Digital transformation, ultra-broadband and agriculture: here is why fibre optics is a key asset for the agri-food sector.
After Industry 4.0, it is time for Agribusiness 4.0: sustainable, up-to-date and… digitised!
Digital transformation is continuing to advance and is even sweeping the sector most closely connected to analogue, namely the agri-food industry.
When we think of the primary sector, the first thing that comes to mind is probably a field covered with neatly arranged rows of fruit waiting to be harvested. Expanding this vision, we could add a well-structured farm to the picture, equipped with cutting-edge machinery that can process large quantities of product, perhaps using environmentally friendly techniques.
Yet even in this panorama, somewhere between bucolic life and a quasi-industrial setting – a truly physical and real scenario in short – there is room for considerable improvement through the use of ultra-fast connectivity.
We discover all the benefits and strategic importance of digitisation in the primary sector:
Fibre optics and the agri-food sector: not just sales and logistics
FTTH fibre optics is a valuable asset for modern agri-food supply chains, since they can benefit from it at every stage of the production process. At Open Fiber we are so conscious of this that, in May 2020, we signed an agreement with Confagricoltura to accelerate the deployment of ultra-broadband in Italian agribusinesses. Needless to say, the most digitised businesses benefit in many ways: not only from a competitive and logistical standpoint during distribution, but also during production thanks to the application of new technologies.
While, until recently, Internet use in the agri-food sector was mainly connected to online sales and the management of dedicated e-commerce, today new and more interesting scenarios are available thanks to the possibilities offered by ultra-broadband.
Currently, one can easily imagine a digitised farm as a functional assembly line in which the processes of harvesting, sorting and dispatching products are remotely managed almost automatically and supervised by the watchful eye of specialised managers. But what if we told you that this is just a small phase of a whole longer process?
In fact, when it comes to agribusiness, productivity begins long before harvest and sale.
Optical fibre and artificial intelligence for implementing predictive and control models
Anyone who has worked in the agri-food industry is only too familiar with how much an unforeseen event – the spread of a pest or a period of drought, just to name a few – can affect product quality and quantity. Periods of severe famine are even remembered in the history books as events that changed the social structure of entire regions!
It is therefore a fundamental step to make production chains more responsive to events of this nature.
Today, the use of technology can greatly help farms in improving in quality and efficiency.
In particular, satellite monitoring can facilitate producers to monitor the status of fields or grazing areas; IoT sensors enable producers to collect data about temperature, humidity, etc.; Artificial Intelligence algorithms permit the analysis and cross-reference of collected climate data with field status or grazing areas data, developing predictive models that are more accurate than simple weather forecasts, and allowing companies to put protective measures in place, so as to prepare for events that would otherwise damage months of work.
However, this is only feasible if collected data can be quickly and reliably cross-referenced with the latest data, which FTTH fibre – with its transmission speed of up to 10 Gbps – is capable of doing.
More accurate product traceability
Identification codes, traceability and compliance with safety regulations: when it comes to what we eat, no control is too meticulous.
So why not think big? Two words: digitisation and blockchain, a combination that can improve agri-food safety and provide unambiguous tracking of the products that arrive on our tables, in addition to conveying a wealth of detailed information about them.
This not only includes information on the areas of origin and production standards used, but also details on the transport temperatures of the products on the road and the humidity level of the storage locations, all managed through a secure platform where the data cannot be manipulated.
This adaptation could also benefit producers themselves, who could more easily build up a recognisable image and score reputation points. Not to mention the reduction in the risk of food fraud and waste: in the case of a contaminated batch, for example, it would be possible to accurately trace only unsafe products, avoiding the need to send healthy food whose origin cannot be identified to landfill. This makes the supply chain not only safer, but also more sustainable.
How many of these ultra-fast Internet-based applications for the agri-food sector were you already familiar with? Open Fiber is working to make the sector more efficient, safe and environmentally friendly and you too can monitor the progress of this work on the dedicated page.
