San José, Aug 21 (elmundo.cr) – Precision Agriculture (PA) would bring multiple benefits to the agricultural sector, among the most important, a more efficient management of crops to increase productivity and a more precise application of agrochemicals, reducing waste and improving environmental care and human health.
This was stated by the agricultural engineer Adrián Alvarado M, founder of Agtiva Agriculture 4.0 during a forum with the press organized by the Alliance for Agricultural Sustainability (ASA), the Chamber of Agriculture and Agroindustry (CNAA) and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), who also stated that this technology can not only represent a technological solution to the problems faced by farmers and producers, but also a comprehensive strategy to guarantee global food security and ensure a sustainable future for all.
“Precision agriculture allows for more efficient and targeted crop management and more precise application of agrochemicals while maintaining or even improving productivity. This is not only beneficial for the environment, but can also increase the sustainability and profitability of agricultural practices,” Alvarado added.
This technology, through precision fertilization, allows the optimization of the amount of nutrients applied and minimizes the risk of excess that can lead to contamination of soil and water bodies.
According to the expert, although Costa Rica has already implemented agricultural technologies such as spraying drones, satellite crop monitoring, wireless surface sensors, Big Data, blockchain and artificial intelligence, among others, connectivity remains one of the main challenges.
In Costa Rica, internet coverage reaches 87% of the population, the remaining 13%which does not have access, is mainly found in rural areas where agriculture is the main economic activity, according to data from the Superintendency of Telecommunications (Sutel).
“In rural areas, we have a crucial challenge to improve. If we want our production to be connected to the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence, we must undoubtedly address the challenge of connecting that 13% to ensure the best possible connectivity in these areas,” said the engineer.
Another difficulty in Costa Rica is the low investment in Research and Development. According to the World Bank, the country allocates only 0.42% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to this area, while in more developed nations such as Israel, South Korea and Switzerland, investment reaches almost 5%.
“Precision agriculture is not just about technology and innovation; it is also a commercial reality and a growing economic activity. Globally, the market value is expected to increase from $4.5 billion to $12 billion by 2025. In Costa Rica, although we still do not have much clarity regarding the market value, there is already an emerging commercial ecosystem made up of some eighty companies that offer products and services in precision agriculture, which stimulates economic and social activity in the country,” said Alvarado.
In the region, Costa Rica has significant opportunities in the field of technology. According to statistics from the Superintendency of Telecommunications (Sutel), in Costa Rica there were reported 8 million of active cell phone lines, meaning that there are almost 2 cell phones per inhabitant. In addition, the pandemic accelerated access to the Internet and the use of digital media, with a boost of approximately 10 years. This rapid evolution has placed the country in a favorable position for the implementation of advanced technologies in agriculture.
“It is crucial that we adapt our agricultural practices and integrate precision agriculture, focusing on circular economies, regenerative agriculture, research into bio-inputs and seeds, and the development of advanced chemistry. In addition, digital literacy and connectivity will play a fundamental role in this process,” Alvarado emphasized.
Important initiatives in Costa Rica
Through its Center for the Interpretation of the Future of Agriculture (CIMAG), IICA is dedicated to highlighting the crucial role of new technologies in the agricultural sector. This center offers a virtual educational space that highlights how these technologies have a positive impact on the well-being of families in both rural and urban areas.
Recently, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) delivered state-of-the-art drones to 10 agricultural producer organizations throughout the country in collaboration with the Rural Development Institute (Inder) and the National Learning Institute (INA), a project that will positively impact 7,775 hectares, covering 23 crops such as pineapple, rice, beans, vegetables and sugar cane.
The School of Agricultural Engineering of the Technological Institute of Costa Rica (TEC), with the support of the Center for Outreach, has provided advice to farmers in the country to continuously improve their crops. This advice focuses on the implementation and development of precision agriculture, both in open and protected environments, through the use of advanced technologies for the recognition and exhaustive control of production factors.
