Thank you, Chair. I’m surprised that Lee Waters had some puzzled looks, because after you raised this with me during one of my questions sessions a couple of months ago, I had lots of people come up to me about precision agriculture. So, I think it’s really good that we’ve got this opportunity to debate this subject further today.

Simon Thomas mentioned in his remarks that there is a great deal of activity going on in this area already, so I just want to set out the work that is going on and the support that the Welsh Government is giving to it.

Innovation, as in all walks of life, really, is absolutely vital for agricultural systems to deliver improved productivity and efficiency and, of course, it continues to happen at a rapid pace. Progress in technologies available to our farmers means that there are opportunities for incorporating smart sensors, high-precision positioning systems and satellites into farming practices to reduce inputs and target them to where they’re most needed.

The revolution in precision farming started in the arable and horticultural sectors with systems to target crop inputs and harvesting. Nowadays, as we’ve heard, there are also systems to support livestock enterprises that, for example, utilise sensors, monitoring activity, health and production.

All these new technologies are driving the phenomenon known as big data, which is the capability to extract information and insight where previously it was not economically or technically possible to do so. Systems such as remote monitoring sensors, global positioning systems and DNA technology now have the capability to generate vast amounts of data at high speed.

Agrimetrics is the first of four centres being established as part of the UK Government’s agri-tech strategy. That will support the revolution in the use of data science and modelling right across the food system sector. Integrating data across the agri-food supply chain, from farm production to the food industry, to retailers and consumers, are all aims of Agrimetrics. The Welsh Government is working closely with our stakeholders and delivery bodies to maximise agri-tech research income into Wales.

So, what is the value of big data? Precision farming technologies offer us opportunities to collect data from multiple sources, which then create large, robust data sets. These data can be interrogated and translated into knowledge that will drive the next wave of innovation on farms. Farmers will no longer be dependent on spreadsheets of data from their own enterprises; they’ll be able to then take advantage of both national and global data.

Amaeth Cymru, the strategic framework partnership group, which is chaired by Kevin Roberts, brings together key stakeholders and the Welsh Government to work in partnership and develop the strategic direction for Welsh agriculture in the lead up to and post Brexit. I see the work of this group as vital in achieving our long-term vision for Welsh agriculture, and this work has become even more important and urgent in light of the referendum outcome.

Amaeth Cymru is developing a strategic road map for Welsh agriculture, which will set out how we intend to deliver our shared vision for Welsh agriculture going forward. One of the key considerations for the group will be future opportunities around research and development.

So, as I said, there is a great deal of activity being undertaken currently. Through Farming Connect, Welsh Government is actively engaging with precision agriculture and establishing projects to demonstrate their benefits to a wide-range of farming systems. I would encourage farmers and foresters keen to know more about precision-farming technology and techniques to apply for funding through the European innovation partnership to further develop their ideas.

Precision-farming techniques help farmers to select and apply the right inputs at the right time and at the right application rate. So, it’s really important that we have those targeted inputs; it can also save money too. For example, at one of our Farming Connect focus sites in south Wales, there is a project looking at the use of tractor-mounted nitrogen fertiliser sensors, which enable the sensitive application of nitrogen according to variation in cereal crop colour. The technology is billed as having the capability to be more accurate in terms of nutrient application than existing GPS technology.

Another example: at a Farming Connect innovation site in Aberystwyth, we have a research programme project aiming to improve the understanding of animal behaviour and metabolism, whilst increasing productivity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For those Members who attended the Royal Welsh Show, at the Farming Connect stand, I met with the people who were running this scheme and listened to the benefits from them and, if there is any evaluation I can bring forward, I’d be happy to do that.

So, in addition to the 12 Farming Connect projects specifically looking at precision agriculture across Wales, we also have the Welsh Government’s sustainable production grant that’s supporting a number of Welsh farmers to make the necessary investment to modernise and improve their on-farm inefficiencies. I think the point that a Member raised about small farms—I think it was Simon Thomas—is really important also. We need to make sure that they’re not left behind in this technology.

So, these and other initiatives already under way, I think, will put Wales in its rightful place: right at the forefront of the development of precision agriculture. Diolch.