Professional services ‘Game-changing’ business software
measures farm sustainability • Assesses carbon footprint and biodiversity • Analyses farm business performance too • Integrates with existing soſtware packages
A
new software package aims to help farmers plan the path to greater profitability by as- sessing the sustainability of their farm business.
Called Sandy, the suite of software
from Trinity AgTech is described as a simple-to-use digital assistant which provides robust proof of provenance for far produce and captures the full value of natural capital. The software seeks to support farm- ers as they face major changes in farm support. This includes the phase-out of the basic payment scheme and the in- troduction of new schemes which will reward farmers for undertaking envi- ronmental work. Sandy’s core tools include carbon footprint and biodiversity assess- ments. But it also covers livestock man- agement, monitors crop performance, nutrient status and yield prediction – as well as analysing farm business performance.
Game-changer Trinity AgTech managing director Richard Williamson, formerly farms di- rector of Beeswax Farming, said: “Our industry is changing, and Sandy has come at a time when farmers are be- ing forced to ask themselves how their business will evolve. “Within this change, there are op- portunities for farmers to capture dif- ferent and diverse income streams. However, farmers need clear, inde- pendent and robust information to suc- ceed in these.” Mr Williamson said Sandy used the latest science and technology to help farmers achieve new heights in envi- ronmental progress and financial pros- perity while adding greater credibili- ty to their traced provenance. He added: It’s the digital assistant I’ve been looking for in my farming career.”
Sandy was developed by a team of more than 30 scientists and engi- neers in consultation with farmers and industry leaders who sit on Trin- ity AgTech’s Advisory Council. Major retailers, banks and cooperatives also back the use of the software.
62 ANGLIA FARMER • JULY 2021 How it works
Integrating with other farm soft- ware, Sandy processes the array of data available to farmers through an easy-to-use range of tools. This puts hard numbers on the environmental benefits delivered by the farm – as well as its financial performance. Sandy captures every aspect of a
farm’s financial and environmental contribution, delivering precision and simplicity to all stakeholders, said Mr Williamson. It strips out friction, de- lay and cost from the system. Jake Freestone, 2020 Soil Farmer of
the Year and Farm Manager of Over- bury Enterprises, is trialling Sandy. He said it had the ability for managing and monetising a path for farmers towards net zero and biodiversity targets. Mr Freestone added: “With the qual- ity of science underpinning it and the industry backing it’s achieved, Sandy looks set to deliver what we’re looking for. It can pull into one place and make sense of the many data sources we have. “It looks to provide clarity and pre- cision through a range of tools that are remarkably easy to use. I hope Sandy will help direct us on our path to build- ing local markets for food with trusted provenance and opportunities to cap- italise on emerging income streams.”
The software measures environmental and financial performance.
About Sandy
Officially launched last month, Trinity AgTech has been developing its soſtware for the past three years in collaboration with farmers, scientists and engineers. Trinity AgTech’s scientific board includes a team of more
than 30 scientists specially selected for their peer-reviewed work on sustainability – including carbon and biodiversity – agricultural productivity and mathematical optimisation. Soſtware design and integration has been developed by
an in-house team of around 30 designers and engineers using best-of-breed agricultural technology and innovations from across the USA and Europe. Sandy is believed to be the first package of its kind to
measure the sustainability of a farm business – both from a financial and environmental perspective. Soſtware subscriptions are expected to cost £1000-1500 annually. Trinity AgTech’s advisory council includes members from
across UK farming. They include John Allen (Kite Consulting), James Farrell (formerly Strutt & Parker), Will Gemmill (Ceres Rural) and Christine Tacon (Assured Food Standards).
Based in Gloucestershire, Mr Free- stone said Overbury Enterprises had worked hard to develop a rich and di- verse farming system, improved soil health, provide habitats for wildlife and deliver a vibrant rural environ- ment for the local community. He added: “It’s how we grow our
crops, look after our animals and care for our countryside, and we want to capture those values in the produce that leaves our farm and the servic- es we provide.” With the ability to integrate and work alongside most existing farm management and financial record- ing tools, Sandy is now available for farmers looking to make their wealth of data work for them.
Farmer Jake Freestone has been trialling the Sandy software
Software demonstrations can be ar- ranged with a Trinity AgTech engineer via
www.trinityagtech.com.
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