Conference 2019 - Speakers

We have a wonderful line up of expert speakers, who will cover the challenges, benefits, opportunities and pitfalls of working collboratively: 

IAgrE President Professor Jane Rickson - Conference Convenor

Jane is Professor of Soil Erosion and Conservation in the Cranfield Soil and AgriFood Institute, School of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University. She has specialised in land resource management at MSc and PhD level.  Her work has focused on the assessment, monitoring and management of soil resources to advance understanding of soil functions and their role in the delivery of ecosystems goods and services, such as agricultural production, water regulation and carbon storage.  Jane works with individual farmers, grower groups, agribusinesses, Research Councils and policy makers at the local, national and international level.

Introductory remarks: – Understanding the Big Data challenge and the opportunities this brings for farmers and the wider supply and support system. Looking at the engineering and technology challenges and opportunities.

Benjamin Turner, Chief Operating Officer, Agrimetrics 

Benjamin leads data and operations for Agrimetrics, one of the UK's four AgriTech Centres. Agrimetrics's mission is to catalyse the UK agrifood sector through the power of big data and advanced analytics. Benjamin's team is creating a platform business upon which anyone can create data products and services for the market.

Previously Benjamin has created the data strategy and led the building of data capabilities in various industries including FMCG, professional services, media and hospitality. Benjamin is a chemical engineer by training and is a Chartered Engineer

The role of Big Data in unlocking unimaginable solutions to feeding the world and environmental protection – Agrimetrics  provides, connects and analyses complex data to drive greater productivity for agrifood businesses and deliver food sustainably. This session will explore how big data emerging from engineering/machinery-driven applications is transforming and has transformed other industries and therefore where there may be great potential for Agriculture.

Oliver Wood, Precision Technology Manager, Omnia Precision Agronomy  

Oliver joined H L Hutchinson Ltd as Precision Technology Manager, where his role is to manage the company’s precision agronomy services. His main area of responsibility is the on-farm delivery and continual development of our in-house Omnia precision agronomy platform. Alongside this, he has responsibility for the development of complementary services, like the iPad variable rate control system Connect, and the soil scanning service TerraMap.

Oliver graduated in 2005 from Harper Adams with a 2:1 honours degree in Agriculture with Mechanisation and then joined John Deere as a precision farming specialist and then moved to other roles within the business. This then led to a role with a precision farming services company for a number of years.  He then took a break from precision farming and worked abroad for two years managing an oil palm plantation in Papua New Guinea before returning to the UK to join Hutchinsons in 2014.

How will Big Data Transform Agriculture – Practical Lessons from the Farm – From Agronomist to Grain Merchant, Farm Manager to Machine operator, the role of data in shaping decisions and improving yields has moved on apace. This session will look at the work of agronomists and the emerging role of Precision Technology advisor and integrator. This session will focus on how the agricultural support network will link technology, knowledge and advice to deliver sustainable farmingLinking Technology, Knowledge and Advice to Deliver Sustainable Farming

Dr Joachim Stiegemann, Product Manager, Claas

The next generation Claas LEXION Combine Harvester – How data collection can contribute to smarter framing. Optimising machine performance with continuous data access allowing the manufacture to fine tune the machine “on the move” through simultaneous “access data” and “connectivity” and on board support. In addition, “data delivery” and “data reception” to or from other systems and decision making tools. These tools can be vehicle/fleet related or contribute to the classic precision farming approach enabling an operation to utilize input more effectively - the right amount, at the right place and time.

Anthony Furness, Harper Adams University     

A Consultant Practitioner and Chartered Engineer with academic and business interests in automatic identification and data capture (AIDC), object-connected ICT and engineering applied to agriculture, food security, climate change and planetary boundaries. Current activities in automatic identification focus on the Internet of Things (IoT) applied to agriculture, based on over twenty years’ experience in the AIDC technologies. He has been involved, often in a lead role, in specifying and delivering numerous AIDC-related national and European projects, including Technical Coordinator in two EU projects concerning object-connected technologies and the Internet of Things.

Current interests in engineering are concerned with Research into electromagnetic interaction with biological systems in relation to agriculture, food security and planetary boundaries. These interests are currently being pursued through a Visiting Professorship with Harper Adams University (HAU), Engineering Department, and the National Centre for Precision Farming (NCPF) hosted by HAU.

IOT for Agriculture – The opportunity is now presented for the agricultural industry to take a lead in defining an IoT structure for specific agricultural support that goes beyond the specification of technology and addresses the need for developing a framework for accommodating protocols, standards, the needs for operational governance and open systems infrastructure to assist global application and scalability. This session addresses these challenges and opportunity to realise an industry-lead IoT for Agriculture – an IoAT.

Luke Halsey, Farm 491    

Big Data: Changing the paradigm for small farms – The UK is predominantly made up of small mixed farms, which present very different challenges to large arable farms. Luke Halsey of Farm491, the UK’s leading AgriTech incubator, will explore how big data represents an opportunity for smaller farms and how we can create value for farmers by providing valuable insights from data. From Luke’s experience working alongside AgriTech entrepreneurs he will discuss lessons learned and potential opportunities for smaller farms, as well as the importance of the business model to enable equitable farmer adoptions.​

Luke leads Farm491’s incubation work, supporting companies in the agri-food tech space to achieve their full growth potential as well as building out partnerships and research initiatives to help grow the UK's AgriTech ecosystem. Luke is also Investment Director for California based fund AiiM Partners. Luke has over 10 years experience with environmental and social impact orientated businesses. This includes deep investment experience having worked in California on high impact portfolios around climate change solutions across agrifood, energy and oceans. He has also been involved in numerous research projects focused on breaking down barriers to adoption of innovation in the UK and U.S. to solve some of the biggest global social and environmental problems.

Filippo Fassino - Customer Contact Service Director, CNH Industrial      

Digitalisation and Service Journey – the steps on the journey at CNH Industrial on the digitalisation of their machines and journeys

Filippo leads the the CNH Industrial Corporate Customer Centre which comprises centres covering Europe, Africa, North and Centre America, and South America.
They provide to all the CNH Industrial Brands services related to: Aftersales: Assistance Non Stop, Recall Campaigns, Telematics and User Support, Sales: Direct Email Marketing, Info and Complaints Management, Shopper Feedback

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