agribusinessreview.comDECEMBER 202319sensors, and drone and satellite images, are also crucial for monitoring crop health and must be integrated into the overall system. Implementing these technologies can improve efficiency and ultimately lead to better crop yields and sustainability for the agricultural operation.What are some of the processes that you leveraged to create successful projects at Florida Crystals?Automating irrigation and drainage events can have a positive impact on the operation's resource utilization and contribute to its long-term success. By optimizing the use of resources, including water and energy, and reducing over-irrigation and over-draining, the operation can improve its efficiency and sustainability. Additionally, minimizing erosion and runoff during drainage can help preserve soil health and promote regenerative agriculture practices.Our implementation of automation technology resulted in significant time and cost savings by streamlining irrigation and drainage events. It reduced inputs and maximized productivity. We leveraged cloud computing to enhance our workflows by making information readily available, including automated weather data collection that eliminated the need for manual data gathering. These data parameters like rainfall, soil temperature, and weather temperature were analyzed to improve our processes.The tools we implemented also increased worker satisfaction by eliminating the need to collect data or maintain outdated hardware that doesn't provide telematics information. Our marketing strategy has leveraged these advances to enhance our brand and digital presence in the markets we serve.Could you explain the role played by public private partnerships in advancing irrigation practices?The collaboration between public and private sectors is crucial, particularly when it comes to ensuring the quality and appropriate use of water resources. We all share a responsibility to safeguard this precious resource and use it efficiently. Partnerships must promote the adoption of best management practices that adhere to well-defined parameters and guidelines. Equally critical is educating the public, since agriculture is often blamed for water pollution and damage. It is essential to clarify the actual impact of agricultural practices on water and work alongside public and private agencies to measure and monitor their effects. Would you like to share some words of wisdom for the senior leaders and the CXOs working in the irrigation sector?I would like to say that collaboration among diverse professionals is crucial for developing the most effective strategy to automate data collection for agriculture. This includes gathering data on weather patterns, crop and soil needs, and water sources. Both public and private sectors require finding leaders who possess a deep understanding of agronomy, technology, precision agriculture, and data analytics. These leaders should be able to comprehend the full range of activities and technologies required to improve production systems. As the field of agriculture becomes increasingly integrated, it is essential to have leaders who can oversee all aspects of the process and demand a better production system. Automating irrigation and drainage events can have a positive impact on the operation's resource utilization and contribute to its long-term successThis article is based on an interview between Agri Business Review and Jose Garzon
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