Embrapa opens first Digital Agriculture Laboratory in the Amazon

Embrapa is opening the first Digital Agriculture Laboratory in the Amazon (LADA), a space dedicated to developing digital solutions for regional agriculture and strengthening networking.

Located at Embrapa Roraima in Boa Vista (RR), the laboratory is a pioneer in both the regional context and within Embrapa's structure in the Amazon. 

The initiative is the result of a partnership between the institution and the multinational Foxconn, with support from the Committee for Research and Development Activities in the Amazon (CAPDA) and the Superintendence of the Manaus Free Trade Zone (Suframa).

″With an innovative structure in the region and a focus on technology, the Amazon Digital Agriculture Laboratory represents a strategic advance for agricultural research in the biome, uniting science and sustainability to strengthen agriculture,″ highlighted Embrapa President Sílvia Massruhá. She will lead the laboratory’s inauguration ceremony, scheduled for April 2 in Boa Vista.

LADA has an automated greenhouse equipped with a hyperspectral sensor that will study the chemical and physiological reactions of plants when attacked by insect pests, diseases, and other anomalies. It also features drones equipped with multispectral, hyperspectral, and LIDAR sensors, as well as soil moisture and temperature sensors, differential GPS, handheld cameras, tablets, weather stations, smart traps, and other equipment used to collect data on partner farms.

In the data processing area, the laboratory has a room designed for the integration of multidisciplinary teams, equipped with high-performance computers, a video wall featuring 12 professional screens, an interactive projector, and a supercomputer focused on data and image analysis, utilizing artificial intelligence to develop digital solutions for the agricultural sector.

Another highlight is the LIBS (Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy) spectrometer, which enables rapid analysis of soil and plant composition without the need for chemical reagents, thereby accelerating diagnostics and research.

Impact on Agricultural Sector

For researcher Amaury Bendahan, from Embrapa, who is responsible for the installation and operation of LADA, the main objective of the laboratory is to develop digital solutions using technologies such as big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence.

The routine in the laboratory will involve the collection and processing of data, enabling the creation of tools to optimize productivity in the field, reduce environmental impacts, and address the challenges of extreme weather events and the sustainable management of natural resources.

″The information will be obtained in the field, in the greenhouse, and the laboratory by the team of agronomy experts. The information technology team is responsible for managing the platform, the database, and the automation of data and image processing so that scientists and crop experts can interpret them and deliver the results,″ Bendahan explained.

The expectation is that the collected data will facilitate the early identification of pests, diseases, and other anomalies in agricultural crops, enabling the adoption of more effective preventive measures. Additionally, the laboratory infrastructure will facilitate the digital inclusion of rural producers, providing them with real-time information to enhance agricultural management.

″We want the space to become a hub for technological development in the Amazon, promoting the exchange of knowledge and strengthening digital agriculture,″ Bendahan added. Part of the laboratory’s operations are already up and running, including the supercomputer and field data collection equipment. Other components, such as the greenhouse and LIBS, will come on stream in the coming months.

Strategic Partnerships

Foxconn, the world's largest electronics manufacturer, invested in the initiative with financial resources as part of its obligation to allocate a percentage of its revenue to R&D activities in the Manaus Free Trade Zone, as mandated by the Information Technology Law. Embrapa contributed infrastructure, human resources, and other economic and financial contributions.

The laboratory was made possible through the Industry 4.0 and Industrial Modernization Priority Program (PPI4.0), coordinated by the Amazonas International Software Technology Center (CITS.AMAZONAS), which allocates resources for research and development (R&D) projects in the Amazon and by the Computer Law.

The initiative also has the collaboration of other Embrapa units, such as Embrapa Agricultural Instrumentation (São Carlos-SP), Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology (Brasília-DF) and Embrapa Acre (Rio Branco-AC) and important partnerships with the Foundation for Technological Innovations - FITec, CONECTHUS Institute and the Edmundo Gastal Research and Development Support Foundation - FAPEG.