In that sense, AI becomes both an operational tool and a strategic lever.
Used effectively, it can support productivity, sustainability monitoring, and even participation in emerging nature markets.
“So check in with them, make sure things are going okay, empathise with the experiences they’re having – it all matters.”
Twiggs sees potential for AI to assist in demonstrating environmental impact.
“It gives farmers a way to show soil health improvement or landscape change through drone imagery,” she says, “and potentially open up different investment avenues as well.” As sustainability frameworks evolve, the ability to measure and evidence impact may become increasingly valuable. A more complex advisory conversation AI and digital systems are now firmly embedded in the operational environment of Australian agriculture – and the reality is they’re here to stay. For brokers, the opportunity lies not in championing technology, but in understanding how it reshapes exposure, operationally, contractually, and strategically, as well as how it presents new opportunities. As AI reshapes how farms operate day to day, it also exposes deeper structural questions about governance, workforce capability, and long-term planning. In that environment, the role of the broker shifts even further into that vital strategic risk adviser position. Practical takeaways for brokers: 1. Understand which technologies are critical to daily operations. 2. Review machinery coverage in light of software-enabled repair complexity. 3. Discuss third-party provider exposure and digital supply chain risk. 4. Encourage governance structures around AI performance, contracts and data protection.
Governance in the age of AI
AI adoption also introduces governance considerations that extend beyond operational efficiency.
“In the world of large language models and robotics, it’s not feasible for everyone to build this technology themselves,” Twiggs says. “So it becomes about how you get assurance over your third-party providers, making sure you’ve got the right contracts in place and the correct cyber checks.” Transparency around system performance is equally important to understand how readily you can rely on it, and what mitigation needs to be in place. “If you’re using something to make core decisions day to day, you want to know how ‘correct’ it is likely to be, because that changes how you interrogate it,” Twiggs says. Ensuring transparency around how AI-driven decisions are made is becoming part of farm resilience. AI as opportunity, and a strategic consideration AI and technology are well embedded in farming today; however, it introduces a dual dimension of exposure that, as a strategic risk adviser, you need to be looking at holistically. Twiggs says, “If a business is using AI, there’s your algorithm risk, performance, and accuracy, but there’s also the strategic risk of not using AI and falling behind.”
9 A NIBA Brokers’ Guide: to farming the future
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