Episode 56 - Farming’s Next Leap: AI, Tech and The Future of Productivity

The big craze over how technology and AI will drive the next wave of productivity gains in farming isn’t slowing down. Off the back of Tony Leggett’s feature on improvements in tech in the Summer issue of Country-Wide, Rebecca Greaves and Sarah Perriam-Lampp discuss where the biggest opportunities lie, the barriers to adoption—particularly cost—and the importance of understanding the value behind tech investment.

Guests include:

1. Dani Darke, Nuffield Scholar and King Country sheep and beef farmer
2. Brendan O’Connell, CEO of AgritechNZ

Hosts:

- Rebecca Greaves, Editor, Country-Wide

- Sarah Perriam-Lampp, Managing Director, Country-Wide

King Country sheep and beef farmer Dani Darke has been awarded a 2025 Nuffield Scholarship. Her research will explore how future farmers will interact with digital tools. Dani discusses the potential for AI to improve productivity—especially for smaller, labour-constrained farms—and the importance of staying open-minded about innovation. Dani also shares her plans to explore global agricultural tech trends, from the U.S. arable sector to European developments, and how they might translate to New Zealand’s hill country farming.

Brendan O’Connell, CEO of AgriTech New Zealand, explores the challenges and opportunities in integrating technology into farming systems. He discusses the importance of data-driven decision-making, the barriers to technology adoption, and how AI is already transforming farm management and advisory services. Brendan also shares insights into how collaboration between farmers, investors, and policymakers is essential for unlocking productivity gains and ensuring New Zealand agriculture remains at the forefront of innovation.

• Read Tony Legget’s feature here

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