The agricultural sector stands at a critical juncture, where the integration of advanced technologies is becoming increasingly vital to ensure sustainability, profitability, and food security. This necessity is underscored by recent research from the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara (UAG), which posits that innovation is the primary tool for modernizing agricultural and livestock production amidst global challenges such as climate change and the ever-growing demand for food.
According to UAG’s analysis, the use of technology in agricultural systems fosters a shift towards more sustainable and resilient productivity. Importantly, technology is not intended to replace the producer’s knowledge but to enhance it, creating a synergy between traditional expertise and new digital tools. This perspective highlights that modernization is not an end in itself but a means to fortify the sector’s capabilities against uncertainty.
Mexico’s agricultural sector is currently grappling with significant pressures. Climate change is introducing unpredictable weather patterns, water scarcity is intensifying, and soil degradation is threatening the productive capacity of the land. Concurrently, the global population continues to expand, leading to an increased demand for food. In this context, traditional production methods are proving insufficient to guarantee a stable and sustainable supply, as noted by UAG.
The adoption of technology can help mitigate these risks and ensure the long-term viability of the agricultural sector. Modernization facilitates a transition from a reactive model to a proactive one, where data analysis and automation enable more informed and precise decision-making.
This technological revolution encompasses a broad spectrum of tools and applications. Precision agriculture, for instance, employs sensors installed in the field to measure soil moisture and nutrient levels in real time. This information allows for efficient management of irrigation and fertilization, applying inputs only where and when they are needed. Additionally, the use of drones and satellites provides a comprehensive view for monitoring crops and livestock. These technologies can detect water stress in plants early, identify the presence of pests, and apply inputs locally, optimizing their use and reducing costs and environmental impact.
Large-scale data analysis and artificial intelligence are other fundamental pillars. These tools process vast amounts of information—such as climate, soil, and historical yield data—to generate predictive models. These models enable producers to anticipate crop yields, identify pest risks earlier, and diagnose nutritional deficiencies in crops. In irrigation, smart and automated systems that combine sensors with AI can accurately determine the water needs of crops, achieving reductions in water consumption between 30% and 50%, according to UAG.
In livestock farming, automation is also making significant strides. Automated systems manage waste collection, egg selection in poultry farming, and constant monitoring of environmental conditions on farms. The use of devices like collars with sensors on cattle allows for real-time verification of their health and reproductive cycle, improving animal welfare and productive efficiency.
Looking ahead, this technological convergence is expected to not only increase productivity but also promote a circular economy. Such an economy would reuse organic waste for the production of compost or bioenergy, closing the nutrient cycle and reducing the sector’s ecological footprint. This holistic approach underscores the potential of technology to transform the agricultural sector, making it more resilient, sustainable, and capable of meeting the challenges of the 21st century.