AI for ag in your pocket

The developer behind a new smartphone app that gives Australian farmers fast and easy access to the latest critical agricultural information is calling on industry experts to partner with the enterprise.

Developed by research scientist and commodity trader, Les Finemore, who grew up on a cattle farm near Wagga Wagga, the app – known as Yarta.ai – utilises Large Language Model (LLM) technology and artificial intelligence to give farmers easy access to the latest ag knowledge and research.

Dubbed the ‘ChatGPT of Aussie agriculture’, the app helps farmers to employ the latest technologies, products, and strategies to maximise the productivity of their farming operation.

“We use our own proprietary LLM and have curated the content to be highly bespoke to Aussie growers,” Mr Finemore said.

“There’s so much great research being done in agriculture, but farmers either don’t have time to read through studies or they don’t even know they exist.

“Whether it’s a grain farmer looking for agronomy advice or a commodity trader looking for the latest production forecasts, Yarta uses the power of artificial intelligence to provide instant answers to questions which may have taken several days in the past.”

The app, which is already available on web and iOS, is said to draw on millions of data points to provide instant responses to questions backed by specialised research, while also allowing farmers to click through to explore topics further.

Mr Finemore has drawn on his background of a farm upbringing, a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, a Master of Finance, and his agricultural commodity trading experience to develop the app, which has been specifically honed for Australia’s ag industry and so offer a far more tailored experience than broad-spectrum AI such as that offered by Google or ChatGPT.

“Our background in the industry allows us to curate the niche content that farmers need,” he said.

“In the past, I’d need to Google something, look around for a trustworthy source, sift through content that’s optimised to show me ads, and often end up needing to ask a consultant anyway.

“That process can take hours, affecting farmers’ productivity and bottom line. We’re aiming to give farmers more time and more resources to upskill.

“It’s got the same conversational interface as ChatGPT, so you can start with a broad question and then dive down into the specifics if you like.

“You can say, ‘What are good chemicals to use for this purpose?’, then ask more about a specific product, get the label information, application rate, safety information – all in a few seconds in one platform.

“We’re giving quick answers to farmers from trusted sources from people in the industry.”

Yarta is now seeking partnerships and industry experts through AgriFutures growAG, an online agrifood innovation platform that connects users to investment opportunities, research, and local and global expertise.

The multi-faceted opportunity is open to agribusinesses who could benefit from using the technology and sharing information directly with farmers, as well as Australian agricultural sectors interested in a centralised research, data, and advice hub.

Yarta is also seeking innovators and solution providers who can provide research data, development expertise, or integrate the app with their existing platforms.

Head to the GrowAG web page for more information.