Agriculture is undergoing a profound transformation, adapting to new technologies, and farmers are no exception. In fact, this agrotechnological shift begins with the willingness of those involved. How will the AgTech landscape affect the role of the farmer? We’ll tell you about the profile of the agronomist of the future and the challenges they will face.
Digital agronomists, goodbye to analog
Farmers who have traditionally managed their agricultural information with pen and paper may be in the midst of a transition. The customs acquired by farm workers, many of passed down through generations within the traditions of family farming, are changing. Today, some traditional techniques used in fieldwork are giving way to digital ones. In this context, agronomists are becoming increasingly digital and less analog. They will retain their knowledge and experience, but will be forced to adapt their tools .
Towards a productivity-based mindset
The role of agricultural technology (AgTech) is to empower users and democratize access to tools that guarantee the production-sustainability combination . For this reason, we believe that this change in the profile of the agronomist responds to a search for productivity . Efficiency, now more than ever, depends on digitized solutions in multiple facets, such as agricultural data collection, smart irrigation, and smart farming .
Digital Farmer Tools
For all the reasons mentioned above, the farmer of the future will have to work not only with traditional tools but also with remote digital solutions that operate through mobile devices. What tools will the farmer use in the coming years ?These are the five main ones:
- Traditional farming ttoolswhich will depend on the size and development of the operation.
Agricultural machinery, at varying levels of sophistication, is one of the most valuable assets in agriculture. Despite its high cost, it remains a primary investment for many farmers.
Smartphone or tablet. These smart pocket devices, which have replaced older handhelds,a are functional, affordable, and portable, with various apps installed to assist with daily tasks. They are, and will undoubtedly continue to be, a key tool for modern farmers.
Personal computer and internet connection. Computers help the agronomist to control their production, create folders organized by operations, search for quality information, and buy supplies or find new distributors or clients.
IoT gadgets. The Internet of Things connects virtually every imaginable device. This is crucial in terms of opportunities, as a farmer could receive alerts on their smartwatch if their smartphone battery runs low or enable drone irrigation from various devices.
The power of intangible assets
The last three tools on the list have a unique feature: in addition to the purely physical asset, they allow the agronomist to have countless intangible assets to develop their business .
In other words, you can install apps like those from AgtechApps on both mobile devices and laptops . And each of these apps is, in itself, another tool for the agronomist!
New horizons, challenges, the training problem
And as with any change, the shift towards the new AgTech (agricultural technology) paradigm is presenting new challenges . Of these, one of the most prominent is undoubtedly the challenge of training. New technologies applied to agriculture are arriving to improve production and sustainability, but they don’t always find a truly skilled user base to take advantage of them. Given the limited technological knowledge of a large portion of agricultural workers, it is important to begin the agrotechnological shift with simple apps that meet basic needs. This will promote training and the adoption of AgTech solutions throughout the region.
