PREDICTIVE ANALYTICS & THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY

Who Am I?

Wesley Booth

Wolfville native Enrolled @ Acadia

University Entrepreneur

Why Am I Here?

Agenda

What is Predictive Analytics? Applications of Predictive Analytics

How Can This Help Agriculture? Precision Agriculture The Relationship – Predictive Analytics & Precision Agriculture Example – Apple Scab

Why Invest? Economic Impact Reasons

What Is Predictive Analytics?

Predictive Analytics

Describes a range of analytical and statistical techniques used for developing models that may be used to predict future events or behaviors.

Applications Of Predictive Analytics Direct marketing

Google AdWords Fraud detection

Insurance Cross-sell & upsell

Retail Customer relationship

management Salesforce

HOW CAN THIS HELP AGRICULTURE?

PRECISION AGRICULTURE

Defined

1997 An integrated information and production-based farming system that is designed to increase long term, site-specific and whole farm production efficiency, productivity and profitability while minimizing unintended impacts on the wildlife and the environment.

Today Using real-time data on weather, soil and air quality, crop maturity and even equipment and labor costs and availability, predictive analytics can be used to make smarter decisions.

How Can Predictive Analytics Be Used In Precision Agriculture?

The Relationship

Predictive Analytics – Precision Agriculture

Optimizing crop yields 90% of crop loss is due to weather

Water management 70% of world’s fresh water is used for irrigation

Minimizing large variable costs Animal feed Labour

Intelligent pesticide, herbicide, & fungicide spraying

Using Predictive Analytics To Detect & Control Apple Scab

Example

Apple Scab - Problem

Economic threat Crop loss & quality

control Resistance development

Apple Scab – Solution

Optimize fungicide spray timing

Minimize number of sprays

Improve crop quality Reduce risk

Why Invest?

Economic Impact – Kings County

Apple Scab Example

Nova Scotia produces 2.5 million bu/year

Cost 2010 ($) With Predictive Analytics ($)

Cost Reduction

Hired Labour 115,776 115,776*(.90) = 104,198.40

$11,577.60

Fungicides 20,151 20,151*(.90) = 18,135.90 $2,015.10

Total Variable Costs 270,961 257,368.30 $13,592.70

Total Apple Production

47,120 47,120*(1.10) = 51,832 4,712 (increase)

Variable Cost/bu 5.75 4.97 $0.78

Total Provincial Cost 14,375,000

12,425,000 $1,950,000

Other Reasons

Competitive advantage Atlantic Food & Horticulture Research Centre Access to key resources – Acadia University

Acadia Centre for Rural Innovation Data Analytics Institute Potential spin-off projects

Young & dedicated leadership

QUESTIONS?

Thank You