With potential to profoundly transform the way commodities are produced, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) has advanced in Brazilian agribusiness. Still, the industry marriage with technology faces technical, regulatory and human barriers.
In a panel of the Global Agribusiness Festival (Gafff), this Thursday (5), in Sao Paulo, Guilherme Panes, Head of Digital Agriculture of Jacto, said that AI should be seen as a tool to broaden human intelligence, but not to replace it. “We will be better with her, because the machine helps to understand what to do. But, The decision still needs to be human.”
Among the examples of application already in use, Panes said that Jacto has autonomous vehicles for spraying in orange crops – this since 2013. Today, these equipment have systems that detect fruits maturity with computational vision and machine learning algorithms to predict and prevent losses.
Regulation without disrupting innovation
On the subject, lawyer Hélio Moraes, partner at PK Advogados, defended a balanced regulatory framework that gives legal certainty without inhibiting the potential of innovation.
According to him, in discussion in Congress and inspired by European standards, it is an opportunity for Brazil to create its own model and suitable for national reality, including agro. “AI can have a greater impact than fire or electricity. But for that, We need clear rules, governance and trained people”He pointed out.
Moraes also highlighted the role of the National Data Protection Authority (ANPD) in articulation with the productive sectors and warned of the risks of misuse of sensitive data, such as financial and productive farmers.
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BP Bionergy’s senior agricultural mechanization manager, Mário Sérgio Salani, recalled that the main obstacles to the adoption of artificial intelligence are not just technicians, but cultural and generational.
“We have technology to connect machines in the field with command centers miles away. But we have difficulty connecting with people,” he said.
According to Salani, older farmers often face resistance or difficulty operating new technologies, while younger people are not always interested in country life. “It is necessary to show purpose and result. Show that AI comes to simplify and improve work.”
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Brazilian agro as a global reference
Despite the challenges, the understanding of those in the field is that Brazil can become an international reference in the use of IA at Agro, given its relevance as a producer of commodities and early adoption of agricultural technologies.
“The Brazilian agro is ahead and can influence global patterns if it has a calibrated regulation and bet on qualification”Said lawyer Hélio Moraes.
Even so, panelists warn that the path requires investment in digital infrastructure, technical training, data governance and engagement of the tips of the production chain.
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“It is no use running to AI if it does not extract value from what we already have. The challenge is to use the data well and create internal intelligence on the properties,” said Guilherme Panes.
