BCG moving ahead with a data farmer co-op
- By: "Farm Tender" News
- Cattle News
- Sep 25, 2017
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The Birchip Cropping Group will be taking the next step in forming a data farmer co-operative when they undertake the next workshop in Birchip on 18 October 2017.
After the completion of the ‘traceability and data cooperative feasibility study’ in May 2017, further work is being conducted to further the concept and start to implement steps to create a co-operative.
The workshop will explore how growers can extract more value from their aggregated data through the establishment of a co-operative.
BCG CEO Chris Sounness explained that growers and industry representatives understand the barriers to using data on-farm, but the aim of the workshops would be to start to break down these barriers.
“The complexity, accessibility and accuracy of data are all issues that need to be tackled before growers and industry are confident in using data to improve their enterprises,” said Mr Sounness.
“Investment cost and length of payback period are key issues raised when discussing data, and are a genuine concern that will need further investigation before finding a solution.”
Open to Wimmera and Mallee growers, the workshop aims to examine the rationale for a data co-op and scope the best business model to achieve it.
Mr Sounness mentioned that BCG are working with people who have vast knowledge and experience in the area, which will assist as a data co-operative is something that hasn’t been conducted in this area before.
“Representatives from the Business of Co-operatives and Mutuals, and Ag Data legal specialist, Leanne Wiseman from Griffith University, are assisting with this project” Mr Sounness said.
The project is funded by the Farm Co-Operatives and Collaboration Pilot Program (Farming Together Program), auspiced by the Southern Cross University to administer the Program by the Commonwealth of Australia, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
The workshop will be conducted at the BCG office and will run from 9am to 3pm.
To find out more about the workshop or to RSVP contact the BCG office on (03) 5492 2787 or email info@bcg.org.au. RSVP essential for catering purposes by the 13 October.
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