Agriculture technology and smart farming: Between the present and the future of agriculture

Sophisticated technologies, use of data, digitalization and new skills. These are the ingredients of so-called "AgTech" and smart farming, i.e. the trends that more than ever are shaping the agricultural industry. These are also the topics covered in the first episode of Global Trends, the new format from BKT Network which - over the course of eight episodes - will address the major trends in agriculture with the help of prestigious guests and international experts.

A range of contents and ideas emerged during this first episode, including agricultural mechanization as the fulcrum of the digital and technological revolution. Ömer Kuloğlu, producer and presenter of the Turkish magazine Traktörmetre, and also a well-known presenter and youtuber, spoke on the subject.  According to the guest, saving on consumption, efficiency and ease of use are the three features most sought-after by modern farmers when it comes to buying a new tractor or new machinery. It is important that the tractors of the future, with the help of new technologies and functions, therefore meet these needs.

"As far as Turkey is concerned, there is a lot of interest from users in technological machinery, especially from young generations of farmers, who are very sensitive to these new trends - explains Ömer Kuloğlu during his talk. Unfortunately, the costs of the latest generation tractors are currently and often prohibitive. So, the hope is that new technologies will become progressively more accessible in the future."

However, Smart Farming does not consist just of machinery, but also of people. The new changes in the industry will require increasingly well-prepared professionals with precise and varied skills, favoring a diversified workforce. This was well explained by Amy Wu, founder of From Farmers to Incubators, the Made in USA platform that tells the story of and valorizes innovative women in AgTech.

According to Wu, the agriculture of the future will create new opportunities especially for women, who are increasingly deciding to study and work in STEM disciplines (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). "In an industry that is facing decisive changes and serious threats, the climate one above all, there is a need for new talents and skills – explains Amy Wu – and the generational change will and is already bringing out new protagonists, often women, capable of creating value. This happens not only thanks to their preparation, but also to their resourcefulness, creativity and focus on sustainability. The diversification of the workforce is a real opportunity for agriculture."

But how willing are today's farmers to embrace this agricultural revolution? How to facilitate the so-called technological transition in the industry? It depends on many factors, explains David Rose, Associate Professor of Agricultural Innovation and Extension and head of the "Change in Agriculture" Research Group at the University of Reading in Great Britain.

The cost of technologies, the local presence of infrastructure needed to adopt these technologies, the preparation and training of farmers themselves or even simply their needs: these are all elements that may help or hinder the development of AgTech.

"To encourage the adoption of a specific technology in agriculture, the intervention or support of institutions and politics is increasingly fundamental – David Rose explains to Global Trends – for example through economic incentives, the development of adequate infrastructure, and the formulation of new policy measures to facilitate this transition. Being able to count on fruitful collaboration between the public and private sectors is essential."

And speaking of smart farming and the adoption of new technologies, in the future it will be increasingly common to see automated machines and robots operating in the field to support farmers. Or, at least, this is the hope of Simone Scarabel, Technical Sales Manager at Free Green Nature, the Italian start-up that invented ICARO X4, a sustainable robot designed to preserve vineyards from attacks by fungi and microorganisms by using ultraviolet rays.

"One of the main objectives of AgTech is to make the agricultural industry more sustainable, significantly reducing its impact by minimizing emissions – explains Simone Scarabel – Robots are, and will be, decisive tools to achieve this goal, also optimizing the work in the field, saving time and resources for farmers."

At this link you can see the entire episode: www.bkt-network.com/agriculture-technology-and-smart-farming