Virtual Fencing

Driving solutions to benefit people, animals and the environment

In partnership with the Bezos Earth Fund, we are developing low-cost virtual livestock fencing that would benefit farmers and animals, improve public health in developing countries, and combat climate change.

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“This foundational support by the Bezos Earth Fund will catalyze our impactful work in the 2030 Project and AI initiative, from local to global scales, leveraging Cornell University’s unique model of collaboration.”

Ben Houlton — Benjamin Houlton
Ronald P. Lynch Dean, Office of the Dean; Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Professor, Department of Global Development

Benjamin Houlton, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Benefits to the Environment, Farmers & Animals

Combats Climate Change

Mitigates greenhouse gas emissions through improved soil & grass health

Improves Livelihoods

Reduces farm costs & increases productivity

Protects Livestock & Water

Keeps animals away from predators & human water sources

Project Overview

This project will develop low-cost virtual fencing for low- and middle-income countries. At the core of our virtual fencing system will be a ruggedized wearable device with a geolocation mechanism, behavioral sensors and stimulus mechanism to control the location of animals within a virtually-defined perimeter. Sensors will monitor eating and drinking behaviors, physical activity and rumination. Individual animal and group behavior insights will drive herd management decision-making. We aim to develop, test, improve and pilot our product through rapid-cycle innovation sprints.

Supported by

Bezos Earth Fund with Earth Icon in square next to text — Bezos Earth Fund Logo

1

Prototype development 

This work package will develop the novel, wearable device for cattle and goats at low cost, testing a range of technologies for implementing virtual fencing.

2

Field testing 

Field testing will be done in pastoralist systems in Kenya and Mongolia, in dairy and beef systems in Argentina and Brazil, and in silvopastoral systems in Colombia.

3

Real-world applications

Pilot applications will provide evidence to leverage new large-scale implementation projects.

Project Team

Mario Herrero

Principal Investigator; Director, Food Systems & Global Change; Professor; Nancy and Peter Meinig Family Investigator, Life Sciences, Cornell CALS Department of Global Development; Cornell Atkinson Scholar

David Erickson

Faculty collaborator; S.C. Thomas Sze Director of the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell Engineering

Julio Giordano

Faculty collaborator; Professor, Cornell CALS Department of Animal Science; Director, Cornell Agricultural Testbed and Demonstration Site for the Farm of the Future; Associate Director, Cornell Institute for Digital Agriculture

Mason Peck

Faculty collaborator; Stephen J. Fujikawa '77 Professor of Astronautical Engineering, Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell Engineering

Carlos Gonzalez Fischer

Research Associate, Food Systems & Global Change, Cornell CALS Department of Global Development

Hunter Adams

Lecturer, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cornell Engineering

Cynthia Mathys

Senior Project Manager, Food Systems & Global Change, Cornell CALS Department of Global Development

Nicole Rossi

Communications Specialist, Food Systems & Global Change, Cornell CALS Department of Global Development

Franco Maximiliano Bilotto

Postdoctoral Associate, Food Systems & Global Change, Cornell CALS Global Development

Clara Rial

Postdoctoral Fellow, DVM, Ph.D., Cornell CALS Department of Animal Science

Hannah James

Ph.D. Student, Astronautical Engineering, Cornell Engineering