School science project gives students a taste of future farming

Students are using the very latest in agricultural technologies to give local farmers a taste of the future of farming.

The project involves years 10 and 11 agricultural science students working with local farmers, using very advanced imaging technologies via drones, satellites and land-based instruments, to give detailed assessment of farming lands, including soil condition, water management issues and crop health.

The aim of the project is to prepare students for a future where technology and science, including robotics, advanced computing and unmanned aerial vehicles, would become common place in modern agriculture.

“Many of our kids are from farming backgrounds, so the skills and ideas they gain from this project we hope feeds an appetite for the way in which science and technology can improve our lives. We’ve been out to five local farms, working with macadamia, custard apple, pineapple, strawberry and ginger producers. Out on the farms, the students get the chance to work with drone operators and remote-sensing experts, see the technologies in operation, how they work and why they are so important,” the school head said.