A significant shift in mindset has occurred towards a more technology-driven industry with a system of reduced labour and in some cases partial autonomy.

We are producing more food from the same amount of land due to technological advances and we have the ability to improve that further.

The farmers who are working smarter rather than harder by utilising technology are reaping the benefits of an improved lifestyle and increased profits. However, farmers have to justify investment and ask themselves if this piece of technology can improve their lifestyle, their profit margin, or both in many cases.

As a result of our high production levels, we are an exporting nation and we need to look at what markets we supply and China is central to that.

In this focus, Thomas Hubert profiles retail business Hema Fresh and how they market their products to ensure full traceability.

Phelim O’Neill takes a look at the growing influence of the Chinese online retail system from the Irish Farmers Journal’s recent trade mission alongside government delegates.

Technology

We also take a look at a new and upcoming business, Apisprotect in Cork aiming to monitor beehives using sensor technology. This development will have huge implications for farming as we depend on bees for our crops to pollinate and also the opportunities this technology presents to increase production.

We are living in the smartphone era and over the last decade different apps have been developed to further progress agriculture. We take a look at the latest apps in this Focus, such as fertiliser spreader calibrators and breeding assistance.

Now more than ever we need to look at how technology can help farm safety. To do this we combined some of the handiest apps and devices that can achieve this from the online risk assessment tool to the farm safety app for kids.