We recently announced the preview availability of Azure Data Manager for Agriculture. This new tool is a commercial evolution of Project FarmBeats, a data-driven agriculture initiative that Microsoft was working on that enabled the collection and transformation of data to improve farmers’ operations.
With Azure Data Manager for Agriculture, Microsoft supports the agricultural sector at a crucial time. Although food is abundant in many regions of the world, the number of people suffering from hunger has continued to increase in recent years. To feed the world’s growing population sustainably and efficiently, the way we produce food must change. From the field, where improvements in agricultural practices can help mitigate climate change, to the store shelves, where customers seek products with a minimal carbon footprint, the agricultural and food value chain must be redefined based on a model of sustainable innovation.
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We at Microsoft, however, have been developing an important initiative called ADN since September 2022, a new Agtech program for digital native companies, whose objective is to provide technology, coaching, support in marketing and sales actions, support to all companies free of charge technological startups working on solutions for the territory.
This is a unique regional initiative that includes different proposals depending on the business growth cycle and where anyone with an idea can sign up through Microsoft for Startups and receive free support. Without a doubt, a fundamental aid for the growth of emerging companies in the agricultural sector.
How does good cloud management impact cost reduction?
Thanks to the development and growth of the agricultural sector, an exponential growth of data is being generated which, thanks to technology, we can return and must transform into intelligent data to improve any type of production process and, in this way, make the entire production chain more efficient, value, exports and domestic market.
In this context, at Microsoft we believe that, if we can democratize the use of technology and generate increasingly intelligent data, the Argentine countryside will become a key player in the knowledge economy and a leading sector in terms of innovation for a more sustainable future . .
While Microsoft talks about “doing more with less” in times of need to reduce costs, how can you do more with less in the cloud?
This is closely related to the previous point. Our goal is to foster innovation by supporting entrepreneurs to transform data into the engine of new intelligent environments that, in turn, create better experiences, new insights and interactions to solve some of the key challenges facing agricultural producers. Basically, we bet that integrating more technology will help the industry be greener, more sustainable and efficient.
Can I use the data I have historically had in the company and subject it to analysis to make better decisions?
Clear. With Microsoft cloud solutions, not only can a company’s data be processed more effectively, but it can also transform itself into a data-driven organization, that is, an organization capable of evaluating itself and making strategic decisions about intelligent data base.
What are the latest advancements you’ve made in the cloud for AGRO?
The main advances involve access to Microsoft’s cloud technology through the ADN program. As I mentioned before, this program not only gives businesses access to cloud technology, but also provides resources, advice for developing marketing and sales strategies, coaching, and support right from the start. It is a 360-degree solution of which we are very proud and which has more and more success stories such as those of companies such as Agrobit, Auravant or DeepAgro, Microsoft partners who are currently developing projects to promote digital agriculture in Argentina.
How can I ensure that everything I do in the cloud is protected from security threats?
Microsoft’s cloud solutions not only help improve the management of an organization or make its production processes more efficient, but are also a guarantee in terms of cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is an essential part of Microsoft Azure and is one of the services and safeguards we offer as part of our cloud platform.
Simply put, Microsoft understands that cybersecurity is a prerequisite of cloud computing. You can’t have one without the other. For this reason, our experts constantly develop IT security solutions and services and report on the cybersecurity landscape. Our goal every day is to continue to be pioneers and leaders in cybersecurity. We want to continue to set the standard in the industry.
What is the role of artificial intelligence in combination with the cloud for AGRO?
Artificial intelligence plays an increasingly important role in the world of agriculture. This tool allows us to develop new solutions for the sector which, for example, allow us to predict or help operate in certain critical scenarios such as climate events such as drought, frost or the spread of a pest.
In the era of intelligent data and artificial intelligence, at Microsoft we believe we have the opportunity to address the impact of climate change and its potential effects in terms of reducing production and promoting sustainable production.
In this context, and to encourage the development and growth of this type of tools applied to the sector, the first Hackathon in the history of ExpoAgro was held in Argentina in March.
It was a collaborative experience of open innovation, involving INTA experts in soil, climate, water, cartography and spatial data, and data and artificial intelligence from companies such as PI Consulting, Datalytics and NTT Data. 40 developers participated who worked on field detection scenarios which, by collecting terrain data, such as temperature and humidity, among others, allow to obtain recommendations to overcome climate phenomena such as drought. The final solution of the Hackathon is available to any manufacturer to apply these scenarios in their field.
What regional initiatives or projects does Microsoft have in mind for the AGRO sector?
The main regional initiative related to agriculture is the ADN program, which we promote through Microsoft for Startups.