Tech Suite | AI Impact Series: A focus on agriculture

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In this episode, Technology Partner Tom Maasland speaks with Craig Pattison, Business Strategist and COO at Capability Collective and a leading agritech advocate and advisor, about how AI is transforming the agricultural sector and driving innovation, productivity and sustainability on farms across New Zealand.

[01:34] Tom and Craig discuss how AI is actively being deployed across dairy, livestock, meat processing and horticulture operations in New Zealand. From Fonterra’s herd monitoring systems to quality control of kiwifruit at Zespri, AI is driving smarter farm management, boosting productivity, and delivering positive outcomes for farmers, livestock, and the communities they support.

[03:47] Craig highlights Halter’s smart collars, which automate herd movements and optimise grazing patterns for cows, as a standout AI innovation in this sector, noting how this AI supported innovation supports better pasture management and opens new revenue streams for farmers.

[05:14] Craig talks about various AI applications in crop production, focusing on Cropsy Technologies' AI enabled crop vision system and Rockit Apples’ full supply chain tracking system. These tools help meet high-value export demands and strengthen food traceability and provenance.

[07:18] Tom and Craig then explore key challenges in adopting AI within the agricultural sector, beginning with issues of data transparency and ethical concerns surrounding data ownership and usage, particularly in relation to Māori land. Craig highlights promising initiatives such as Trust Alliance NZ’s digital farm wallet project, ISO/TC 347’s international data standards for agri-food systems, and Te Hiku Media’s Māori-led data platforms, which offer potential solutions to data transparency and ethical challenges.

[10:27] They address the challenge of connectivity and cost in rural areas which can hinder the adoption of AI-based technologies on farm. Craig highlights promising solutions, including the Rural Connectivity Group’s partnership, which is working to establish a tower network enabling more extensive 4G coverage, Starlink satellite internet, and AgriTech NZ’s 'AI on the Edge' initiatives, which support local data processing without the need for high-speed internet. Craig stresses the vital role of connectivity not just for efficient farm operations, but also for farmer safety.

[12:30] Craig notes regulatory complexity as another key challenge for the adoption of AI in agriculture, stressing the need for long-term investment certainty. He points to the AIMS framework (which supports the international standard for AI management, ISO/IEC 42001:2023) as a practical tool for ethical and compliant AI use, emphasising that regulation can serve as a roadmap, rather than a roadblock, for innovation.

[14:34] Tom asks about future priorities, prompting Craig to explain the importance of regulatory clarity, AI literacy, and national coordination. He emphasises the need for farmers to adopt AI strategically and for the sector to shift from volume to value production. They wrap up with a call to create a learning culture through existing farming networks.

Information in this episode is accurate as at the date of recording, 6 May 2025.

For show notes and additional resources visit minterellison.co.nz/podcasts