Is Italian agriculture really 4.0? Data from a BCS survey

From monitoring consumption to improving efficiency and sustainability: a BCS survey shows what the agricultural sector is asking of technology

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What is the relationship between agriculture and the most innovative technologies? How does this sector of Italian production compare with the most advanced tools for improving the management and productivity of machinery?

BCS Group asked agricultural workers whether and how they use technology. The multinational company designs and manufactures agricultural and green maintenance machines (BCS, Ferrari and Pasquali brands) and machines for autonomous power generation and mobile welding (Mosa brand). It has three production plants in Italy and is present in all continents with distributors and commercial branches.

The aim of the survey was to understand to what extent the Italian agricultural industry can really be defined as "Agricoltura 4.0", i.e. whether it possesses the aptitude typical of today's industrial automation to incorporate some new production technologies that can improve working conditions, create new business models, increase plant productivity and improve product quality.

BCS has already developed its own solution for Agriculture 4.0, designing a system of hardware and software components that interfaces with the technology already present on its tractors.

What does the agricultural sector demand of technology?

The first fact to emerge concerns trust: 87% of the farmers interviewed stated that they have a lot of trust in technological changes applied to agriculture. In line with this, 67.5% of the respondents said that they consider the technologies available on the market useful for improving their daily activities.
It should also be noted that 95.3% of the respondents said that technological innovations are important for greater environmental sustainability.

What is a farmer interested in knowing about his field work? For 73.6% of respondents, fuel consumption was a key item to keep track of, followed by engine speed (55.3%) and the condition of implements (50.4%).
The analysis also sought to understand the needs of agricultural workers by asking them what they consider necessary to monitor through their farm equipment. It emerged that the most relevant data they would like to monitor are soil conditions (60.5%), areas worked or treated (55.2%) and the history of routes (48.6%). According to 42.3% , the possibility of detecting pests through technology would also be important.

In general, the survey showed that the Italian agricultural sector expects improved technology to optimise practices and costs, reduce consumption, increase environmental sustainability and, consequently, efficiency.
What the agricultural sector expects from tractors is above all the ability to monitor consumption precisely, to warn in the event of danger, thus ensuring greater safety at work and, finally, the ability to carry out the most mechanical and time-consuming work independently, such as tilling or chopping.


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