How digital is agriculture in South America? Adoption and limitations. [PC- ICPA 2022].

PUNTEL, L.A.; BOLFE, E.L.; MELCHIORI, R.J.M.; ORTEGA, R.; TISCORNIA, G.; ROEL, A.; SCARAMUZZA, F.; BEST, S.; BERGER, A.; HANSEL, D.S.S.; PALACIOS, D.; BALBOA, G.

How digital is agriculture in South America? Adoption and limitations. [PC- ICPA 2022].

2022

Abstract. A rapidly growing population in a context of land and water scarcity, and climate change has driven an increase in healthy, nutritious, and affordable food demand while maintaining the current cropping area. Digital agriculture (DA) can contribute solutions to meet the demands in an efficient and sustainable way. South America (SA) is one of the main grain and protein producers in the world but the status of DA in the region is unknown. Systematic review of official reports and surveys, literature, and case studies from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Chile was conducted to address the following objectives: i) quantify adoption of existing DA technologies, ii) identify limitations for DA adoption, iii) summarize existing metrics to benchmark DA benefits. The Region of study showed to follow the same trend than the world on DA adoption. The level of adoption was led by Brazil and Argentina followed by Uruguay and Chile. The GPS guidance systems, mapping tools, mobile apps and remote sensing were the most adopted DA technologies in SA. While, technology cost, lack of training, limited number of companies providing services and unclear benefits from DA were the most reported limitations for adoption. Clear economic, social, and environmental metrics that track the benefits of DA could promote adoption as well as help benchmarking future research and extension projects.

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