The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) presented experiences developed in Latin America and the Caribbean that demonstrate how smart agriculture can help producers make better decisions, improve productivity, optimize the use of natural resources, and strengthen the resilience of agri-food systems. In a context of climate change and increasing pressure on natural resources, smart agriculture offers solutions to produce more with less, optimizing the use of water and other inputs. The integration of digital technologies and capacity building contribute to strengthening the productivity and resilience of agri-food systems. During the Global Conference on Smart Farming, the FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, Rene Orellana Halkyer, emphasized that smart agriculture should not be understood as an isolated technology, but as a system that integrates data, local capacities, innovation, support services, and market access. In his presentation, the Regional Representative showcased three experiences developed by the FAO in the region that illustrate how digital technologies can respond to concrete challenges faced by producers and rural communities. In Peru, FAO supports the development of SANISMART, an aquaculture intelligence system implemented in Tumbes that combines sensors, data analysis, and artificial intelligence to monitor water quality and generate early warnings about health risks. The tool allows for anticipating situations associated with diseases, physiological stress, and other factors that affect aquaculture production. The system integrates environmental, productive, and epidemiological information through sensors that transmit data in real time and predictive models capable of identifying between three and five high-impact pathogens. The results demonstrate the tool's potential to strengthen biosecurity, improve traceability, and reduce production losses through more timely decisions. In Bolivia, where water availability and efficient use are growing challenges for agriculture, the EMA system integrates field sensors, satellite imagery, and artificial intelligence to optimize irrigation and crop management. The tool allows for replacing general irrigation schedules with decisions based on real-time information about soil moisture, temperature, and nutrients, increasing water use efficiency and reducing production costs. The Regional Representative stated that smart agriculture constitutes “the bridge between local data, better decisions, stronger markets and more resilient agri-food systems” and reaffirmed FAO's commitment to supporting countries in building inclusive, accessible and scalable digital systems capable of contributing to a more productive, sustainable and resilient agriculture in the face of the climatic, economic and social challenges faced by the region. Orellana also highlighted the 1,000 Digital Villages initiative, through which FAO promotes a regional network of digital agents from rural communities themselves, responsible for bringing technologies and services closer to agricultural populations. The first call for applications for the initiative resulted in a registry of 3,670 qualified candidates, of which more than 3,500 young professionals from agricultural communities were identified as potential digital agents in nine countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. These professionals combine technical knowledge, connection to their territories and digital skills to facilitate the adoption of innovations in their own communities. “Technology, by itself, does not transform agriculture,” Orellana emphasized. "To scale up solutions, local capabilities, support services, public policy frameworks and governance, financing, and accessible tools are needed to enable producers to make better decisions."
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.