news
The industry newsletter from Australasia’s leading private agricultural research organisation
May 2015
Drones pioneer brand
new era in industry
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, are pioneering a
brand new era in delivering an integrated system of data collection
and analysis for the agricultural industry.
The potential to harness this new technology to secure crop viability and deliver
greater profitability continues to generate worldwide interest.
The agricultural industry is tipped to become the biggest users of this new innovation.
Dr Kevin Price is the Executive Vice President of Applied Research and Technology
Development for AgPixel; a company which processes unmanned, manned and
satellite imagery for precision agricultural dealers.
Dr Price retired from Kansas State University in March last year where he held a
dual appointment in Agronomy and Geography. He retained the title of Professor
Emeritus in Agronomy.
He continues to work across academe and industry, aiming to put theory into
practice of how precision agricultural systems like UAVs can truly benefit the sector.
Dr Price said the type of system employed varied according to industry need.
He said the most important part of aerial imaging work, whether it be unmanned or
manned, is in converting imagery into information which a farmer can use to make
good economically and environmentally sound crop management decisions.
“If a person wants to simply fly over their fields quickly to get a colour picture or
video from a bird’s eye view to see visible areas of concern such as hail damage, spider
mites or sudden death syndrome, then a colour camera would suffice,” Dr Price said.
“When using a more advanced sensor such as a modified Near Infrared (NIR) we
can begin to see stress in sensitivities that are not detectable with the naked eye.
“This can give a scout or agronomist valuable pre-emptive awareness to fight against
a particular stressor to avoid additional yield drag.
continued on page 3
Benefits abound
through global
work programs
> page 4
Contributing to
industry leads to
fulfilling career
> page 6
GLP offers long-term
safety net
> page 8
news
Editorial…
Ian Macleod
Managing Director
This year marks a personal
milestone in my career.
Just recently, I celebrated 30 years
in the business. I have been fortunate
enough to have had a front row seat to
the huge advances and challenges the
agricultural industry has and continues
to experience the world over.
Thirty years on and it still ceases to
amaze me.
I arrived at the company in 1985 when
it was known as Serve-Ag Research.
I was the company’s first full-time
employee in research and development,
based in Devonport Tasmania.
Since then the company has been
re-branded to Peracto and increased
staff numbers. We now employ over 60
people across Australia with three offices
in New Zealand.
We have and continue to devote
attention and resources to attracting
the next generation of research
scientists; something which I am quite
passionate about.
While our ongoing growth is
celebrated, so too has been the
enormous changes which have occurred
in the agricultural sector.
Like many other industries,
technology has revolutionised how we
do business.
From front office operations and ITbased roles through to irrigation and
robotics, technology has pioneered a
whole new frontier.
Technology has also created greater
pathways of communication too. Not
just in the same state or country, but
internationally too.
It’s helped to forge new partnerships
and research opportunities, which in
turn, have created better outcomes and
opportunities for all.
As they say, it’s now a global village.
www.peracto.com
Ian Macleod, Managing Director
Telephone: +61 3 6423 2044
Email: [email protected]
Graham Marshall, General Manager
Telephone: +61 3 6423 2044
Email: [email protected]
Andrew Woodcock, Business Manager
Telephone: +61 3 6423 2044
Email: [email protected]
General Project Enquiries
Phillip Frost
Mobile: 0409 841 692
Email: [email protected]
Residue Projects
Bronwyn Haller
Mobile: 0420 520 582
Email: [email protected]
Tasmania
Phillip Frost
Mobile: 0409 841 692
Email: [email protected]
Hoong Pung
Mobile: 0409 400 063
Email: [email protected]
victoria
Luca Bernasconi
Mobile: 0409 422 551
Email: [email protected]
South East Queensland
Chris Themsen
Mobile: 0408 197 180
Email: [email protected]
North Queensland
Chris Monsour
Mobile: 0429 134 537
Email: [email protected]
Western Australia
Mark Sumner
Mobile: 0408 948 245
Email: [email protected]
South Australia
Richard Porter
Mobile: 0413 027 670
Email: [email protected]
Peracto Chairman Buz Green congratulates Managing Director Ian Macleod on
achieving 30 years in the business.
2
New Zealand
Paul Munro
Telephone: +64 9 238 1102 Mobile: +64 2142 4466
Email: [email protected]
Editorial: Anna Osborne
Design: Simon Schorn
www.peracto.com
The industry newsletter from Australasia’s leading private agricultural research organisation
May 2015
Drones pioneer brand new era in industry
continued from page 1
“Lastly, with these advanced sensors
we can begin to establish data-driven
precision ag solutions around irrigation,
variable rate herbicide and pesticide
use, study compaction issues, compare
survivability of planting population
trials, effectiveness of fungicide, monitor
implement failures, calculate the exact
number of weather damage for insurance
claims and much more.
“What is key is to consider the grower’s
personal challenges for their region, their
crops, and their existing farm management
solutions, then begin to consider how this
technology can uniquely be applied for
personalised benefits.”
Dr Price said amongst the new
technology’s advances has been price.
He said two years ago a UAV package
would have cost $15,000.
Today, the same model with additional
features and abilities, would be $10,000.
“For fixed-wing UAVs, the arrival
of advanced foam material gives a
durability factor that is critical to in-field
landings,” Dr Price said.
“For multirotors, incremental flight
times have improved approximately
15-20% due to enhanced motor and
battery breakthroughs.”
www.peracto.com
While the advances and interest
in the area of UAVs continues to
grow, attention has also been given to
addressing any concerns surrounding
the systems.
Dr Price said legalities around flying
restrictions pertaining to a country’s
jurisdiction, data processing and scaling
(the ability of a UAV commercial service
provider to profitability fly a customer’s
fields) are being widely discussed across
the industry.
“We must remember that the purpose
of the UAV is to carry a sensor to collect
the best data possible,” he said.
“We see many aircraft that carry small
sensors in order to overcome flight
endurance issues or simply cut costs.
“The data is only as good as the
sensor on board for the job needed.
It would be desirable to see aircraft
designed around the sensor, and not
the reverse.
“The imagery however is of little value
unless it is converted to information that
the farmer can use.”
Dr Price said a collective approach
from both growers and researchers was
vital to securing long-term gains offered
by the new technology.
“While affordability of the technology
is ever changing, one thing that remains
is the necessity of training,” he said.
“Farmers must be willing to spend an
appropriate amount of time and energy
learning their aircraft and how to safely
integrate it into their everyday lives.
“Second, what is needed the most
is to have the UAV hardware, sensor
selection expertise, ease of data
processing, and research worlds to
come together under one roof to help
farmers begin to better understand
what and how this data can save or
make them more money.
“The research and science is
fundamental to establishing the proven
value of the data to the grower.”
3
news
Benefits abound
through global
work programs
Audrey Petit from
Toulouse, France.
Pursuing global exchange
programs, or hosting
international staff, offers a
vast array of opportunities
and benefits.
Overseas visitors get the chance to
gain insight and knowledge beyond
their own borders, while company staff
enjoy the sharing and exchange of skills,
information, practices and experiences.
Peracto New Zealand has just recently
hosted its first international research
staff member.
Lindsay Birch arrived in New Zealand
from Technology Crops International on
Prince Edward Island, Canada.
She was employed at Peracto New
Zealand as a researcher on a four month
contract from December 2014 until April
this year.
By all accounts it has proven to be a
very successful venture.
“This is the first time we have
employed someone from overseas on
a casual basis,” Peracto New Zealand
Manager Paul Munro said.
“Our team has provided a positive
response to Lindsay, her willingness to
work and her work ethic.
“Similarly, Lindsay enjoyed her time
with Peracto New Zealand and has
gained some experiences in crops and
systems she hadn’t worked with before.
Melissa Nelson
from Kansas, USA.
Lindsay Birch from Prince
Edward Island, Canada.
4
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The industry newsletter from Australasia’s leading private agricultural research organisation
“We will be re-employing her in five
months’ time for a further stint
in Canterbury.”
Mr Munro said Lindsay’s arrival also
coincided with the busiest period in
each of the company’s three locations –
Pukekohe, Hastings and Christchurch.
“Having someone experienced has
meant that little training was required in
the field and office,” he said.
The opportunity to learn from an
international researcher working across the
three sites was not lost on the team either.
“Anybody who works in a different
country provides our existing staff with
different perspectives,” Mr Munro said.
“Lindsay has worked in the same and
different cropping systems to New Zealand.
“Learning how she conducts assessments
or makes spray applications gives us the
May 2015
ability to gauge whether we need to change
our systems for improvement.
“What we have learnt from the
inaugural visit from Lindsay has shown
what we can gain from overseas visitors
wanting to work here.”
Peracto continues to support a global
work program, having hosted visitors
from countries including Belgium, Italy,
France, Canada and USA.
French student gains
head start to career
French student Benjamin
Mulet (pictured) has gained a
memorable head start to his
agricultural career.
Benjamin recently spent five months
with Peracto on an internship at the
company’s Devonport office.
His decision to venture thousands
of kilometres away from home to
experience Australia’s agricultural
industry first hand has further cemented
his career ambitions.
“It was my first professional experience
and I did it overseas,” he said.
“In the beginning, I wanted to find an
agricultural company which was situated
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overseas because it was very important
for me to understand other customs and
skills at work.
“I had a discussion with staff who
work for Staphyt, a company similar to
Peracto but based in Europe, although
due to the season it wasn’t ideal to
pursue work experience at that time.
“So the best solution was to travel to
the southern hemisphere, where thanks
to the links between Peracto and Staphyt,
I gained a position at Peracto.
“I realised it is possible to travel overseas
to gain other skills and knowledge.”
Benjamin is in his fourth year at
ESITPA, a School of Agriculture situated
in the north west of France.
The school prepares students to work
in the fields of agronomics; innovation
and agribusiness; and business
management and entrepreneurship.
At Peracto he was able to put his training
into practice, joining the technical team
and working with Dr Hoong Pung.
Benjamin managed his own trial and
prepared a report, collecting data and
providing analysis which culminated in a
poster presentation.
“I learnt a lot of things including how
to manage a trial, what the results mean
and how to problem solve,” he said.
“The communication between staff
was great. At any point people would
take time out to help you.
“It was a real pleasure to work there.”
5
news
Contributing to industry
leads to fulfilling career
This year, Susan Cross
celebrated 20 years at Peracto,
where she has experienced firsthand many different changes to
the industry.
What attracted you to a
career in the agricultural
industry?
I was born into a farming family and
from a young age I started working
on the family farm which runs beef
cattle and a few sheep. I worked in a
laboratory and then in tourism in the
Northern Territory for a while but
preferred working in agriculture and
returned to Tasmania. When I am not
working at Peracto I help my mother
run the family farm.
6
How long have you been
at Peracto? What is your
current role?
I have worked at Peracto for 20
years. I work as a Technical Officer
with Dr Hoong Pung, specialising in
research surrounding plant disease
management. Our work addresses all
major disease concerns that impact
on vegetable production in Tasmania.
We deal with crops including potatoes,
onions, broccoli, peas, beans and
lettuce. Previously I was involved in
many industry projects on disease
management funded by AusVeg and
Horticulture Australia. Now I work
mainly on projects surrounding new
product development for disease control.
I conduct trials in the field, glasshouse
or laboratory, plan and set up trials,
spraying, doing assessments and carry
out diagnostic testing.
What have been some of
the major changes that you
have seen in the industry?
There have been huge changes
at work. We have evolved from a
small team of six within Serve-Ag
in Tasmania to becoming a separate
company re-named as Peracto Pty
Ltd. We now have offices throughout
Australia and New Zealand and
service national and international
corporate clients. Other changes have
been the use of wireless technology
for communications, recording and
processing data. This includes the use
of smartphones, iPads and iClouds for
storing and sharing information.
www.peracto.com
The industry newsletter from Australasia’s leading private agricultural research organisation
May 2015
RIGHT: Susan recently celebrated 20 years
with the company.
What do you enjoy most
about working in the
industry?
Knowing that I am contributing
to the agricultural industry is
extremely rewarding.
I enjoy my role at Peracto because
the work I do is so varied and
challenging, involving outdoor and
indoor activities, working with
many different crops and meeting
many people on farms. Every day
is different. What I do changes
constantly; I am still learning new
things, which makes my role very
interesting.
www.peracto.com
7
news
GLP offers
long-term
safety net
In business protecting assets and services is a
priority not just for today, but for the future.
As global markets grow and expand, securing a company’s longterm survival and reputation is pivotal to its ultimate success.
Peracto’s investment in GLP not only continues to meet
Australian standards, but is increasing its knowledge and knowhow of international regulatory frameworks.
“GLP (Good Laboratory Practice) is vital to an agricultural
company,” Peracto Study Director Bronwyn Haller said.
“It provides traceability and accountability. It shows process
and product development has been carried out to strict industry
standards by trained and authorised personnel.
“It is a long-term safety net.”
Peracto Managing Director Ian Macleod said GLP should be
a core foundation to any business.
“If an external audit is carried out or study issues arise, GLP
ensures good practice has been followed and secures the data
for the company,” he said.
“It’s insurance for the future.”
GLP is the regulatory framework set out by the OECD
(Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)
for how non-clinical scientific studies are conducted.
It provides assurances to regulatory authorities that
the data from studies submitted meets a stringent set of
guidelines and principles.
Team members from Peracto’s Melbourne office (from left)
Dylan Roche, Luca Bernasconi and Vincenzo Scudiero recently
took out the company’s GLP award.
8
Keeping up-to-date with global practices and standards are
Peracto staff members Jason Rittman and Melanie Bower.
Peracto is involved in hundreds of GLP trials a year with
clients across Australia and increasingly overseas.
Bronwyn has just returned from the international conference
of the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants, held
in Nevada in the United States.
The conference attracted a global contingent of industry
representatives from countries including France, England
and Brazil.
“GLP is such a niche market in Australia,” Bronwyn said.
“If we want to continue to grow our capacity we need to keep
up-to-date with global standards and practices.
“The conference provided a perfect platform to meet and
talk with peers from a number of countries, and to learn more
about where we can improve our practices to better cater for
international studies.”
Mr Macleod said the company dedicates much attention
to ongoing improvements through product development and
staff training.
“It is so important that the studies we carry out here in
Australia are acceptable in other countries,” he said.
“Through partnerships there is more sharing of data in
different countries.
“This has seen an increase in global submissions on product
registrations so it is vital we work to global practices.”
For example, while a large majority of countries adhere to
the GLP framework as set out by the OECD, the United States
is governed by the guidelines set out by the country’s EPA
(Environmental Protection Agency).
“We are increasing our familiarity with the EPA system,
ensuring our studies are acceptable in the United States,”
Bronwyn said.
www.peracto.com