A financial and managerial evaluation of the impacts of adopting radio-frequency identification technology on a conservation agriculture farm in the Swartland

Thesis (MAgric) --Stellenbosch University, 2024.

ENGLISH SUMMARY: Global population growth and urbanisation have increased the demand for food significantly. The global population figure surpassed eight billion in 2022 and two billion more people are projected for 2050. More than half of the population lives in urban areas, a figure expected to rise to 70%, expanding urban areas by 1.2 billion square kilometres. This growth intensifies food insecurity and pressures agricultural resources, necessitating increased food production often encroaching on fragile ecological regions. This increased pressure on agriculture necessitates sustainable farming practices. Fragile ecosystems, like the Amazon and Sahel, are particularly at risk from expansion. Conservation agriculture (CA) is a sustainable solution that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, conserves resources and enhances soil health. It is based on three principles: minimal soil disturbance, maintaining crop residues and crop rotation. CA improves yields, reduces vulnerability to climate shocks and provides broader environmental benefits, like carbon sequestration and reducing water system pollution. CA reduces soil disturbances, while precision livestock farming (PLF) technologies are designed to assist producers in managing livestock in a more efficient and data-driven manner. The contributions of CA towards sustainable production are well-known and proven, while the impacts of PLF and livestock towards sustainable production are less known. This study implements trial data from Langgewens Research Farm and technical PLF data, specifically radio-frequency identification, to evaluate the financial viability of this technology within a CA system in the Swartland region. Agriculture production systems are complex, consisting of various interrelated components. A whole-farm budget model is developed within a systems framework to evaluate and compare two typical production systems aligned within CA principles. As a benchmark for comparison, the model was based on a typical farm in the relatively homogeneous farming region of Middle Swartland. Research began with trial data on a specific crop rotation system — System E — from Langgewens Research Farm. This data was adapted for use in financial analysis and integrated into the typical farm model. Additionally, technical radiofrequency identification (RFID) data on sheep production was incorporated to evaluate and compare the viability of PLF technology within a CA. This study highlights the substantial potential of RFID and PLF technologies in transforming modern agriculture. The detailed analysis and sensitivity evaluations clearly demonstrate that these advanced tools not only enhance gross income per hectare but also offer substantial benefits in terms of efficiency, animal health, overall farm management and profitability and risk mitigation. By integrating technologies within a CA system, farmers can make more informed decisions, optimise resource use and improve their environmental footprint.

AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Wereldwye bevolkingsgroei en verstedeliking het die vraag na voedsel aansienlik verhoog. Die wereldbevolkingsyfer het agt biljoen in 2022 oortref en twee miljoen meer mense word vir 2050 geprojekteer. Meer as die helfte van die bevolking woon in stedelike gebiede, 'n syfer wat verwag word om tot 70% te styg, wat stedelike gebiede met 1,2 miljoen vierkante kilometer uitbrei. Hierdie groei verskerp voedselonsekerheid en druk landbouhulpbronne, wat verhoogde voedselproduksie noodsaak wat dikwels brose ekologiese streke binnedring. Hierdie verhoogde druk op landbou verhoog die noodsaaklikheid van volhoubare boerderypraktyke. Sensitiewe ekosisteme, soos die Amasone en Sahel, loop veral die risiko van uitbreiding. Bewaringslandbou (BL) is 'n volhoubare oplossing wat kweekhuisgasvrystellings verminder, hulpbronne bewaar en grondgesondheid verbeter. Dit is gebaseer op drie beginsels: minimale grondversteuring, instandhouding van oesreste en wisselbou. BL verbeter opbrengste, verminder kwesbaarheid vir klimaatskokke en bied breer omgewingsvoordele, soos koolstofsekwestrasie en die vermindering van waterstelselbesoedeling. BL verminder grondversteurings, terwyl presisie-veeboerderytegnologiee (PVT) ontwerp is om produsente te help om vee op 'n meer doeltreffende en datagedrewe wyse te bestuur. Die bydraes van GR tot volhoubare produksie is welbekend en bewys, terwyl die impak van PVT en vee op volhoubare produksie minder bekend is. Hierdie studie implementeer proefdata van Langgewens Navorsingsplaas en tegniese PVT-data, spesifiek radiofrekwensie-identifikasie, om die finansiele lewensvatbaarheid van hierdie tegnologie binne 'n BL-stelsel in die Swartland-streek te evalueer. Landbouproduksiestelsels is kompleks en bestaan uit verskeie onderling verwante komponente. 'n Hele plaasbegrotingsmodel word binne 'n stelselraamwerk ontwikkel om twee tipiese produksiestelsels wat binne BL-beginsels belyn is, te evalueer en te vergelyk. As 'n maatstaf vir vergelyking was die model gebaseer op 'n tipiese plaas in die relatiewe homogeniese boerderystreek, die Middel-Swartland. Navorsing het begin met proefdata oor 'n spesifieke wisselboustelsel - Stelsel E - van Langgewens Navorsingsplaas. Hierdie data is aangepas vir gebruik in finansiele ontleding en geintegreer in die tipiese plaasmodel. Daarbenewens is tegniese radiofrekwensie-identifikasie (RFID) data oor skaapproduksie opgeneem om die lewensvatbaarheid van PVT-tegnologie binne BL te evalueer en te vergelyk. Hierdie studie beklemtoon die aansienlike potensiaal van RFID- en PV-tegnologiee in die transformasie van moderne landbou. Die gedetailleerde ontleding en sensitiwiteitsevaluerings toon duidelik dat hierdie gevorderde instrumente nie net bruto inkomste per hektaar verbeter nie, maar ook aansienlike voordele bied ten opsigte van doeltreffendheid, dieregesondheid, algehele plaasbestuur en winsgewendheid en risikoversagting. Deur tegnologiee binne 'n GR-stelsel te integreer, kan boere meer ingeligte besluite neem, hulpbrongebruik optimaliseer en hul omgewingsvoetspoor verbeter.

Masters