Una empresa de mejora genética de plantas explica cómo ha transformado sus procesos desde que incorporó a Cropwise Protector y la agricultura de precisión en sus operaciones.
La tecnología siempre ha estado presente en el ADN de TMG. El Grupo TMG, es una empresa brasileña que investiga y desarrolla cultivos de soja, maíz y algodón. «Nos centramos en soluciones genéticas.Para la cosecha 21/22 estamos reposicionando nuestra cartera de soja en términos de productividad. En 2023 lanzaremos nuestro primer híbrido de maíz. Somos líderes en el mercado del algodón» dice Raphael Augusto, consultor de Soluciones Agritech del grupo.
Con sede en Cambé, en el estado de Paraná (Brasil), TMG también cuenta con instalaciones en otros cuatro estados: Bahía, Rio Grande do Sul, Mato Grosso y Goiás, con un total de seis instalaciones experimentales en las principales regiones de cultivo de granos del país, así como numerosos centros de pruebas en explotaciones agrícolas asociadas. Se trata de zonas de entre 100 y 150 hectáreas divididas en parcelas pequeñas con distintos cultivos.
Es un trabajo meticuloso que requiere estrictas regulaciones y protocolos.«Tenemos que hacer aplicaciones específicas para cada una de las diferentes tecnologías que hemos probado. Y a veces se cometen errores, porque son docenas de pruebas distintas en miles de terrenos pequeños. Por ejemplo, hubo un caso en el que se pulverizó glifosato en un área donde no se debía y la cosecha murió. Así que decidimos buscar una solución para mitigar esos problemas», añade Raphael. Y es ahí donde interviene Syngenta Digital.
Initial outcome: a reduction in the use of pesticides
For three years now, Cropwise Protector has been a part of the routine for those who work at TMG, both in the fields in the hands of its workforce and in the back office with its management team. Initially, the company started using the tool to help monitor pests. Gradually, other features were also incorporated, such as the use of the smart calendar, and precision farming at TMG has grown from strength to strength as a result.
Progress was made and the results have been constant. Just to give you an idea, the group saw a 20% reduction in the use of pesticides. "We chose Protector to help us avoid problems with spraying, and it has given us confidence. Staff members have been trained and now everyone knows how to use the app. Right now, we're preparing product stock data and the number of applications," explains the Agritech Consultant.
After going digital, TMG says goodbye to paper forever
"Despite advances in digitalization in some areas, we felt the need to get things off the ground. Going digital, becoming more sustainable, especially when it comes to controlling our vegetation houses (greenhouses where research takes place). It's an environment that needs to be closely monitored, from staff entry times to the tasks they perform. All this is done to keep the environment as safe as possible and free from any outside interference. These checks used to be done using notebooks," says Juliana Gonçalves Jamus, TMG's Regulatory Coordinator.
Having been in operation since 2001, there are countless greenhouse and field control notebooks on file. Similarly, there are countless problems relating to notebooks in the fields. Whether it's the pouring rain that leaves notes smudged, disappearing notebooks, staff members who have to get off the machine, stop what they're doing, and then remember to record their activities, and so on.
As with all Syngenta Digital customers, TMG relies on the advice and support of a Digital Transformation Specialist. In TMG's case, this service is provided remotely by Sâmia Rogel, who, being aware of their desire to increasingly apply precision farming techniques to the control process, has developed an innovative strategic approach in partnership with TMG's innovation team to help meet this demand. "We combined our knowledge with Syngenta Digital's expertise to solve the problem. I'd like to highlight the quality of communication we have with your service. It's fantastic," says Raphael.
"Since the field team already knew how to use Protector, we thought it would be a great solution," says Juliana. It just worked. The test was carried out during the winter harvest and it enabled TMG to control entries and tasks in the fields more accurately, as well as monitoring the GPS coordinates of its staff. Once this data is entered, a daily report is issued to help with decision-making.
"It's amazing working with customers like TMG. It's very rewarding. There's always something new for us to develop together. We worked in close partnership to create this tailor-made solution. Us at Syngenta Digital and them at TMG. In order to reach the final outcome, we held meetings and tested solutions until we found the best fit for them," says Sâmia. Now, the idea is to improve on these methods and apply them in other Brazilian states.
The near future
Since Protector is fully customizable, countless new features can be created within the platform. This is what appeals most to TMG's innovation team, which has already made another request known to Sâmia: the development of a machine checklist feature. "When machines return to base, the technician has to check a number of things, such as whether there is any plant debris on the machine, the condition of tractor tires and other parts, the cleanliness of the car, and so on. This is to ensure that no plant material is carried from one field to another. This checklist is still made on paper," explains Raphael.
The idea is for tasks to be carried out via the app, including the logging of photos and the georeferenced location of technicians. "Data will be stored, writing will be standardized, there will be an understanding of how to filter information and the best part is that we'll be able to carry out countless activities on the same platform through Cropwise Protector," says Raphael.
By Luisa Torres