Colombia bets on the Agriculture of the future with the First National Summit on Artificial Intelligence in the sector

•  The first National Summit on Artificial Intelligence of the Agricultural Sector will be held on December 4 and 5 at the ICT Ministry (Ministry of Information and Communications Technology) facilities in downtown Bogota. The event is organized by the ICT Ministry, the Rural Agricultural Planning Unit (Upra, for its Spanish acronym), and Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria (Agrosavia)
• The ICT Minister, Mauricio Lizcano, the Minister of Agriculture, Martha Carvajalino, and representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), among others, will attend the Summit.

Bogota D.C., November 26, 2024. An unprecedented event will be held in the country on December 4 and 5, the First National Summit on Artificial Intelligence of the Agricultural Sector to bring closer the implementation of artificial intelligence technologies in the agricultural sector, organized by the ICT Ministry, the Rural Agricultural Planning Unit (Upra), and Corporación colombiana de investigación agropecuaria (Agrosavia). The event seeks to explore the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to boost productivity and sustainability in the Colombian countryside; the summit will bring together government leaders, entrepreneurs from the IT sector, agricultural producers, and representatives from academia.

The ICT Minister Mauricio Lizcano (@MauricioLizcano) said, "Without technology, we cannot transform the Colombian countryside; therefore, we must face key challenges such as data collection and quality, essential to optimize processes; technological infrastructure; and training in digital skills. Our goal is to guarantee connectivity and technological tools, moving forward with concrete proposals to connect the countryside and build AgroTECH, a productive and sustainable agriculture model that drives the evolution of agricultural work."

For two days, attendees will be able to participate in panels, presentations, and workshops aimed at understanding the challenges, opportunities, and public policies that revolve around the implementation of AI in Colombian agriculture. The Summit will be attended by senior government representatives, such as the Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Mauricio Lizcano, and the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Martha Carvajalino, who will open the event together with experts in the agricultural sector and representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

"This summit represents a fundamental step for Colombian agriculture, which has technology and artificial intelligence as strategic allies to face the challenges of sustainability and efficiency. With this summit, we not only reaffirm our commitment to the progress and sustainability of the sector. We also highlight the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors and the active participation of the academia and producers as essential actors to take advantage of our potential and turn it into development opportunities for the country," alleged Dora Inés Rey, Director of Upra.

For its part, AGROSAVIA recognizes the potential that artificial intelligence has to transform Colombian agriculture. "The AI ​​summit we have organized with UPRA and the ICT Ministry represents an excellent opportunity to bring together leaders, researchers, and producers. Together, we seek innovative solutions that increase productivity and promote more sustainable rural development," said Jorge Mario Díaz, Executive Director of Agrosavia.

The summit will be organized into four main thematic axes, designed to address the specific challenges of Colombian agriculture and the importance of AI in each of these:

1. AI and productivity in agriculture: discussion on the potential of artificial intelligence to optimize efficiency in all productive stages, from planting to marketing agricultural products.
2. Sustainability and climate change: analysis of the role of AI in the development of sustainable agricultural solutions that mitigate the effects of climate change and reduce the environmental impact of agriculture.
3. Intersectoral collaboration: exploration of collaboration models between the public, private, and academic sectors to promote public policies that facilitate the adoption of AI in Colombian agriculture.
4. Challenges and opportunities in the value chain: identification of challenges and opportunities for agricultural companies, both large and small, in the adoption of AI, with a focus on the development of new business opportunities.

On the first day, the opening will be marked by panels and presentations highlighting the challenges and opportunities in adopting AI and success stories in connectivity and digital transformation led by the public and private sectors. In the afternoon, practical workshops will promote the construction of a roadmap for AI in the agricultural and rural sectors.

The second day will continue with a focus on collaboration between producers, the ICT industry, and academia, highlighting how AI can transform the value chain and facilitate agricultural productivity. Financing strategies will also be presented, and the event will close with a space for conclusions by Upra and Agrosavia. This comprehensive agenda promises a complete and visionary overview of the digitalization of agriculture in Colombia.

Admission to the public will be from 07:30 hours at the facilities of the ICT Ministry, Murillo Toro Building, Cra. 8 # Between Streets 12 and 13, Bogota. Journalists interested in covering the Summit must register their attendance at https://lnkd.in/etxZyE4A