The presentation was delivered by Dr. Ignacio Ciampitti, Professor of Quantitative Agronomy and Co-Director of the Institute for Digital and Advanced Agricultural Systems at Purdue University, and co-lead of the NASA Acres, FIAT (Farm Innovation Ambassador Team) program. His research integrates crop ecophysiology, data science, remote sensing, and simulation modeling to improve the management of crops such as corn, soybeans, sorghum, and canola. The session was moderated by Dr. Eugenia Saini, Executive Secretary, and Dr. Martín Oesterheld, Scientific Operations Specialist at FONTAGRO.

During his presentation, Dr. Ciampitti showed how satellite information, combined with field data, makes it possible to anticipate crop yields one to two months before harvest, define management zones within each field, estimate nitrogen in corn, and predict protein and oil content in soybeans, opening up opportunities to differentiate production by quality. He also presented rapid-response experiences in the face of extreme weather events, as well as new open-access digital tools, such as applications for analyzing field trials and soil data. "Satellite imagery does not replace the agronomist: it makes the detection and decision-making process more effective," he emphasized.

One of the central themes of the talk was co-creation with producers. Through the FIAT program, producer "ambassadors" and scientists jointly develop and validate tools based on NASA data, including a mobile app that will bring this information to every field. The speaker also highlighted the potential of open data, interdisciplinary teams, and the new generation of satellites, such as Landsat Next, to continue expanding these capabilities.

During the discussion with participants, Dr. Saini underscored the value of regional cooperation, solutions tailored to each value chain, and economic analysis to multiply the impact of innovation, and she announced the upcoming opening of the FONTAGRO 2027 Call for Proposals. The session brought together nearly 120 people from across the region, who enriched the exchange with their questions on the use of satellite indices, robotics, the adoption of digital technologies, and data management.

FONTAGRO thanks Dr. Ignacio Ciampitti for sharing his expertise, as well as everyone who participated in this Science Café.

▶ Watch the full Science Café recording: