Digital ag’s evolution is proving so meteoric, future job titles for rural industries are difficult to define – but the latest offering from the Join the Ag Revolution campaign offers a glimpse of what’s in store.
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For young professional Alice Clark, it’s already challenging to pinpoint her exact role in the digital ag space.
“Agriculture is moving so quickly, one week I am gathering data, the next I’m using it to problem solve and then I’m helping educate farmers,” she said.
“Progression and innovation is ongoing, and it’s a really exciting time to see where it all leads.”
Alice Clark and Brooke Sauer are two women helping pioneer the new digital agricultural frontier.
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Based in Moree, they make up McGregor Gourlay’s digital ag team – developed after recognising their customers were overwhelmed, and underprepared, for the digital revolution.
And they’re inviting all future agricultural leaders to Join the Ag Revolution, in the third instalment of the campaign’s video profiles.
Join the Ag Revolution is an initiative of Gwydir Valley Irrigators Association (GVIA), created to showcase and promote rural industries, and the passionate people behind them.
With a social media platform intended to best capture the targeted audience of graduates and job seekers, GVIA executive officer Zara Lowien said the project was also about promoting the positive agricultural stories.
“Obviously there is a huge focus on the dry season at the moment – and rightly so – but precision agriculture, increased production capabilities and water-saving innovations are all reflective of an industry brimming with opportunity,” she said.
“And we’re going to need key, skilled people on the ground to take this agricultural revolution forward.
“Job roles and diversity within the industry is so broad, these films are intended to highlight and promote the myriad of opportunity – from irrigation technicians, agronomists and engineers.
“The scope of agriculture is shifting.”
Now is the time
Having experienced first-hand the progression of the industry towards digital, Brooke describes the growth as “phenomenal”.
“In my time we’ve gone from no-till to controlled traffic, and now we’re looking into a digital space where the possibilities and opportunities are endless,” she said.
“Ultimately what we will achieve is full paddock-to-plate transparency whereby each loaf of bread, each packet of pasta will be traceable right back to the paddock its grain was grown in.”
With tech start-ups potentially creating 540,000 jobs by 2033, Brooke said now was the time to engage and capture youth, enticing them out of the cities and into rural Australia.
“We have an industry with so much untapped potential, and we’re looking for tomorrow’s leaders today,” she said.
See Facebook/jointheagrevolution to see Alice and Brooke’s video, shot by Rabbit Hop Films, and keep up to date with industry developments.