A method and associated system of providing agricultural pedigree for agricultural products with integrated farm equipment throughout production and distribution and use of the same for sustainable agriculture

Abstract

A method and associated system for establishing an agricultural pedigree for at least one agricultural product with integrated farm equipment comprises the steps of: a) Providing an open communication network accessible information storage device adapted to receive input of data relating to at least one of the agricultural product's production, harvesting, distribution, processing and consumption, from at least one and preferably from multiple sources; b) Inputting one or more contemporaneous inputs into the information storage device over time throughout at least the production of the agricultural product, wherein the inputting includes automated contemporaneous uploading of inputs from farm equipment engaged in the production of the agricultural product; c) Storing and said data; and d) Providing access to at least a portion of said data via the open communication network. The method may further include predicting at least one sustainability measurement of the agricultural product utilizing said data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for establishing an agricultural pedigree for at least one agricultural product with integrated farm equipment comprising the steps of:
 a) Providing an open communication network accessible information storage device adapted to receive input of data relating to at least one of the agricultural product's production, harvesting, distribution, processing and consumption, from at least one and preferably from multiple sources;   b) Inputting one or more contemporaneous inputs into the information storage device over time throughout at least the production of the agricultural product, wherein the inputting includes automated contemporaneous uploading of inputs from farm equipment engaged in the production of the agricultural product;   c) Storing and said data; and   d) Providing access to at least a portion of said data via the open communication network.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the automated contemporaneous uploading of inputs from farm equipment engaged in the production of the agricultural product includes at least one input from mobile metering device on board the farm equipment and the method further including the step of co-ordinatingly orchestrating at least one of the production, harvesting, distribution, processing and consumption of the agricultural product via the open communication network. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the automated contemporaneous uploading of inputs from farm equipment engaged in the production of the agricultural product includes at least one input from mobile metering device on board the farm equipment and the method further including the step of evaluating a sustainability measurement for the agricultural product according to predefined sustainability parameters, and assigning it a sustainability rating based upon a sustainability scale. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the automated contemporaneous uploading of inputs from farm equipment engaged in the production of the agricultural product includes at least one input from mobile metering device on board the farm equipment and the method further including the step of evaluating compliance of the agricultural product with preexisting standards in accordance with predefined standard requirements. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the automated contemporaneous uploading of inputs from farm equipment engaged in the production of the agricultural product includes at least one input from mobile metering device on board the farm equipment and the method further including the steps of accessing and predicting at least one measurement of the agricultural product including a sustainability measurement, a profitability measurement, a water usage measurement, a carbon footprint measurement, a risk management measurement and an energy measurement. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the step of inputting the data into the information storage device further includes collecting selected agricultural information of an agricultural pedigree system for the agricultural product through a computerized interview process and wherein the automated contemporaneous uploading of inputs from farm equipment engaged in the production of the agricultural product includes at least one input from mobile metering device on board the farm equipment. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein the automated contemporaneous uploading of inputs from farm equipment engaged in the production of the agricultural product includes at least one input from mobile metering device on board the farm equipment and the method further including the step of allowing access to the information storage device to at least one of an agricultural product producer, harvester, packager, transporters, processor, distributor, and consumer, and communication between at least two of said agricultural product producer, harvester, packager, transporter, processor, distributor, and consumer. 
     
     
         8 . A method for establishing an agricultural pedigree and sustainability measurement for at least one agricultural product with integrated farm equipment comprising the steps of:
 a) Providing an open communication network accessible information storage device adapted to receive input of data relating to at least one of the agricultural product's production, harvesting, distribution, processing and consumption, from at least one and preferably from multiple sources;   b) Inputting one or more contemporaneous inputs into the information storage device over time throughout at least the production of the agricultural product, wherein the inputting includes automated contemporaneous uploading of inputs from farm equipment engaged in the production of the agricultural product;   c) Storing and said data;   d) Predicting at least one sustainability measurement of the agricultural product utilizing said data; and   d) Providing access to at least a portion of said data via the open communication network.   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the automated contemporaneous uploading of inputs from farm equipment engaged in the production of the agricultural product includes at least one input from mobile metering device on board the farm equipment and the method further including the step of co-ordinatingly orchestrating at least one of the production, harvesting, distribution, processing and consumption of the agricultural product via the open communication network. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the automated contemporaneous uploading of inputs from farm equipment engaged in the production of the agricultural product includes at least one input from mobile metering device on board the farm equipment and the method further including the step of evaluating a sustainability measurement for the agricultural product according to predefined sustainability parameters, and assigning it a sustainability rating based upon a sustainability scale. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the automated contemporaneous uploading of inputs from farm equipment engaged in the production of the agricultural product includes at least one input from mobile metering device on board the farm equipment and the method further including the step of evaluating compliance of the agricultural product with preexisting standards in accordance with predefined standard requirements. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the automated contemporaneous uploading of inputs from farm equipment engaged in the production of the agricultural product includes at least one input from mobile metering device on board the farm equipment and the step of predicting at least one sustainability measurement of the agricultural product includes at least one of a carbon footprint measurement and an energy measurement. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein the step of inputting the data into the information storage device further includes collecting selected agricultural information of an agricultural pedigree system for the agricultural product through a computerized interview process. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 8  further comprising the step of allowing access to the information storage device to at least one of an agricultural product producer, harvester, packager, transporters, processor, distributor, and consumer, and communication between at least two of said agricultural product producer, harvester, packager, transporter, processor, distributor, and consumer. 
     
     
         15 . An agricultural pedigree system for at least one agricultural product comprising an open communication network accessible information storage device adapted to receive input of data relating to at least one of the agricultural product's production, harvesting, distribution, processing and consumption from at least one and preferably from multiple sources and configured for one or more contemporaneous inputs into the information storage device over time throughout at least one of the production, harvesting, distribution, processing and consumption of the agricultural product. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15  wherein the system is configured to coordinatingly orchestrate at least one of the production, harvesting, distribution, processing and consumption of the agricultural product via the open communication network. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 15  wherein the system is configured to evaluate a sustainability measurement for the agricultural product according to predefined sustainability parameters, and optionally, to assign it a sustainability rating based upon a sustainability scale. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 15  wherein the system is configured to evaluate compliance of the agricultural product with preexisting standards in accordance with predefined standard requirements. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 15  wherein the system is configured to access and predict at least one measurement of the agricultural product including a sustainability measurement, a profitability measurement, a water usage measurement, a carbon footprint measurement, a risk management measurement and an energy measurement. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 15  wherein the system is configured to access and predict at least one sustainability measurement of the agricultural product including at least one of a water usage measurement, a carbon footprint measurement, and an energy usage measurement.