FONTAGRO recently led a webinar emphasizing the need for digital tools in sustainable agricultural management, presenting an effective combination of Python, R, and Google Earth Engine for processing and analyzing large agricultural datasets. Dr. Martín Durante, senior researcher at INTA, Argentina, highlighted how these tools enable researchers to tackle complex problems by analyzing historical data and validating theories through identified patterns.
During the session, various data visualization techniques were discussed, including the use of Flex Dashboard in R to enhance graphical representation of data and optimize statistical analysis. Organizing agricultural data using entity-attribute concepts was presented as an effective way to improve productivity analysis, facilitating comparisons between different regions and sites.
Additionally, automating data retrieval using APIs was recognized as a beneficial practice, eliminating repetitive manual tasks and allowing efficient access to information. The capabilities of Google Earth Engine were emphasized as essential for handling the vast amounts of agricultural data generated, providing a cloud-based platform for interactive satellite image processing.
The event also explored the integration of real-time data for pasture management, using satellite data to estimate growth rates and facilitate decision-making for livestock management. Through interactive visualizations and tools like Google Sheets, users can input information on remaining forage, contributing to more accurate simulation models.
Finally, the role of artificial intelligence and applications like Appsheet in improving agricultural data management was a relevant topic, showcasing the shift toward more efficient methodologies in agricultural research and practice.
To access the recording of this webinar, visit: https://www.youtube.com/live/0DG6QkSZnzU?si=xiH86C1IW-fGbAXx
To learn about the FONTAGRO project: Satellite monitoring of quantity and quality of available biomass in pastoral livestock systems, visit: https://webstories.fontagro.org/webstory-monitoreosatelital/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 27 years 204 regional agricultural innovation platforms have been co-financed for an amount of US $ 150.7 million, which has reached 531 institutions and 35 countries worldwide.