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According to the report on climate change mitigation recently released by theIntergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the agro-forestry sector(AFOLU: Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use) is responsible for about a quarter of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, largely accounted for by carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O). At the same time, the sector is very vulnerable to climate change, especially due to the extreme events that are hitting our countryside harder and harder.
Decreasing the environmental impact and increasing the resilience of the industry must become one of the primary goals of institutions, supply chains and farms. With this in mind, technology, digitization and data enhancement will be increasingly strategic assets.
With this article, we present some best practices for you to adopt to decrease the environmental impact of agricultural activities through xFarm.
Conscious and targeted use of plant protection products starts with careful application of integrated pest management principles. Through data collected from leaf moisture sensors and automatic insect monitoring traps, alerts and defense recommendations can be obtained that are effectively based on the specific risks for each farm, preventing the occurrence of plant diseases and pests. By doing so, resources and inputs are saved, protecting crops and the environment.
Having data on the environmental impact of your productions is the starting point for being able to calculate your emissions. The Sustainability module of xFarm, on base of primary data directly entered by farmers, calculates the value of four environmental indicators: carbon footprint, eutrophication, acidification and water footprint. In this way, a snapshot of the impact generated by the farm is taken, which helps farmers, but even more so supply chains, to have a timely and detailed understanding of emissions, so as to implement the most appropriate mitigation strategies.
Water is becoming increasingly precious. Prolonged drought events are now commonplace and many areas are affected. The use of precision irrigation systems, coupled with DSS, can greatly decrease one's water footprint. The Irrigation module of xFarm uses data from sensors in the field to check soil water status, calculate irrigation requirements, and recommend irrigation strategies, preventing crop water stress and minimizing waste.
In addition to being a major cost item, the unwise application of fertilizers also has a substantial environmental impact. One tool that helps reduce its use is variable rate technology. This technology leverages Prescription Maps to distribute different doses of fertilizer within a plot, maximizing soil fertility. With the Satellite module of xFarm you can create prescription maps from vegetative indices, while with the Map Analysis module you can load and display mappings of all types in one place and store them in an orderly fashion.
The theme of Earth Day 2022 is "Investin Our Planet"-Invest in Our Planet. For the agricultural sector to become more sustainable, it is crucial to invest in technological innovation and training for all stakeholders.
Through thexFarm Academy, xFarm aims to spread knowledge and awareness about the different tools of Agriculture 4.0 among agribusiness professionals. Participating in the classes atAcademy can be an important first step toward engaging in the sustainability of one's farm.
The path to increased sustainability in agriculture is complex and full of challenges, which is why it xFarm accompanies its partners through a guided path made up of constant training: virtuous agriculture requires trained professionals capable of making the most of the opportunities offered by digital.
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