakeholder interviews gathering concepts, opinions, and experiences relating to the topic this can be done through informal interviews/ conversations and then through a more structured format such as questionnaires or surveys, these insights will produce quantitative returns which can be examined and implemented in the artifact.
For the design, I will use an Agile approach. Agile development aims to bring an iterative approach to user experience design and is centred around feedback and rapid prototyping. Agile design and development focus on individuals and interactions over processes and tools while also responding to change.
User testing will be implemented keeping in line with the agile approach. The testing carried out will involve the main target group for the product, which is industrial farmers. User testing will help uncover what stakeholders think about using the product, does the basic functionality work and have value, and is it easy to navigate? While also providing feedback for iteration of the product and improving the quality of the experience.
Key objectives for inclusion
The idea would involve and include numerous stakeholders in the agricultural sector including alternative farmers who have already adopted sustainable and ecological approaches to their farming methods and also industrial farmers who need to adopt sustainable approaches.
Innovative character
The idea of sustainability and farming is something that has been theorized extensively and is well defined the innovation is required in the implementation of such practices, using technology as a tool that can help farmers in the uptake of sustainable farming practices could be extremely benficial.
Technologies developed currently support a monoculture system of farming, an artifact that aids in biodiversity and takes an ecological approach to the problems facing the agriculture sector such as excessive C02 emissions, monoculture systems, and thin profit margins will benefit both farmers and the environment.
