Agricompas

Agricultural Data Analytics: Knowledge and decision support

Agricompas; IOT; cacao; Colombia; University of Lincoln

Experts from the Reading Cocoa Group share knowledge and insights with smallholder cacao producers in Colombia

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Cacao beans. Photo Credit, FEDECACAO

By Deborah Foy, Agricompas

The Reading Cocoa Group is a globally important centre for cocoa research and a leading force behind the development of more sustainable cocoa farming practices. Led by Professor Paul Hadley, the Reading Cocoa Group focusses on quantifying yield-determining processes in cocoa, particularly in the context of climate change. A key focus is higher productivity and greater resilience to unfavourable climatic conditions.

In December 2019, Professor Paul Hadley and colleagues joined a field trip to Colombia. They participated in high-level discussions with Agrosavia around the impact of climate change on cacao production and travelled to Rionegro in Santander to meet farmers and partners participating in the ‘Digitisation of Cacao’ project.

Led by Agricompas, ‘Digitisation of Cacao’ is funded by the Prosperity Fund’s AgriTech Catalyst. The project aims to use digital technologies to boost Colombia’s huge potential to become a major global cocoa producer. The University of Reading is a key partner in this innovative, multi-stakeholder partnership. Over a period of 18 months, the University will bring its international expertise in crop modelling to improve the sustainability of the cocoa sector in Colombia.

Professor Handley (right) visiting a cocoa field trial site in Rionegro, Santander together with Agricompas CEO Roelof Kramer (left)

Professor Hadley comments: “Cacao farmers in Colombia are hampered by a lack of scientific knowledge and analysis on the crop at farm level. The platform being developed by the project partners will allow for the storage, monitoring and analysis of various climatic and soil factors – all of which have the capacity to influence the optimal growth and production of cacao. Combined with further advances in machine modelling and artificial intelligence, this will enable farmers to optimise cocoa production, enhancing their commercial viability.”

Professor Hadley continues, “It’s exciting to see the potential that is realised when you harness the power of data. But in tropical environments such as the ones I visited on my trip to Colombia, collecting accurate data is not without its challenges. We’re working alongside other partners in the consortium – and applying the latest in digital technologies – to see how best we can respond to this challenge and translate data into knowledge and insight.

Successful installation of low-cost wireless sensor networks in Santander and Valle de Cauca

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Dr Saket Srivastav (right) and Dr Edmond Nurellari (left) install wireless sensor nodes in cacao fields in Rio Negro, Santander.

By Deborah Foy, Agricompas

In December 2019, Dr Saket Srivastav and Dr Edmond Nurellari of the University of Lincoln successfully installed wireless sensor networks in cacao fields across target field sites in Santander and Valle de Cauca, Colombia. This represented a key milestone for the development of a digitally enabled decision support tool for cacao production in Colombia.

According to Dr Nurellari, “The Internet of Things for agriculture is a rapidly emerging technology. Data collected from in-situ sensors makes it possible to monitor and control crop parameters to improve both the quantity and quality of yields. Each individual sensor node will make an estimate of a quantity, such as local temperature, humidity, soil moisture and radiation. The sensor nodes then send the data to a cloud server, allowing for online real-time predictive analytics.”

According to Roelof Kramer, CEO of Agricompas, data collected through remote sensing will ultimately enable cocoa farmers to increase efficiency on their land.

“Agricompas is thrilled to be partnering with the University of Lincoln in the Prosperity Fund’s Agri-Tech Catalyst programme. One of our goals is to deploy emerging digital technologies in Colombia in a way that can act as an impetus to smallholder cocoa bean farmers. These technologies will provide knowledge and information without the need for expensive onsite instrument and data specialists.” The team from the University of Lincoln first installed the wireless sensor nodes in Tuluá, in the Valle de Cauca region of Colombia. Valle de Cauca is home to what is the earliest known cacao plantation in Colombia, dating 1622. The team then headed to install the equipment in Rio Negro, Santander.

Installing the equipment in tropical environments is challenging

Deploying new technologies such as a low-cost Internet of Things and wireless sensors networks will empower cocoa farmers across Colombia to identify trouble spots much quicker and far more accurately. It will also enable them to respond to changing climate conditions to maximise crop yield and quality.

What is the Colombian Prosperity Fund? The Prosperity Fund aims to support economic development, unlock economic opportunities and lead growth in Colombia’s regions. It is targeting to benefit more than 3 million people, with a focus on women and girls in Colombia’s poorest regions. These include the departments of Antioquia, Atlántico, Caldas, Cundinamarca, Magdalena, Meta, Santander and Valle del Cauca. One of the core instruments of the Prosperity Fund is the Agri-Tech Catalyst Challenge Fund, which aims to increase productivity and incomes for Colombia’s smallholders and agricultural MSEs through adoption of Agri-innovations and technologies from the UK. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/colombia-prosperity-programme