Precision agriculture has the potential to transform the sector
San José, 23 September 2016 (IICA). “Science and technology must be combined in order to contribute to the transformation that agriculture requires. This transformation process is already underway. The combination of scientific knowledge, new technologies and innovation has given way to precision agriculture, a type of agriculture that is better able to address the challenges we face,” stated Víctor M. Villalobos, Director General of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), during an international seminar on precision agriculture. The event demonstrated the positive impact that this type of agriculture can have on the agricultural sector in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
The seminar included lectures by specialists and presentations of successful cases of good practices in precision agriculture, all of which provided recommendations on ways in which the development and implementation of this type of agriculture can be promoted in LAC, focusing primarily on the adoption process that should be undertaken by small-scale farmers.
“Precision agriculture comprises a series of techniques designed to optimize the use of agricultural inputs (seeds, agrochemicals and fertilizers) based on the spatial and temporal variability of agricultural production,” stated Evandro Chartuni Mantovani, of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA).
Also participating as speakers were Stanley Best, of the National Agricultural Research Institute (INIA) of Chile; Andrés Méndez, of the National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA) of Argentina; Roell Jerry, of the John Deere company; Eduardo Pérez Pico, of Monsanto; and Rajiv Khosla, of the University of Colorado in the United States.
The experts agreed that this type of agriculture is based on the use of scientific information to improve decision-making by producers, which increases profitability and contributes to the sustainability of natural resources. However, they also stated that prospective analyses and public policy-making are necessary in order to better disseminate these production systems and technologies.
“India, China, and the United States have the same amount of arable land. Opportunities for improvement and the capacity to improve definitely abound; however, in order to improve, small producers must become empowered and work together,” stated Khosla.
According to Khosla, small producers can face great economic difficulties in implementing precision agriculture on their own. However, this task can become more feasible if producers partner together by forming organizations or consortiums.
“Precision agriculture is one of the tools that can contribute to solving food security; however, it is part of a broad range of topics that must be addressed in order to drive agricultural development,” stated Khosla.
During the event, the speakers from Chile and Argentina shared their countries’ experiences with the use of precision agriculture to produce a wide range of products, from grains and oilseeds to tropical crops such as fruits. They agreed that in all cases, precision agriculture allowed for making precise production decisions that increased product yield and farm profitability, while also serving as an evaluation tool.
The specialists emphasized the fact that precision agriculture can play an important role as a traceability system throughout the entire agricultural process, which is an essential requirement for accessing international markets.
The Monsanto and John Deere companies, on the other hand, described the ways in which they are driving technological development to enable producers to make production decisions based on their knowledge of their farms and their specific conditions.
The seminar was organized by IICA to support the work it carries out together with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC). For the past nine years, the three entities have jointly prepared a report entitled Outlook for Agriculture in the Americas, which is presented to the Ministers of Agriculture of the hemisphere at the Meeting of the Inter-American Board of Agriculture, which is held every two years.
More information: miguel.garcia@iica.int
Outlook for Agriculture and Rural Development in the Americas
Precision Agriculture Manual (in Spanish)