Episode 138 - How Smart Farming Can Feed a Growing Population

Autonomous technology is transforming industries—and farming is no exception.

From food security to greater environmental awareness, there are many factors increasing the demand for enhanced productivity and efficiency in agriculture. Smart farming, defined as the modern use of information and communication technologies in agriculture, is one answer to these challenges.

As we look to the future, smart farming will include the use of autonomous agricultural vehicles, including tractors and other machinery, to help farmers produce more food, more sustainably, from the same amount of land. To achieve this goal, farmers and researchers from around the world are developing standards and specifications using the latest autonomous technologies and infrastructure to make farming more holistic, sustainable, and efficient.

We sat down with Johannes Lehmann, Head of Business Development, Smart Farming at the German Institute for Standardization (DIN), to discuss the autonomous agricultural machinery market, key drivers and barriers to adoption, and how autonomous technology can benefit farmers and society.

SAE EDGE™ Research Reports provide examinations into hot topics facing the mobility industry today. Read the abstract for the joint SAE/DIN report Lehmann co-authored and discussed on this episode – Autonomous Field Robotics – and subscribe to Mobilus to stay in the know.

Meet Our Guest

JOHANNES LEHMANN
Head of Business Development, Smart Farming, DIN - German Institute for Standardization

Johannes Lehmann is head of business development in the field of smart farming at the German Institute for Standardization (DIN). His goal is to make agriculture and food value creation more holistic, sustainable, and efficient. He relies on the latest information technologies and the standardization of data, processes, interfaces, and infrastructure to ensure that solutions are compatible with each other and bring benefits to society. Additionally, he is concerned with involving all stakeholders. For him, partnerships, collaborations, and consensus-building are the most important cornerstones for realizing his vision. Lehmann is also the founder of the “Initiative CO2 Bindung e.V.” association which supports projects related to natural carbon dioxide sinks.

Lehmann grew up on a farm and is therefore familiar with and closely rooted in agricultural practices. With the experience gained during his time working with different agricultural machinery manufacturers (e.g., AGCO Corporation)—and his political communication work—he understands how to present and interpret the interests of the multi-stakeholder landscape of the agri-food tech sector and to derive strategies based on this landscape. He succeeds in this by combining perspectives from technology, economics, politics, and social factors. With his experience, Lehmann also supports start-ups in the agricultural and food sectors as a coach and mentor in various projects, such as Project Together, Startup Gate e.V., and others.

Our Host


 

GRAYSON BRULTE
Innovation Strategist & Co-Founder, Brulte & Company
 

Grayson Brulte is an autonomous mobility advisor and consultant who provides strategic counsel and political insights to help clients navigate what’s next.

As an SAE strategic partner since 2017, Grayson brings his in-depth industry knowledge to host SAE Tomorrow Today. His unique perspective factors in economics, politics and technology into one-of-kind weekly conversations with innovators changing mobility and its impact on society.

Grayson is a thought-leader who regularly provides insights to publications including Bloomberg, Reuters, The Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, Hollywood Reporter and Forbes. His written opinions and insights have been featured by organizations including the Consumer Technology Association in presentations to the Federal Trade Commission.

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