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Innovation
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Agriculture
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Innovation
The agricultural sector stands at a crossroads of technological advancement with the emergence of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) specifically targeting crop data. This comes on the heels of the rapid introduction of AI platforms like ChatGPT, which amazed the world with its impressive intelligence. However, that intelligence was partly built on stolen data from the internet, including content from news outlets. Recently, it also came to light that companies like Apple and Nvidia used datasets from over 173,000 YouTube videos, including subtitles, without permission to train their AI models. This begs the question: Is the agricultural sector facing a similar scenario? Hefty fees to access for their own data I fear the answer is yes. In a few years, it may turn out that major AI platforms quietly walked away with farmers’ business data, only to then charge them hefty fees to access what was once their own information. Let me be clear: I am an optimist and a proponent of technological progress. Generative AI, or Gen AI, has the potential to support farmers as a virtual assistant that knows everything about crops, soil, weather, and machinery. It continuously learns from vast amounts of data, as if the farm has an extra pair of eyes and brains that are always ready to help. AI Platforms in agriculture: Promise or peril? There are many examples of this. In May 2023, Norm, an AI from the rapidly growing American platform Farmers Business Network, was one of the first. Recently, platforms like Taranis, AgriSearch Assistant, and Sage from Cropin have joined the ranks. Sage, for instance, collects detailed crop data on a global scale down to a 3×3 meter grid, allowing for accurate yield predictions. However, instead of creating a level playing field, these systems threaten to further skew the balance of power in agriculture. Farmers are left empty-handed, forced to pay for information they helped generate Krishna Kumar, CEO of Cropin, stated: “The information provided by Sage will primarily benefit large agribusinesses that can afford the expensive subscriptions.” For the individual farmer, this means nothing less than a growing information gap between them and their suppliers and buyers. While large companies reap the benefits of the precision and predictions offered by these AI systems, farmers are left empty-handed, forced to pay for information they helped generate. Data Exploitation: the inverse reality This development is an inversion of the natural order; large companies use hyper-powerful AI to swipe farmers’ data right from under their noses and get richer in the process. This is strongly reminiscent of how AI companies have used public data from the internet over the past few years to train their models. Now, the same thing is happening on a large scale in agriculture, with potentially disastrous consequences. Public data and AI: the overlooked issue One often overlooked aspect is the abundance of public data available. Advanced satellites capture images of every square meter of agricultural land, which can expose everything like X-ray images, from crop growth to the timing of farming activities. As a result, the agricultural sector has become one of the most transparent and exposed industries. However, for AI platforms, gaining access to specific business and crop data is even more valuable. This data is being shared on a massive scale worldwide through platforms like My John Deere, offered by major agricultural machinery manufacturers. Who will protect farmers’ data? But who ensures that this data remains secure? Who says that smart AI algorithms won’t find backdoor access to this valuable business data to further refine their models? This is not a far-fetched theory; it’s a real risk that farmers worldwide face. If farmers do not take action themselves, we might witness the largest data heist in agricultural history. In broad daylight, no less. Farmers would then not only lose control over their data but also their knowledge advantage, becoming dependent on the advice of AI platforms—advice based on their own data, but for which they have to pay dearly. The power of data sharing: A call to action With data from a single farmer, you can’t do much, but if you combine it with data from all farmers, it becomes invaluable. I am certainly in favor of data sharing, but it’s crucial to consider with whom this data is shared. And more importantly, who processes and analyzes it, and for what purposes. Farmers must organize to protect their data It is crucial that farmers become aware of this threat and organize themselves—not only to protect their data but also to process and use it for benchmarking purposes, such as evaluating product performance and identifying which farming practices yield the highest returns. Over time, this can lead to the creation of a large virtual test farm, also known as a digital twin farm. Farmers could manage their own data cooperatives, where they share insights from their collective crop data and only grant third parties access for a fee. This is the only way for farmers to retain their autonomy and knowledge, and even gain an edge over their suppliers, buyers, and governments. It’s essential to prevent being swallowed up by the technological giants of the world.
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Innovation
The city of Medellín is preparing to host one of the most important events in the industrial sector: REAM 2024 (Reunion of the Americas). This event, organized by ABRA (Brazilian Association of Animal Recycling) and AgriGlobal Market Inc., will take place from September 3 to 5, 2024, at the Plaza Mayor Convention Center. REAM 2024 will bring together producers and buyers from the Rendering, Feed and Petfood, Biodiesel, Fats, UCOs, and Oleochemicals industries in a space dedicated to conferences and business rounds. With the participation of over 350 companies from various market segments across the American continent, this event promises to be a unique opportunity to forge strategic alliances and close deals in person. The event will feature specialized talks, networking sessions, and the chance to finalize transactions using AgriGlobal Market's technological platform. Additionally, a welcome reception will be held at the Museo El Castillo, offering an unparalleled cultural and networking experience. Event Details: Date: September 3-5, 2024 Venue: Plaza Mayor Convention Center, Medellín, Colombia Registration and more information: www.renderingamerica.com REAM 2024 is not just a business event but also a platform for knowledge exchange and the creation of new opportunities in the sector. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this key industry gathering. To purchase tickets and secure your Business Stand, visit www.renderingamerica.com
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Innovation
The International Animal Protein Exhibition (SIAVS) began this Tuesday (6), in São Paulo (SP). With the participation of over 100 Brazilian brands from companies and cooperatives that produce and export poultry, pigs, cattle, eggs and fish, the presence of delegations from around 50 countries and an extensive program of symposiums and panels, the event is considered one of the largest meetings of the sector in the world. Ministers, three governors, parliamentarians and representatives of the national production chain were present at the opening ceremony. In his opening speech, Ricardo Santin, president of the Brazilian Animal Protein Association (ABPA), organizer of the event, announced the record of more than 120 thousand tons of Brazilian pork exported in the month of July alone. Santin also highlighted the importance of pig farming and poultry farming for the national economy. Together, the segments are responsible for a gross annual production value that exceeds R$350 billion, in addition to generating more than 10 million jobs, both direct and indirect. Over the last 30 years, the chain has also generated R$1.5 trillion in tax revenue from exports. “We provide wealth, employment and income, and we boost the development of regions that are today a reference because of the strength of this production chain”, said the president of the entity. With an optimistic speech, reinforcing the resilience and strength of Brazilian agriculture, Santin also listed the main challenges and opportunities for the country to further expand its representation on the global stage through agribusiness. End of the animal health emergency This Tuesday, hours before the opening of SIAVS, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) officially declared the end of the state of animal health emergency in Rio Grande do Sul due to Newcastle disease, identified in the municipality of Anta Gorda on July 17 . Present at the event, Minister Carlos Fávaro took the opportunity to highlight the organization of the segment and the partnership between the Brazilian state and entities such as ABPA to quickly resolve the case. “It has been just over 20 days since we identified this situation and it has been resolved,” he said. “This shows the importance of the organization and structure we have in the animal protein chain”, he added, also highlighting transparency throughout the process. The commitment to biosecurity was also one of the differences mentioned by the president of ABPA. However, according to him, progress needs to be made on other fronts. At the end of the event, the entity delivered to the minister and other authorities present a document with the sector's intentions so that Brazil can increase not only its international competitiveness, but also the productivity and efficiency of production in the field. In the 2024 edition, for the first time SIAVS integrates all links in the animal protein chain, with the inclusion of representatives from the beef, fish and milk chain — in partnership with the Brazilian Association of Meat Exporting Industries (ABIEC) and the Brazilian Fish Farming Association (Peixe BR). Strong presence of authorities In addition to Minister Carlos Fávaro, the opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Agrarian Development and Family Agriculture, Paulo Teixeira, the governors of Rio Grande do Sul, Eduardo Leite, of Santa Catarina, Jorginho Mello, and of Paraná, Ratinho Jr.; the senator and former minister Tereza Cristina, the president of the Parliamentary Front for Agriculture, deputy, Pedro Lupion; the Secretary of Agriculture of São Paulo, Guilherme Piai; the Secretary of Agrarian Development of Pernambuco, Cícero Moraes; between others. The opening lecture was given by economist Eduardo Gianetti, who analyzed the current scenario and the global challenges that open up opportunities for agribusiness and the Brazilian animal protein sector. SIAVS takes place in the Anhembi District, in the capital of São Paulo, on the 6th, 7th and 8th of August. Accreditation for the congress can be done via the website www.siavs.com.br and entry to the fair is free. To check the full event schedule, visit the website siavs.com.br.
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Agriculture
The study, carried out at University of California, Riverside, found that free-range birds were being infected by lice at much higher levels than caged flocks. The study’s lead author and entomologist, Amy Murillo, said: “We didn’t expect to find skin lesions associated with chicken body lice, but we did. This has not, to my knowledge, been documented before.” Murillo studies pests of poultry and other livestock. To help detect mite infestations in chickens, Murillo previously led a team of entomologists, computer scientists and poultry specialists in creating a new insect detection sensor, which was worn on birds’ backs. The sensors for this study were used to monitor activity at three points in time – during a period when cage-free birds were not infested with lice, during a growing infestation, and during a full-blown infestation. An increase in preening behavior The clearest signal of a lice infestation was an increase in preening behavior, as the birds clean their feathers with their beaks. While preening is generally considered positive, too much of it could disrupt other healthy chicken behaviors. “We found such a significant increase in infected flocks it makes us think they’re spending time preening when they might have been doing other things, like resting, eating, sleeping or laying eggs,” said Murillo. A major increase in preening was detected even when the lice infestation was quite small. Murillo: “Just a few lice and you see a dramatic change in what the chicken is doing. They’re spending significant amounts of time trying to get lice off.” Lice tend to live in places on the body that make it harder for hosts to remove. Chicken body lice tend to go under the wings, a place with a warmer-than-average skin temperature that is harder for birds to reach. The lesions the researchers found there were actively breeding.
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Commodities
The pet food industry in Mexico will experience growth of 3.29 billion dollars in 2024 and is expected to reach 4.85 billion dollars by 2029, according to data from the consulting firm Mordor Intelligence. In light of this situation, companies like Mars Petcare have taken new measures, such as announcing the first expansion of their production plant in Querétaro, with an investment of 195,000 dollars. The company's growth is closely related to the 18.8 percent increase in pet food consumption in the country between 2017 and 2022, which has made it necessary to have 14 additional production lines, 8 of which are already in operation, thus growing their capacity fourfold. 'This achievement complements those already reached, as today Mars Petcare in Querétaro holds the title of the largest and most efficient dry food plant for Mars (...) More than seventy products will be manufactured in this plant, making it an exemplary case in the industry,' said the Director of Manufacturing at Mars Pet Nutrition Mexico, Mauricio Espinosa.
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