PAG | December 2021

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Looking at how precision ag presents new opportunities DIEGO FLAMMINI
FARMS.COM
For many people in the ag sector,
precision agriculture is defined as tools
available to make better on-farm decisions
to save costs.
But what if these tools can identify additional
opportunities?
Personalizing conservation and agronomy practices
at or after harvest can help producers with this, said
Anastasia Volkova, CEO and cofounder of
“Sustainable agronomy is a path to more longer-term
resilience and revenue on the farm,” she told the
in November.
Producers should do their research before making any
changes.
Learn about carbon markets, connect with supply
chain partners, and consider goals and interventions.
“The onus is on the farmer to make the decision,” she
said.
Volkova identified three tailwinds for sustainability in
agriculture.
They include net-zero goals, regenerative agriculture
and farm resilience, and accessing capital.
Farmers should be looking to take advantage of these
industry opportunities, Volkova said.
“The downstream players are very much incentivized
to work with farmers to improve the situation
upstream,” she said. “Growers can position themselves
as much more attractive suppliers because they have
lower emission factors.”
Supporting the sustainable ag lifecycle requires
different tools.
THE FIRST TOOL IS FOR BASELINING.
“Where are things at? Where have they been? Where
can go we go from here?” Volkova said.
THE SECOND TOOL COMBINES BASELINING
WITH AGRONOMY.
“This is the interplay between
agronomic decisions and
environmental outcomes,” she said.
THE FINAL PIECE IS REDUCING
CARBON EMISSIONS.
“Maybe this makes you a
preferred supplier to a food
company who wants to
associate itself with
adopters of good practices,”
Volkova added.
If you are investing in
precision agriculture, be
sure to get the maximum
from your investment by
following Volkova’s
suggested tools. | pag
“THE ONUS IS ON THE FARMER TO
MAKE THE DECISION.”
THE EVOLUTION OF
PRECISION AG
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