Digital Technology: Key for Efficient Water Management in Southern Cone Agriculture

Published at: 13 February 2024

Efficient water management is a crucial challenge in agriculture, and in the Southern Cone, the incorporation of digital technologies emerges as a promising pathway to address this issue. Although there has been observed growth in the adoption of digital solutions in the agri-food sector of the region in recent years, penetration is still low, requiring a greater push to close the gap between large companies and smaller-scale producers.

The low adoption by farmers may be related to the dispersion of solutions in the market and the lack of evidence regarding their benefits. However, other parts of the world have reversed this situation through collaborative public-private ecosystems of open innovation. In this context, a project proposes to drive digital transformation for efficient water management in the Southern Cone, strengthening the INIAs in AgTech ecosystems and promoting public-private collaboration.

In response to the growing demand for food, improving sustainability and agricultural productivity is fundamental, and efficient water management plays a key role. It is estimated that approximately 70% of freshwater consumption is concentrated in the agricultural sector, with its efficiency of use being less than 50% in several countries. Therefore, promoting digital solutions can increase efficiency in water management and promote the development of producers.

In conclusion, efficient water management through digital technologies is essential to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability in the Southern Cone. This project represents an important step towards the development of innovative solutions and collaboration among various actors in the agricultural sector.

Sponsors
BID
IICA
With the support of
Fondo Coreano de Alianza para el Conocimiento en Tecnología e Innovación (KPK)