Agri-food is the largest sector in the UK and fourth largest in the world - generating £121.6bn in revenue and employing four million people in the UK.

With the world population projected to reach 9.9 billion by 2050 (UN), the need for primary production to innovate effectively to meet the planet’s needs is more important than ever.

Precision farming addresses the problem that there isn't enough land in production to feed the number of people needing to be fed using current farming methods. With precision agriculture, farmers can use their resources in a smarter way, aided by technology.

For example, using highly accurate data farmers can apply nutrients, water, seed, and other agricultural inputs to grow more crops in a wide range of soil environments. This data lets farmers know how much and when to apply these inputs to use fewer resources but increase the yield.

Soil maps that identify the spatial distribution of soil texture within the fields can be used to create prescription maps for seed drilling. This is achieved through examining soil conductivity in the fields and assessing which parts of a field are likely to give a better yield.

By observing, measuring, and responding to variability in crops within and between fields, using the prescription maps from the soil scanning, the rate controller on the seed drill can variably apply seed across the field. GPS-controlled tractors can ensure this is done in the most efficient way.

The Role of Sustainable Farming Standards

The agriculture sector is moving towards precision or ‘smart’ farming, and standards are supporting this transition.

For example, there is a standard in development for the use of drones in farming capable of assessing growth rates, soil conditions, and insect infestations with great accuracy (ISO ISO/TC 20/SC 16, unmanned aircraft systems).

The sustainability standard BS 8001 Circular economy is a business improvement standard that can get food sector companies started on the path. It includes detailed advice on how to integrate sustainability best practices into their operations. It explains the six principles of the circular economy and provides guidance on how to make each one a core part of business operations.

BS 8001 also draws on ISO’s environmental management system standard. In fact, if your organization has implemented a robust BS EN ISO 14001 EMS, some of the more challenging work associated with adopting a circular economy may have been done when you considered the lifecycle perspective of your product(s) or service(s) in clause 6.1.2 Environmental aspects.

BS EN ISO 25177 Soil quality provides guidance on the description of soil in the field and its environmental context. It is applicable to natural, near-natural, urban, and industrial sites. The soil observations and measurements can be made on a project site level, on a plot level, on layer or horizon level, and on specific soil constituents.

BSI’s Aerial Compliance Programme

BSI is integrating drones in combination with aerial data and analytics to transform audit delivery and agricultural operational management while improving transparency in programs such as RSPO’s Principles and Criteria. Our innovative pilot program leverages technology to support the assessment of oil palm plantations to increase the sustainability of this sensitive crop.

To learn more, download our brochure here.

Discover BSI Knowledge

We understand the immense challenge agricultural businesses are facing to rapidly adopt innovative and sustainable ways to increase their food production. Our tailored BSI Knowledge subscription service provides flexibility, access, visibility, and control over the standards and insights your team needs to achieve this objective. With over 1,600 agriculture and agricultural engineering documents available in our GBM36 module, finding the right standards for your business needs just got easier. Request to learn more.