Telit, a global Internet of Things (IoT) enabler, is partnering with ConectarAGRO Association, a Brazilian non-profit organization that aims to give Brazilian farmers access to 4G mobile internet across the country and promote the adoption of smart farming technologies.
Lack of internet signal is one of the biggest challenges facing rural farmers in Brazil. In a webinar organized by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), it was stated that only 23% of Brazilian agricultural space has some level of connectivity. The webinar also covered the importance of digital sciences to help improve productivity and recommended taking a comprehensive look at digital platforms and digital service delivery.
4G essential for production
“The growing use of 4G in rural areas will be essential for production, as well as the adoption of smart farming techniques and technologies,” said Gregory Riordan, President of ConectarAGRO. “With integrated technologies from members like Telit, producers can easily communicate with customers and suppliers in the field, as well as process and monitor data in the field, which will save time and increase productivity. As we move forward in our mission, our goal is to ensure that every grower can achieve greater development by leveraging the latest technological and digital resources available today in Agriculture 4.0. »
“With significant investments and technological innovations over the past few years, agriculture is one of the most exciting IoT sectors in the market right now,” said Andy Castonguay, Vice President of Strategic Intelligence at James Brehm & Associates. “Telit’s comprehensive portfolio of modules, data plans and platform capabilities provides agricultural producers and solution providers with the essential connectivity, data and management tools they need to deliver IoT applications such such as crop/livestock monitoring, water/irrigation management, farm-to-fork regulatory compliance, and precision agriculture.
Connectivity extended to over 5.1 million hectares
According to CNH Industrial, one of the founders of ConectarAGRO, in 2019 alone, the association extended connectivity to more than 5.1 million hectares of rural areas in Brazil via 4G LTE 700 MHz broadband. This coverage has helped more than 575,000 people, 218 cities and eight states, as well as over 24,000 kilometers of roads in an area larger than the size of Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland combined.
Fernando Guerra, Regional Sales Manager for Latin America at Telit, said: “Application developers and IoT systems integrators for agriculture have a unique opportunity to create connected agricultural solutions that can drive improved, lower costs and a well-nourished world. Telit’s sensors, smart gateways, modules and monitoring systems that collect and analyze information will help ensure connectivity and inform decisions that lead to improvements, even under adverse circumstances.
