Artificial intelligence (AI) is now being used to give farmers and the food supply chain a more accurate picture of the carbon footprint of their feed – one of the biggest contributors to farm greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Data specialists Map of Ag (MOA) say feed typically accounts for around 30% of total dairy farm emissions, second only to enteric methane based on their data. Yet most current carbon calculators rely heavily on generic default values for ration components, limiting the scope for farmers to take targeted action.
To address this, Map of Ag has developed a series of unique AI agents that can read feed tickets and calculate the carbon emissions of those feeds with a high degree of accuracy, rather than relying on generic values.
John Warburton, Sustainability Consultant at Map of Ag, explains: “With increased demand for more accurate feed data, there is a need for feed data processing to happen both at scale and at speed. These AI agents have been successfully integrated within MOA’s feed data processing team to achieve this with a high degree of accuracy.
“When we started three years ago, we were typing and processing this data manually. What used to take months now takes hours,” says Mr Warburton.
Mr Warburton adds: “This accurate feed emissions data not only helps farmers make smarter on-farm decisions, such as optimising rations or sourcing lower-carbon ingredients, but also allows retailers and supply chain partners to better track and manage sustainability across the food chain.
“Ultimately, the aim is to provide farmers with robust, trustworthy emissions data while protecting the commercial sensitivities of feed suppliers,” he adds.
