Satellite for Agri-Supply-chain Precision Improvements in Circulation Efficiency (S-SPICE)

S-SPICE (Satellite for Agri-Supply-chain Precision Improvements in Circulation Efficiency) addresses the two precarious ways the Covid-19 pandemic is affecting food processing and supply: 1) labour shortages in essential agricultural activities and 2) inefficiency in throughout the global food supply-chain, leading to post-harvest crop losses and food stock inequity. These two problems are being felt by all countries globally due to the intertwined nature of food industry. Particularly those countries with stringent lockdown conditions, reliance on food imports, have a high percentage of smallholder famers and an inability to effectively allocate government/private resources to alleviate transport blockages and bottlenecks in the supply-chain. The problem is compounded as small-medium holder farmers represent 90% (425 million) of all farms worldwide and provide 80% of total global food production and predominantly reside in developing countries with weak transport links, high level of farmer debt and with an agri-ecosystem that does not have data on the farmers or the resources to secure their livelihoods. Wheat and rice have gone up by 8% and 25% respectively, food processing factories are underutilised with many operating <50% capacity, fresh vegetables and fruit are left to decompose due to logistical failure whilst other areas are left food scarce and governments/stakeholders are spending excessive resources on non-data driven solutions and raising import/export barriers. These factors threatens global food security and food diversity.

Coupling remote sensed data via satellites and Big Data allows us to gain better control of our food supply from farm-to-fork. Farm-Hand, a software and data analytics AgriTech company, will develop predictive capabilities regarding growth stage and harvest timings at an individual farm level to improve supply-chain efficiencies - now more important than ever. Farm-Hand innovates in opening data access across the agri-ecosystem and ensures the technology is applicable for both developed and developing countries. Open data allows for transparency and enlightened data-driven decision making by food processors, suppliers and retailers that operate locally and across borders.

To address concerns raised by the Covid-19 pandemic, farm specific data must be remotely collected, processed to increase per unit labour productivity labour and improve insight and efficiency for the local/global supply chain. This project builds on Farm-Hand's foundations in remote sensing applications for agriculture and learnings from delivering agri-productivity enhancing low-cost solutions to the smallholder farmer. Farm-Hand will deliver a farmer-centric, farm-customised, software driven solution to agricultural stakeholders across the value chain improving decision-making, logistics and reducing waste.