Humanity is currently experiencing an unprecedented technological boom. We are immersed in a constant revolution that offers new options to digitize the world, our practices, actions and even our thoughts.

With the increasing focus on generative artificial intelligence and data-centric technologies, backed by Blockchain technology to ensure incorruptible information, we are witnessing a paradigm shift and the promise of never-before-seen efficiencies in human actions.

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In this context, I see a prosperous future for the agricultural sector. Although this transformation began a few decades ago, its implementation was hindered at first by generational gaps and high costs, however, the good news is that the current reality is changing rapidly, there is greater accessibility and democratization in access to technology focused on agriculture, this has led to the creation of a market called Agtech that focuses on meeting the needs of farmers from different perspectives and verticals.

Throughout my 18 years of experience in the agricultural world, I have implemented information capture tools that provide real-time access to task execution, attendance records, crop yields and crop status in terms of pests and diseases that can limit performance.

These tools have allowed me to take action in a more timely manner and use the data collected to improve yields and manage production costs. The result is increased profitability and viability of agricultural projects.

During a conversation with a friend about investment opportunities in Colombia, we reflected on how to encourage the arrival of capital to the country, we came to the conclusion that one way to make these options viable was through the use of information and metrics that would reduce uncertainty by controlling variables that in the past seemed unattainable.

Today, the technology-based entrepreneurial ecosystem offers us devices and systems focused on the following categories:

1. Fertigation

We can obtain information through soil moisture sensors that correlate variables such as ambient humidity, temperature and luminosity, which are determinants for crop production.

These data can be valuable inputs to understand crop forecasts and, more importantly, to determine the optimal moment to irrigate our fields, a decision that improves the efficient use of water, such a valuable and determining resource for agriculture.

2. Plant Health

By taking censuses through mobile devices, we can identify trends and locations of pests or diseases, allowing farmers to focus their control efforts more efficiently and rationally in the use of inputs and pesticides. In this way, a more competitive and sustainable agriculture is achieved, something that the planet and consumers urgently demand.

3. Administration

Like any business, farms require systems that allow them to manage their talent and focus their efforts on reducing leakages that could threaten the sustainability of the business.

For this reason, there are tools that consolidate data on personnel performance, number of people working and spatial location of these workers on the farms, which guarantees the coverage of every square centimeter and avoids losses of unharvested fruit or tasks not performed.

Such information will prove key to the performance and productive yield of the crops.

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4. Plant nutrition

Today, mankind has tools that allow validation of soil conditions, water quality and plant performance directly in the crop.

This allows a quick and accurate diagnosis that helps agricultural technicians to make better decisions and saves costs by improving response times to act in accordance with the needs found.

5. Crop monitoring system

In a market where consumers focus their attention on product quality and are willing to pay more for it, it is now possible to use platforms that provide a scan of product condition, quality and consistency.

This becomes a valuable input for sorting fruits and vegetables and finding more competitive price niches, which translates into greater profitability for the agricultural sector.

6. Drones and artificial intelligence tools

The combination of spectral images of our crops, with the use of drones that can cover hundreds of hectares in a single flight, now joins machine learning and artificial intelligence, this allows us to calculate the yields of the fields and find areas in the farm where the potential is not being expressed according to plan, with this data, we can know the amount of production available and establish cash flows and capital needs to address the crop.

The good news is that the countryside is no longer what it was, now we can apply innovation and technology to reduce uncertainty and see the countryside as a source of opportunities to generate wealth, reduce inequalities and change the paradigm that focuses the discussion on the low profitability of this economic sector.

Imagine how this will change the reality of the countryside and revolutionize agriculture once again.

This time it is not only a matter of increasing production but also of improving profitability through the sustainable use of available resources.

Although there is still a long way to go and the challenge lies in adopting technology, increasing options and reducing implementation costs, this will have a direct impact on the area planted, increasing the number of agricultural enterprises and the contribution of foreign exchange through the optimization of the countryside.

We have the opportunity to apply technology to the foundation of human history, food production that will ensure sustainability and global food security in the coming decades.

With these technological innovations in the agricultural sector, we are opening the doors to a new era of prosperity and development in which agriculture becomes an efficient, sustainable and highly profitable activity.

It is time to embrace the transformative potential of technology in the field and work together to build a prosperous and sustainable agricultural future for all.

The Reform of Colombian agricultural thinking