On November 15th, the webinar “Agriculture 4.0: Irrigation innovation to tackle climate change,” led by FONTAGRO in collaboration with the Colombian Agricultural Research Corporation (AGROSAVIA), Zamorano University (ZAMORANO) in Honduras, the Technical University of Manabí (UTM) in Ecuador, the RUT Irrigation District Users Association (ASORUT), and VISUALITI from Colombia, brought together experts and participants interested in agricultural innovation and sustainable water management.
The main objective of the webinar was to present the innovative project “Tropical Agriculture 4.0: efficient water management,” aimed at transforming water use in agriculture in countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, and Honduras. This joint effort addresses the challenge of inefficient water use in the agricultural sector by promoting more sustainable water management practices.
The project focuses on four key crops: avocado, cacao, Tahiti lime, and papaya. Using advanced technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), the initiative will develop an irrigation program tailored to the specific needs of each crop, ensuring efficient water use.
Dr. Liliana Ríos Rojas, a senior researcher at AGROSAVIA and an expert in water resource management, presented the project during the webinar. With a research background in the precise quantification of soil water availability and atmospheric demand, Dr. Ríos emphasized the importance of meeting plant water needs without excesses or deficits.
This promising project aims to accelerate the digitalization of small- and medium-scale agribusinesses, promoting precision agriculture to boost productivity and optimize water use. Acknowledging existing technological gaps, the initiative operates on the principle that modernizing farms is the first step toward a more sustainable agricultural future.
To watch a recording of the webinar, visit:
https://www.youtube.com/live/EnrC7PhU2AE?si=gXFprSfbuTXUCRmv
For more information about the project:
https://www.fontagro.org/new/proyectos/agricultura-tropical/en
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About FONTAGRO
FONTAGRO was created 1998 with the purpose of promoting the increase of the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources and the reduction of poverty in the region. The objective of FONTAGRO is to establish itself as a sustainable financing mechanism for the development of agricultural technology and innovation in Latin America and the Caribbean and Spain, and to establish a forum for the discussion of priority topics of technological innovation. The member countries are: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Spain, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Dominican Republic, Uruguay and Venezuela. In the last 21 years 167 regional agricultural innovation platforms have been co-financed for an amount of US $ 124 million, which has reached 452 institutions and 33 countries worldwide.