Embrapa and Visiona Tecnologia Espacial have signed a technical cooperation agreement for the development of intelligent systems that combine space technology with computerized systems applied to agriculture. The agreement opens perspectives for new business models and presents great potential of impact and innovation for Brazilian agriculture.
The objective is to provide intelligent services for agriculture, through the identification of opportunities and solutions based on space technologies integrated to computer systems. The partnership seeks to strengthen and expand the development of systems that demand data and information provided by satellites. The technologies will allow advances in the mapping and monitoring of agricultural and livestock production areas, as well as conservation areas and environmental ecosystems.
Visiona is a company of the Embraer and Telebras groups focused entirely on the design of space systems and is currently developing the VCUB project, the first satellite designed by the Brazilian industry. The VCUB should serve to validate space technologies and will be equipped with a high resolution, high radiometric quality camera focused primarily on the agricultural and environmental protection markets. In addition, the satellite will also have a data collection system capable of serving the Internet of Things (IoT) market in locations with little infrastructure.
Embrapa will apply its knowledge and technologies in agriculture, geotechnology, automation, IoT and information technology (IT) systems applied to agriculture and innovation. The Company will develop specialized algorithms for processing and processing of spatial images, as well as providing researchers and technicians specialized in computer systems applied to agriculture, livestock and the environment for the provision of intelligent services and the joint creation of a strategic bank of images.
Visiona will also contribute knowledge, technologies and inputs in the space area for the joint development of intelligent systems for the agricultural market. In particular, through the partnership, companies will be able to use the VCUB project as a tool for the development of advanced solutions. The agreement also makes it possible to identify and discuss new opportunities for joint action using other space technologies.
This initiative involves Embrapa Informática Agropecuária, located in Campinas (SP), and Embrapa’s Secretariat of Innovation and Business (SIN), which will work on the development of technologies and new business models with Visiona and partners. With the general agreement of cooperation, Embrapa will also be able to contribute in other subjects of interest of the agricultural area, involving even more centers of research of the Company and diverse technologies.
The combined use of sensors, satellites, applications and artificial intelligence characterizes the current phase of agricultural evolution – termed agriculture 4.0, strongly supported by IT. The entire production chain has sought these solutions to support the production and decision-making processes, aiming to improve performance and increase the socioeconomic and environmental sustainability of the sector.
High-precision, real-time mapping and monitoring of agricultural and livestock production areas, conservation areas and environmental ecosystems as a whole are among the major challenges of today’s agriculture that can be greatly benefited by the integration of these solutions technological innovations. “With the improvement of the systems, we can improve both the performance and the results achieved, as well as optimize the use of inputs and human and environmental resources,” says Silvia Massruhá, general manager of Embrapa Informática Agropecuária.
According to Embrapa’s director of Innovation and Technology, Cleber Soares, “the partnership has great potential for technical development that can be applied to offer new business models to be explored by two companies or third parties, generating benefits for the entire chain productive, in its processes of production and decision-making. ” The expectation is that, later, other Embrapa Units will also be involved in the development of solutions with high potential for innovation.
The president of Visiona, João Paulo Rodrigues Campos, believes that “the possibility of combining high-quality images and collecting sensor data in the field makes VCUB a powerful platform for agricultural applications, and the partnership with Embrapa will be fundamental to transform that potential in concrete solutions aimed at the Brazilian market “.
This text was translated by machine from Brazilian Portuguese.