Without precision agriculture, no one will reach the future in agriculture

Will it be possible to take human beings into the future without a gigantic education effort in precision agriculture?

Passive education alone is not enough. We need persuasive, active, enthusiastic and motivational education, because the drama of learning is not in the 20% who have the desire and take the lead; the drama of education is in the other 80%. This requires persistent and passionate educators to not leave human beings behind.

But what does this have to do with agribusiness?

I answer without thinking twice: it has everything to do with it, as there are four million rural producers in Brazil, around 70% of which account for less than 4% of the gross income from Brazilian agricultural production.

Now don't come with a cry about missing this or that. Everything is missing, but what is most missing is the strong and well-led return of Brazilian rural extension.

Technicians in the field teaching how to do things and legitimate agents of the enthusiasm and motivation of producers, especially small ones, who, if they are not associated and cooperative, have little chance of reaching the market and the future.

The Brazilian Congress of Precision Agriculture (ConBAP) 2018 was held between October 1st and 4th in Curitiba/PR. There the most sophisticated state of the technological art was discussed.

There is a lot to be done in precision agriculture, as the technology of the past, known for 40 years, is very poorly used. For this, it needs rural extension, technicians in the field educating and motivating. Without precision agriculture, no one will go to the future in agriculture.

We urgently need to rescue Brazilian extension workers, using new media and a lot of education.

For example: in Mato Grosso, the Mato Grosso Research and Rural Extension Company (Empaer) wants to inaugurate a new era, seeking partnerships with private companies and NGOs to rescue the dignity of more than 140 thousand family producers in Mato Grosso, its target essential.

The time has come for the return of rural extension and microbiome research in Brazilian fields with public-private partnerships, above all.