Digital orchard model to help Australian stonefruit growers adapt to a changing climate
Cooperative Research Centre Food Agility has launched a new project to develop digital stonefruit orchards to help growers adopt new farming practices and adapt to a changing climate.
The Sustainable Orchard of the Future project will create a data-driven digital twin model of a stonefruit orchard complete with immersive 3D visualisation of physical assets and comprehensive analysis of seasonal data.
This digital twin will be combined with plant physiology and radiation models designed to help producers be climate ready and continue making sustainable farm management decisions.
According to Food Agility, the adoption of new and innovative farming practices can be a resource-intensive process for Australian stonefruit growers, requiring the commitment of both time and money. The development of a digital tool will help growers overcome these restrictions and improve sustainability outcomes.
Researchers intend to make sure the platform is user-friendly and can be tailored to suit a variety of different situations. The flexibility will future proof the technology and promote innovation and facilitate an easier adoption of new ag technology.
Partners of the project include Agriculture Victoria, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) and The University of Queensland.
