In recent weeks, farm workers in Spain have taken to the streets to protest an extreme situation that has led them to blockade large cities. The agricultural sector is going through a moment of confusion and crisis that does not know how long it will last or what responses it needs, which is why one of the most talked about is the so-called precision agriculture.
Juan José Moreno Delgado, Manager of Agri-Food, Distribution and Consumption at AENOR defines it like this: “Precision agriculture is a set of techniques that allow the activities of agricultural production to be carried out with the highest level of accuracy, taking into account the particularities of the development of a crop, the state of the soil and the climate factor.”
For this reason, Moreno highlights that “its main objective is to make the best possible decision based on data on the state of the crop in a specific place and time, improving productivity and reducing the use of inputs. Since the 90s, at the University of Córdoba, trials with this approach were already being carried out.”
It must be taken into account that “in the face of the evolution of the markets and the escalation of commodity prices in recent years, precision agriculture is presented as an approach to be taken into account by producers. It is an agriculture in which digitalization and technology are more present,” according to Moreno, so “it is a more technical agriculture, with decisions based on data, and precise action and, consequently, more sustainable.”
In this sense, the expert recalls that “the concept of precision agriculture includes the use of models that allow us to predict harvests and carry out early detection of diseases or pests, situations that are generally difficult to detect by a technician on the farm.” .
To do this, “it is necessary to use technology together with current work methods, sensors and models, which, based on the information existing in the growing area and historical data, allows us to identify the cause of the problems in order to act more successfully.” “, since “the purpose is to use technology in an integrated way and incorporate it into the soil and the crop.”
With the latest protests by farmers in our country, the future of the sector is uncertain, but Moreno wants to make it clear that “they are fighting for a fairer, sustainable and viable agricultural sector, and are looking for immediate solutions to face the challenges they face in their day. a day”.
The context of these demonstrations is “the current crisis in which the agricultural sector is and the agricultural policies recently implemented at the European Union level” with reasons such as “the lack of fair prices and the rise in production costs that are affecting the economic viability of farmers, as well as excessive bureaucracy and rigorous agricultural regulations and cuts in existing aid and trade barriers.”
Thus, the specialist points out that “all the food we consume every day, in the current quantity, quality and price, comes from the fields and the work of farmers,” highlighting that “the 2020 Agrarian Census reveals the progressive decrease in useful land for cultivation, as well as a reduction in the active population dedicated to agriculture, currently 4.5%.”
The moment of upheaval in the countryside requires action, because it cannot continue like this: “If we do not make changes, not only agriculture will suffer, but the entire food system. According to UN estimates, it will be necessary to increase food production by 50% to supply the population in 2050,” highlights Moreno.
“In the future we will need to produce more food, and agricultural production must continue to evolve towards more efficient and sustainable models with the application of precision agriculture techniques. “We must also invest in communication and transparency towards the final consumer so that they know the added value of the productions,” he highlights.
For this reason, remember that “across the entire food chain, AENOR plays a key role in providing trust and visibility through certification and reinforcing the value perceived by the consumer about agriculture, brands and distribution”, as is the case with “the certification for sustainable crop production, food safety and traceability.”
Moreno’s conclusion is forceful: “In agriculture, today’s decisions will have medium-term visibility in the agriculture and society of tomorrow, and precision agriculture is a path towards more intelligent, efficient and sustainable agriculture.”
Training in agricultural issues is essential to carry out the modernization of the countryside and be able to respond to the increase in consumption and the type of food that society requires.
