Reflections 21st May

Some thoughts around the perils of an optimisation mindset

Experiment - voiceover is now me reading it. Sorry about the slightly croaky, post-cold voice though….. :-)

Photo by Sangharsh Lohakare on Unsplash

Earlier this week, following my normal practice of starting my day by listening to “Farming Today” at 05:45, I found myself held in something of a spell, listening to a scientist explain how to optimise a beef herd using data.

The explanation incorporated just about every form of data - the rate of grass growth, grass nutrition, cost and effectiveness of supplements, growth rate trend of the animal, market location, market price trends, transport and processing logistics - the whole nine yards - in search of ensuring the best possible price for the beef.

It had a fascination, an awe at the precision and clinical nature of extracting the maximum benefit from a sentient being (and I’m not being sentimental - farmers have a tough life, stuck as they are between unpredictable weather and totally predictable supermarkets - they need all the help …