Seregno (Italy), September 14, 2020 - Third online episode of TotY. The theme is Agriculture 4.0, a key argument for those who study and must design the tractors of the future.
But what is Agriculture 4.0? Some have termed it “Industry 4.0 in the field”, because it integrates the work undertaken in the field with advanced technology. The result is a new form of agriculture, which aims to improve the yield and sustainability of harvests, as well as produce and transformation quality and working conditions.
Today, thanks to the growth in digital technologies, we have access to data which cross-references environmental, climatic, and land-related factors. This enables farmers to take targeted action, carrying out work more effectively while respecting timeframes. Thanks to the data which the software systems installed on machinery in the field feed back, it is now possible to track and certify produce from the field to the transformation industry.
Precision agriculture in recent years, combined with the potential of digitalization, has shown us a new approach to work in the field, where there is an increasing awareness of the sustainable goals for the planet.
The rising population and the consequent demand for food are telling us clearly that the agricultural sector must be at the heart of the sustainable global economy.
“There will be a future crisis if there is no global push for sustainability. – says Piero Torassa, Field Engineer of BKT Europe, in the episode – “Technology, similarly to finance or infrastructure, must support this crucial process of change. The tire industry too can play a part in this process, by creating products which do not damage the land, for example, or by reducing the carbon footprint of materials, activities which BKT has already been engaged in for years. Besides this, the collaboration with partners in the original equipment sector and in the aftermarket helps us be ready to find the best solutions for our customers; the challenges will increasingly be in terms of growth not in regard to our competitors, if we all want to contribute to sustainable development."
Agriculture 4.0, where are we worldwide? According to numerous studies, internationally there are thousands of start-ups which are working on developing applications for Agriculture 4.0, in Europe, North and Central America, Asia and Australia.
What emerges from the scientific community, besides the macro issues more closely tied to the food chain, is the revolution which is emerging in the sector of agricultural machinery, a key element for the sustainable management of crops; in short we are talking of the tractor of the future, which the TOTY 2021 jury must unearth.
The profile of the tractor of the future will be that of a machine which transforms into a real digital connection systems: in the cabin (including self-driving vehicles), with the highest level of comfort for the driver (at least) three monitors will provide real-time data on weather conditions for example (GPS and sensors will send the information), on the ground (consequently adapting the ideal tire pressure), on consumption (electric engines are also being studied), on the forecast working times and much more.
“The situation is clear - concludes Piero Torassa of BKT - Now we are focusing on what will happen after, changing our very outlook on the future, increasingly sharing a green approach. A logical consequence of this approach for us has been, for example, the launch of in-house carbon production last year.”
For BKT, however, the green approach is nothing new as it has studied and created specific tires, which, with their differing characteristics depending on the surface and work being undertaken by the machinery, help reduce soil compaction; the BKT AGRIMAX radial tire range has been created to meet the needs of Agriculture 4.0. In some models in particular Increased Flexion (IF) and Very High Flexion (VF) technologies have been applied.
To see the Agriculture 4.0 episode: www.totydigital.com/agriculture-40-2
