NUTRI-CHECK NET Work Package 3 has completed a Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) of a selection of crop nutrition decision and precision tools (n = 83) that were evaluated by farmers in the 26 Crop Nutrition Clubs spread across the 9 project partner countries. This CBA included the collection of information on both Financial (Net present value, Cost-benefit ratio and Return on Investment) and Qualitative (User-friendliness, Trustworthiness and Qualitative benefits of these tools) indicators to compare the advantages and disadvantages associated with using specific tools.
Summary results of this CBA based on farmers’ perspectives of using Crop Nutrition Decision & Precision Tools, include:
- The highest economic value for using tools that help with crop nutrition decision making was associated with the “Plan” phase before sowing the crop, compared to the in-season “Check & Adjust” phase or the “Review” phase after crop harvest.
- “Soil analysis” showed the highest overall benefits, including the Benefit-cost ratio.
- “NMP software” and “Plant analysis” also perform relatively well, especially in Trust, Data utilisation and Environmental benefits.
- “Look-up tables” and “Precision nutrient application” occupy an intermediate position Benefit-cost ratio, but have good Environmental benefits and with limited User Support services required by farmers.
- “Crop N sensor” and “Harvested crop analysis” have generally lower scores for cost-benefit ratio, time and technical knowledge and require more user support to use these tools in comparison to these other categories of tools.
- Further research is required to assess the full extent of costs associated with the follow-up actions or remediation practices based on the decisions informed by some of these tools.
- The adoption of these tools for decision making on arable farms can lead to significant operational, financial and environmental improvements in the longer term.
This information will be made available to Farmer, Ag-industry and Policy by NUTRI-CHECK NET in the coming months.
