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I've had quite a varied career. After training as an economist, I started out in strategic consulting before entering the corporate world in the agricultural sector, where I invested much of my time and professional energy.
I have worked on major digital transformation projects, including developing a management application for farms from scratch, which was eventually launched across Europe. In 2018, I also founded a food tech company with the aim of making digital technologies more accessible to small-scale producers of regional products. My experience ranging from large corporations to start-ups has equipped me with the skills to approach xFarm Technologies — which offers a comprehensive solution for the digitalisation of supply chains and farms — with greater agility.
Let me start by saying this: agriculture is a complex system, made up of a multitude of interconnected pieces of information and many variables. Most of the decisions made by farmers are based on an ecosystem of uncontrollable factors, such as the weather and disease. Over time, models have been developed to simplify the data and provide recommendations for farmers. However, AI is a very powerful tool for scaling up, making the management of this vast amount of data even more effective, and generating simpler recommendations. The real added value of AI in agriculture lies in the ability to collect and process data, identify patterns and models, and translate these into recommendations.
Absolutely. The process of data analysis begins with data acquisition, which is precisely what xFarm Technologies specialises in. Consider the technologies we use: sensing devices, such as the sensors we place in fields to collect hyper-local data; satellite images, which provide insight into other crucial aspects of reality; connections with machinery; and so on.
That's right. The incoming data flow generated by all the technologies I mentioned represents an additional layer of information that we need to collect. Add to that the information from farmers, and much more. This is the starting point for adopting agronomic models and AI technologies that help to summarise this data into a recommendation.
In my opinion, there are three aspects to consider in particular. The first is the interoperability of machinery and systems, so that the platform can be connected to this network and collect as much useful information as possible to formulate predictive and prescriptive recommendations for farmers. After all, this is the essence of xFarm. Secondly, we need to offer an all-in-one solution because farmers don't want to interface with multiple applications — they have other things to do. We need to cover the entire life cycle of the field. Starting with data collection for sowing, we support farmers throughout the year with all their activities, including monitoring, insurance coverage and the prescription of maps to reduce the environmental impact of inputs, with the aim of achieving greater sustainability.
We are still assessing it. It is generative AI, which uses natural language processing and affects the way farmers interact with a system to obtain recommendations. It could be a way forward in connecting individual AI-based recommendations in a completely different and much more intuitive form of human-machine interaction.
It depends. As far as farmers are concerned, digital technologies must certainly be part of the solution by helping them to overcome the daily challenges they face, such as loss of arable land, soil depletion and climate change. Furthermore, the world's population is growing, and in about thirty years' time, we will need to produce around 70% more per hectare. Digitalisation can therefore help farms to optimise their resources, thereby increasing both productivity and sustainability. This is because digital technology can optimise the use of inputs, reducing them, while increasing outputs.
Supply chains are networks of players that can benefit greatly from digitalisation in terms of increased process transparency, traceability, and logistical efficiency. This has an enormous impact on sustainability if we start with the data, as well as having a significant effect on the environment and on decision-making strategies in general.
Excellent question. Yes, it is possible. Currently, the data shows enormous potential: between 85 and 90% of European farms are less than ten hectares in size, whereas in North and South America, farms spanning thousands of hectares are the norm. I would also like to point out that 60–70% of farmers in Europe are over 55 years old. But we always say that digitalisation is an essential and indispensable phenomenon, and that it will accelerate in the coming years. Here in Europe, farms are merging, meaning they will grow in size. Soon, a new generation will take over farm management, creating an even stronger and more pronounced trend towards digitalisation. Therefore, digitalisation is not only possible, but already happening on our continent. Training is, of course, needed, as is investment in measures that support the adoption of digital tools.
I would say it is fundamental. Every piece of data is the minimal brick, the basic building block for generating any type of recommendation. To ensure all collected data can be used for recommendations, we have processes in place to collect and clean it, eliminating redundant parts. In addition to quality, there is the issue of scalability: how can we ensure that data is managed in a powerful and efficient way? This aspect is linked to the cloud. Our solutions provide a level of data privacy, cybersecurity and scalability that enables us to process huge volumes of data extremely quickly.
Exactly.
Satellite technology enables us to scale up, meaning we can implement a model or solution and make it accessible to a wider audience. Except in situations of cloud coverage, it allows us to monitor crop stress levels and quickly identify situations in which timely and targeted intervention could be crucial. Satellites also enable us to support MRV (Monitoring, Reporting and Verification) models, which form the basis of all regenerative agriculture and soil protection practices.
xFarm Technologies has become a global player, as demonstrated by the recent integration with Brazilian company Checkplant. We can export our models and solutions all over the world. This means we need to ensure our product is localised to comply with regulations and procedures, as well as the type of experience users in those areas expect. Sustainability is extremely important. We are developing solutions, both at the farm and supply chain levels, that allow for the analysis of everything related to emissions and environmental impact. Lastly, there is insurtech. We believe it is crucial to offer farmers simple yet powerful solutions to protect them against phenomena that could impact their final yield.
Operating at the supply chain level requires shared data. Scope 3 emissions account for perhaps 80–90% of emissions – which are regulated within the EU – and represent the impact resulting from a company's choice of suppliers and the integration of its activities upstream and downstream. Therefore, it is crucial to implement systems that allow you to track the contribution of each individual element of the supply chain to the whole. This vision forms the basis for decisions that guide the supply chain's choices in terms of sustainability.
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