Experts from a Master’s program spearheaded by Spain’s University of Cordoba and IICA insist that further digital transformation of the agrifood system will hinge on greater inclusion of small- and medium-scale farmers
San Jose, 14 June 2023 (IICA). In the face of the current scenario of limited resources and the impact of extreme climate events, agricultural digitalization can enhance the sustainability, resilience and profitability of the sector and bolster food security. However, specialists from the University of Cordoba in Spain, speaking at an international seminar hosted by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation (IICA) on Agriculture, insist that this transformation must be inclusive, ensuring that no farmer is left behind.
Experts and academics of the Agrifood and Forestry Digital Transformation Master’s program (Digital Agri) of the Spanish University, visited Costa Rica from late May to early June and held various meetings with professionals and students pursuing agrifood-related careers.
This particular event was organized by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and undertaken by Costa Rica’s Institute of Technology (TEC) and IICA.
Rosa Gallardo, Director of the University of Cordoba’s School of Agricultural and Forestry Engineering, reflected that, “Universities play a fundamental role in the ecosystem to foster digital transformation. These educational centers must reinvent themselves to better support the sector’s transformation, providing an integrating model that works along with producers and companies. The role of universities is to identify problems, to research and to work with all stakeholders to offer appropriate solutions”.
Gallardo stressed that, “Extensive research has been done. There has been innovation in technology and digital tools have been made available to farmers, cooperatives and the agrifood industry. However, that is not enough, because only a small percentage of small- and medium-scale farmers really use these technologies. Everyone should be a part of digital transformation”.
As part of the international seminar on “The Application of Digital Technology in the Agrifood Sector for a More Productive and Sustainable Agriculture Sector and Rural Environment”, the Spanish professors visited two TEC campuses—in San Carlos and Cartago (in northern and central Costa Rica)—to share their knowledge with close to 250 farmers, professionals and students in these centers, which are undertaking intensive research and agricultural production in the country.
Adolfo Peña, Director of the Digital Agri program remarked that, “Agriculture has enormous potential to successfully apply current digital technologies. There are some tools that are applied almost exclusively in agriculture, such as the satellite images used to determine the status of plants, the soil and moisture, by incorporating elements that support digital agriculture”.
The University of Cordoba Master’s program receives the support of IICA, which has awarded scholarships to professionals from the Latin American and Caribbean agrifood sector in previous years.
“Some years ago, the Institute decided to be at the forefront of the digital transformation process, enabling producers to harness technology to optimize their resources, in order to produce more, while ensuring greater environmental sustainability. We envision an agriculture sector based on science, innovation, technology and most importantly, data, as farmers have to make decisions every day”, explained Emmanuel Picado, Manager of Information and Communication Technologies and Digital Agriculture at IICA.
José Emilio Guerrero, University of Cordoba Professor, pointed out that, “The agrifood sector has an enormous opportunity to drive digital transformation, with data becoming the knowledge base to bring about a green, digital and harmonious transformation”.
“Investment in human capital, training and knowledge is vital for agricultural digital transformation. The training of farmers, technical officers and agripreneurs is key to bridging the digital divide”, maintained Javier Mesas, Co-Director of the Digital Agri program.
More information:
Institutional Communication Division.
comunicacion.institucional@iica.int