Sustainability: how technology helps in environmental preservation

Environmental preservation is one of the most debated topics today, even in the midst of the pandemic. A study by the Ipsos Institute, from Brazil, reveals that 85% of Brazilians believe that environmental issues - such as deforestation, pollution, and climate change - should be treated as a priority in the country's post-Covid recovery. The sectors that have been adapting to reduce impacts on the environment include agribusiness, with the development of technologies that can help in preservation.

According to surveys carried out by Hexagon's Agriculture division, the use of precision agriculture solutions, such as section shutdown solutions, can reduce the use of agrochemicals by up to 20%, while the variable rate controller can decrease by up to 25%. "We are talking about more agile, productive, efficient and sustainable processes. We cannot separate agriculture from the environment. We work with what nature provides. Knowing how to make the best use of it is a commitment of the sector," says Bernardo de Castro, president of Hexagon’s Agriculture division.

Detailed planning of operations combined with fleet monitoring tools can generate savings of 10% of fuel and/or reduction in the number of machines available, by optimising the process. "Technology tells you what needs to be done accurately. We can define routes, track raw material (which supports land use legislation) and optimise machines through automation, so that there is no waste and excess", explains Castro.

According to the president, technology is the great ally of agriculture focused on sustainability, because it is responsible for the transformation of routines and cultures, leading to the field processes that have already digitally transformed other sectors. "Adopting technologies that contribute to smart and sustainable agriculture is a practice with a range of benefits. Sometimes, the implementation is simpler than one imagines, through embedded solutions, but that bring the sector to a new moment," says Bernardo.

With the use of one of these technologies, it is possible to coordinate and synchronise the movement of transhipment tractors through a system of calls and services. In one of the most successful cases raised by the company, the solution optimised the operating time of a harvesting machine, increasing productivity by 50% in the day, using less fuel due to reduced displacement and emitting fewer gases into the environment. In terms of average in the domestic market, this projection would be equivalent to a harvester being able to move from a cutting capacity of 720 to 1080 tons daily, reaching the level of 45 ton/hour run.

Technology for agriculture is based on more sustainable processes, using technologies with the objective of improving product numbers (increased effectiveness, cost reduction, more safety and quality of work) and reducing environmental impacts. "It is no longer optional. It is a guarantee that the sector, the raw materials, the ecosystems and the biodiversity will have continuity", concludes Castro.