IPSWICH-based third-generation cotton farmer Mitch Brimblecombe is a strong supporter of new agricultural technology aimed at enhancing sustainability and efficiency in the cotton industry.
His enthusiastic backing follows the announcement of $1.1 million in funding for a project led by the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ), aimed at developing advanced irrigation control technology.
The funding, provided by the Australian Government’s Climate-Smart Agriculture Program’s Partnerships and Innovation Grant, will support a collaboration between UniSQ and the Cotton Research and Development Corporation.
The project is focused on creating climate-smart irrigation solutions for cotton farming, with the goal of improving water usage and overall productivity.
“It’s really important to be able to take on technology in our industry if we want to be more efficient, more sustainable, and more productive,” Mr Brimblecombe said.
“We need things like this to happen so that we can continue to improve and adapt.”
Mr Brimblecombe noted that while the Lockyer Valley and Greater Ipswich regions were well known for vegetable, hay and grain crops, cotton farming had seen a resurgence in recent years.
“In the Lockyer Valley, this is probably the most cotton we have ever had, but compared to the national industry, it is still quite small,” he said.
“My family has been farming cotton here for a long time, but there was a break before we started up again about five years ago.”
The innovative irrigation system, known as VARIwise, will integrate artificial intelligence, remote sensing and real-time analytics to optimise irrigation based on real-time data, such as soil, plant and weather conditions.
This technology aims to help farmers increase water efficiency and crop productivity, benefiting both the environment and their bottom line.
