Agronica, Gregori launch joint technology venture that reduces water, pesticide use

 

Through a joint venture, Italian company Agronica, which specializes in professional software solutions in the agricultural sector, has teamed up with Brazilian consultancy company Gregori to introduce a solution from Italy that could help Brazil further develop its farming techniques and increase precision in food cultivation, which will reduce the use of water, fertilizers and pesticides. 

 

Currently, it is estimated that Brazil has adopted this practice in about 20% of agricultural areas.

 

The adoption of precision farming techniques in agricultural production should reduce water and fertilizer consumption by up to 20% and pesticide consumption by up to 15%. This is possible through the use of a big data tool that helps predict and understand intervention techniques and production results, enabling farmers to create increasingly smart decision support systems (SADs).

 

The global adoption of this solution is supported by CLUST-ER AGRIFOOD, a European cluster that brings together Emilia-Romagna companies and research institutes to spread innovation opportunities, through a collaborative approach to technology transfer from the northern region of Italy.

 

The technology to be implemented in Brazil will predict the supply of “integrated solutions” through managing platforms for various agricultural products, such as rice, cereals, fruits and vegetables. It will collect and manage weather and forecast data, as well as information, field maps and soil sensors for moisture, temperature and soil nutrients, which can be modified according to farmers' needs.

 

The partnership is supported by the European Union-funded “Low Carbon Business Action in Brazil Program,” which, since 2015, has brought Brazil's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) closer to Europe, to create solutions in sectors that can benefit from a low carbon economy and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

 

“We have fostered exchanges between European and Brazilian companies to adopt innovative and successful solutions to the Brazilian market. Brazil has enormous potential to benefit from technologies that add more intelligence and efficiency to the work of producers, whether small or large, ”explained Mercedes Blázquez (Leader of Low Carbon Brazil). 

 

Through launching programs and projects in a number of sectors, including agriculture, water savings equivalent to 1,686 Olympic swimming pools are expected to be achieved.