The Data CoOp project is the brainchild of Dr Gulu Bekker of the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology at Stellenbosch University that, in partnership with the CGA, aspires to revolutionise decision making within the deciduous fruit industry. The project aims to create a centralized industry geographic database system for pome and stone fruit farmers. Using farm census data as a starting point, the industry-driven Data CoOp project will endeavour to fill the information gap in the fruit industry by spatialising crop data, integrating pest and climate data, and providing a web app where this information can be mapped, viewed, and extracted for third party analysis. The purpose of the project is to promote, inform, and direct research and decision-making in the pome and stone fruit space at grower, corporate, and industry levels. The Data CoOp aims to be gateway to meaningful information that can assist users in identifying patterns, predicting crop yields, monitoring and managing pest outbreaks, and more. Once data in this form becomes available to industry, the opportunities for informed research and planning are potentially endless. Keep a look out for announcements on presentations, showcases, and updates on the project.
