IBF Servizi, the first technological hub for Italian agriculture, was presented at a press conference in Rome
Optimization of production processes, reduction of production costs, improvement of quality and environmental sustainability. These are the objectives of IBF Servizi to improve the competitiveness of Italian agriculture. Born from a public-private partnership between ISMEA and Bonifiche Ferraresi, IBF Servizi promotes the development of precision agriculture, supporting companies in the sector in the adoption and implementation of innovative technological solutions.
A project for Italian agriculture that today is strengthened thanks to the entry into the corporate structure of two big hi-tech companies such as Leonardo, which participates in the initiative through e-GEOS (a Telespazio company and the Italian Space Agency), including international players in satellite earth observation and geo-information, and A2A Smart City (A2A Group company), which develops and manages enabling technological infrastructures for integrated and networked digital services and that will bring its experience in the field of proximal sensors and in the development of narrow-band networks.
The initiative was presented today at the press conference “From space to earth. The technological leap for Italian agriculture "held in Rome at the Montecitorio Meeting Center, in the presence of the Minister of Agriculture Gian Marco Centinaio, with Raffaele Borriello - ISMEA General Manager, Luca Valerio Camerano - A2A CEO, Gianni De Gennaro - President di Leonardo, Federico Vecchioni - Chief Executive Officer of BF SpA
The services that IBF offers, thanks to the know-how that comes from the intense research and development activities of Bonifiche Ferraresi and ISMEA, range from monitoring crops to supporting decisions for irrigation and defense against pathogens, up to the supply of prescription maps for sowing and fertilizing; a multiplicity of modular activities that are effective both on small plots and on large areas, allowing to meet the needs of a wide range of subjects.
Business decision support systems, territorial information systems and satellite localization systems, in addition to proximal and remote sensors, represent increasingly important planning and management tools for agricultural entrepreneurs in order to optimize production factors.
Promoting and spreading the principles of precision agriculture with the help of these innovative technologies allows you to do the right thing in the right place at the right time, reducing waste, increasing yields and optimizing processes, with obvious benefits both in economic terms and environmental.
"Investing in research and innovation to face the challenges of the agri-food system allows us to have a clear vision of the future, to be ready to respond to the growing demand for food and, at the same time, to support the creation of a more sustainable production method from an environmental point of view ". Gian Marco Centinaio, Minister of Agricultural, Food, Forestry and Tourism Policies declared. “The value of precision agriculture is a rational, precise and efficient approach in terms of the natural resources used and the management of production factors, but also of other fundamental intangible values such as ecosystem services. Initiatives like this can contribute to the adoption and diffusion of advanced management systems and technical assistance in agriculture on a large territorial scale, projecting the sector into the third millennium for an increasingly high-quality and cutting-edge made in Italy ".
"With this project we want to promote a more sustainable growth of the Italian agri-food system," said Raffaele Borriello, Director General of ISMEA. “Facilitating access to methodologies, practices and technologies of precision agriculture means improving the competitiveness of our companies also through a reduction in production costs, favoring agriculture that is ever more respectful of the environment and of people's health . Ismea's participation will ensure that all Italian farms will be able to benefit from these advantages, even those that due to their size, volume of business and training limits would not have the opportunity to use them. "
"BF SpA considers the equity partnership in IBF Servizi with A2A and Leonardo, after the one with Ismea, a perfect integration of knowledge and human resources dedicated to what today represents in Italy an extraordinary example of technological innovation applied to the agro-industrial chain" he declared. Federico Vecchioni, CEO of BF SpA, who continued "precision agriculture is in fact able both to represent the best guarantee for the final consumer of the quality of food products and the rational and responsible use of natural resources and to do of innovation a factor of competitiveness, common denominator of all the productive sectors, and that today sees the agricultural sector one of the examples of greater application ”.
"We have chosen with conviction to become part of IBF Servizi because it represents an important example of collaboration between authoritative partners, able to develop advanced solutions dedicated to agriculture and to ensure a competitive advantage to an industrial sector so important for our country" declared Valerio Camerano, CEO of the A2A Group. "The technologies that we will make available with A2A Smart City in the field of
connectivity and sensors, and our ability to manage large amounts of information, will be able to provide a valid contribution in terms of innovation and environmental sustainability ".
"From the union between aerospace technology and the agri-food sector, two excellences of Italy in the world, innovative services will be created for the sustainable development of Italian activities of all sizes, with opportunities on the global market," said Gianni De Gennaro, President of Leonardo. “With IBF Servizi, a public-private partnership that brings together technology holders, institutions and agricultural companies, our country makes a system to achieve a dual objective: to increase agricultural productivity and help tackle the challenges of climate change. Leonardo is proud to provide, through e-GEOS, its experience in satellite technologies and in the processing of big data. "