Precision agriculture and agriculture 4.0 are concepts that are often used interchangeably, but they are different things.
Agriculture 4.0, also known as digital agriculture, refers to the set of digital technologies used to optimize production, from sowing to harvesting.
That is, all software, digital tools and solutions that aim to improve productivity in agriculture are considered part of agriculture 4.0.
Thus, farmer 4.0 is understood as a fundamental part of the application of precision agriculture, since they are concepts used together.
The difference is that AP is the use of inputs in areas with greater productive potential.
The desired outcome is increased productivity and sustainability, but none of this is possible without the use of digital agriculture or 4.0 tools.
How does precision agriculture help productivity in the field?
As we have seen, there are several ways to apply precision agriculture on a farm, such as the use of fertilizers and pesticides, fumigation and harvesting methods.
One of them is through productivity maps, or “harvest maps,” which can be acquired during the harvest by means of sensors attached to the machines.
This equipment reports the amount of product harvested in each of the crop portions, which will result in a complete soil productivity report.
All this information is then processed and each area of the crop belgium whatsapp data can receive special attention to improve its performance in the next harvest.
This is because AP recognizes that not all crops are uniform. Each location has its own fertility characteristics and only by collecting data and learning about each of these areas is it possible to increase their productivity.
Precision agriculture and sustainability
Through precision agriculture, it is possible to increase the sustainability indices of a given plantation, either by reducing and optimizing water consumption, reducing the use of pesticides or managing the soil.
All of these measures, each in its own proportion, can be taken through the AP, creating a vicious circle that brings sustainability to the system, making it more productive and, consequently, more profitable in the future.
Often, AP is a way to collect, organize and manage the information and features of each property to create a long-term sustainable system, which is very important as the market trend is to follow sustainability.
In summary, some of the topics that are often discussed when talking about sustainable agriculture are the following measures:
zero tillage system;
Creation of rainwater storage systems for reuse;
composting;
Pest control by natural alternatives;
Use of containers to reuse materials and waste;
Crop rotation;
Use of renewable energy sources, etc.
These practices, together with precision agriculture, contribute to reducing environmental impacts while maintaining high productivity.
Main challenges in the practice of precision agriculture
Although precision agriculture has many advantages for farmers, some barriers still exist.
One of the main challenges is the lack of access to information and adequate training to apply all existing technologies in agriculture, to extract the best profitability and productivity from the inputs in all processes.
For small and medium-sized farmers, another challenge is the availability of resources and equipment, which require a financial investment that many are still unable to afford or do not understand the level of profitability they can obtain.
Another point highlighted is the lack of standardization in communication between manufacturers of solutions to implement precision agriculture.
Overall, for many farmers, the main challenge is that it is a system that depends on budgetary resources.
Many times, due to lack of resources, farmers follow processes that are already considered obsolete, which do not optimize processes to increase productivity and reduce waste.
However, despite these challenges, one very positive development is worth highlighting.
Today, 84% of Brazilian producers already use technologies in their daily production on the farm, as they understand that without the modernization of processes, productivity and better use of inputs become more limited.
What technologies are used in precision agriculture?
Many of the benefits of modern or precision agriculture are possible thanks to the use of essential equipment such as satellites, drones, smart machines, scanners and other tools that we will briefly discuss below.