volumes , depleting other crops . When prices are low due to demand or oversupply , then they shift to other crops because they ’ re not getting enough profitability from their farms .” To manage this , Dole has implemented advanced predictive models that help it to better understand supply and demand of a particular commodity . “ To come up with a predictive model of demand and supply patterns globally and regionally is always a challenge . We have recently been working to develop a much more sophisticated model which not only uses historical data but incorporates many other factors . That includes farmer behaviour , demand in the market , inventory being held in different locations and markets , and how trends are changing in the industry in terms of consumption and crop growing , et cetera .” To collect the data that is put in to the models , Dole is pioneering yet more digital solutions . Future technology investments will look at using drones to replace physical surveys , using AI for better demand forecasting from the field and implementing more modern practices in farm management and irrigation .
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