b'BY: FRANCO BRAZZABENIIOT: AN ACRONYM TO REMEMBERI oT: let\'s try to memorize this acro-nym, because it will soon become common usage. It stands for Internet of Things. It is a neologism used in the IT sector, which refers to the extension of the internet to real objects and places, giving them a digital identity and connecting them to other objects. In practice, "things", thanks to sensors and dedicated software, can detect and communicate data and, in essence, provide a service to users, for example via cell phones or other devices. Thus, a thermostat equipped with IoT can detect the position of a person (e. g. via Google Maps) and adjust the heating for his arrival home; or, similarly, an alarm clock can ring earlier in case of very heavy traffic in the area and avoid delays in travel.Theoretically, the range of use is wide and allows us to envision a smart world,by countries such as Germany, France anddrought use sensors distributed on the where objects interact with humans. It maythe Netherlands.ground, which communicate with a weather seem a vaguely disturbing prospect, butOthers, like Italy, are having more dif- station via IoT; these values, together with probably at the time the arrival of otherficulty, due to the high investments requiredhistorical data, are processed by Artificial epochal innovations, such as electricityand especially the limited IT know-howIntelligence and provide the farmer with all in homes, also caused similar sensations.of the older generations. The fact remainsthe elements necessary to decide whether, Certainly, the post-Millennials generationsthat in Italy turnover in 2023 grew by 19%,when and how much to irrigate. are much more prepared and ready for thisreaching 2.5 billion euros.Result: top efficiency and water con-revolution. It is necessary to improve the transfersumption reduced by up to 20%. of this technology to agricultural entrepre- Constant and precise monitoring of GREAT POTENTIAL FORneurs. land and crops also allows intervention on AGRICULTURE Agriculture 4.0 is closely interfacedsowing, fertilization and control of plant Agriculture and IT: it is difficult to imaginewith precision farming and digital (smart)diseases, with possible savings in technical two more different worlds. An activity thatagriculture. It uses the resources of themeans and related benefits for the environ-has been ongoing for 10,000 years and isInternet of Things, which is its basis andment and the farmer\'s income.linked to the territory, and a recent scienceconstitutes its fabric. It develops with robot- Not just agriculture in the strict sense. based on virtuality. Yet these two realitiesics applied to common agricultural machin- Containers equipped with IoT allow com-are destined to meet. Not easy but inevita- ery, drones, sensors, artificial intelligenceplete traceability of goods, at any time ble, to be able to face the challenges up to(AI), all at the service of optimizing crop,during transport. Sensors applied to ani-2030, with objectives such as Zero Hunger,livestock and logistics applications aimedmals mark their movements and monitor through environmentally sustainable butat increasing efficiency, sustainability andtheir well-being. The effort of agricul-also economically profitable techniques. profits. tural workers is lightened and their safety The solutions that fall within the con- increases. We could go on and on.cept of Agriculture 4.0 have been studiedSCIENCE FICTION? NO, IT\'S THEAgriculture, probably the most tra-and proposed for several years, with a devel- PRESENT ditional human activity, is demonstrating opment path that is not always easy andThanks to the use of IoT devices, it is possi- an extraordinary capacity for openness fluid but is constantly growing. Currently,ble to detect and manage essential elementsand adaptability to the world of today and the global market for Agriculture 4.0 isof agri-food production, from weather con- tomorrow.estimated at almost $70 billion, with aditions to soil fertility, to program machines forecast annual increase of 11.6% betweenfor use aimed at sustainability and conven- Franco Brazzabeni is commercial and mar-now and 2030.ience. The Internet of Things collects dataketing consultant in the international agri-Also in the EU, following the indica- in real time and transmits it promptly,business, Member of the Board of Assosementi tions of the Green Deal, the sector is mark- allowing extremely effective actions. Forand of ISF Groups and writes a blog on www.ing a very interesting development, drivenexample, pre-alert systems for agriculturalagrinotes.it.NOVEMBER 2024|SEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPEISEED WORLD EUROPE I 15'