4 MILLION PEOPLE COUNTRY TO FEED 40 MILLION: SMART AGRICULTURAL TECH IN

URUGUAY
In its 2014 report, Uruguay Ministry of Cattle, Agriculture and Fisheries
announced that agriculture products exported (measured against the energy
consumption need per person listed by FAO) went from being capable of feeding 9
million people in 2005 to feed 28 million in 2014, with a projected increase to 40 million
in 10 years.
¿How did a 3.3 million people country manage such growth in such a short period? The
answer lies in smart agricultural practices, or “agro intelligent Uruguay” as the
Government calls it.
A big pillar is the creation of a National Agricultural Information System (SNIA).
The systematization of rural information started with indexing and mapping the territory
in terms of its capacity for producing cattle, sheep and wool (CONEAT index), available
for consultations in every property. About 15 years ago cattle began to be individually
identified by herd management tags and RFID tags. Presently 100% of bovine stock is
registered from birth to slaughter house to consumer, as well as many other products
such as wine, honey, citrus and poultry.
The concept of traceability is now combined with genomics in an experimental
project in the Kiyú Testing Facility of the Hereford Breeders society. Using intelligent
feeder bins, the society tracks ration consumption for each animal, measures the
assimilation capacity of each blood line, tests its performance on natural field and
calculates the expected difference in future productivity (EPI). In words of research
engineer Eli Navajas, “we are generating a training bull population to decode the
genotype of the animals. These specific data will be available when bulls for
reproduction are sold, and using them will advance the rodeos”. Uruguay not only
exports processed meat, it exports livestock and certified semen too.
The Information System will also be fed from data contained in the Land Use and
Handling Plans (PUMS) mandatory for cultivated areas larger than 100 hectares.
Adopted as a response to the increasing soy plantation without rotation, the plans –
under technical responsibility- aim to enforce soil conservation politics based on
alternating crops to avoid erosion. They are made using a mathematical model
developed by government agencies to predict erosion and controlled via drone and
satellite image analyzing and geo references. Also, the high coverage of optic fiber allows
for instant communication of field data to the monitoring engineers. Presently, more
than 90% of grain agriculture has plans, and the number is increasing for milk producers.
To make a plan, the engineer must make a soil map of the establishment, assign
usage capacity to each unit, propose production systems, evaluate their sustenance
after erosion and select those that ensure the resource conservation. But long before
official plans, the market dynamics and agro business had turned to rotation,
encouraged by the advantages of vanguard machines with GPS technology to increase
productivity, optimize labor, save on seeds and fertilizers and get the most of the rapidly
changing atmospheric conditions. Most medium to big producers have acquired smart
machinery, hired agricultural services companies or joined production cooperatives.
Eduardo Roland, who farms soy, wheat and barley resumes: “today, the time between
harvesting and planting are ever shorter or productivity decreases. It´s vital to use
technology to ensure quality and speed”.
The ability to increase productivity by tailoring cultivars to specific soil conditions
is enhanced by the incorporation of biotechnology. Engineer Carlos Lage, head of
research and production company Lage y Cia. explains: “we develop and produce
bacterial inoculants to allow the plants to biologically fixate nitrogen, to promote growth
and/or increase fermentation processes during storage. We have also developed
biological control agents to minimize the impact of diseases and pests, such as biological
fungicides and insecticides”
The pioneer in using smart technology was rice cultivation, focused in exporting
high quality, 0% transgenic rice. The sector is vertically integrated, with price set by the
producer and mills associations. Rice is planted on dry soil and then flooded, with low
use of insecticides, herbicides and fertilizers. Seed certification, grain quality and soil
status are monitored constantly and joint investigation by the producers and the
National Agriculture Research Institute (INIA) have produced new varieties with
improved quality and performance. There are many investment projects aiming to
increase industrial efficiency and storage capacity.
Another technology intensive sector is dairy farming, with 83% of milk
production done in a cooperative frame”. The National Cooperative of Milk Producers
(CONAPROLE) owned by 2000 family, medium and big producers is at the same time the
biggest exporter in the country and a leader in milk industrialization. Individual
producers have a centralized institution that registers fat and protein and is making a
genetic base of milking animals. Dairy producer Juan Ignacio Manado, considers this
institution “a fundamental tool for good performance”, since the information allows the
producer to qualify each animal and make strategic decisions in advance.
A relatively recent phenomenon is the surging of mega dairies geared to
exportation. In Durazno, Estancias del Lago is gradually starting production with plans
to export 17.000 annual tons of powder milk by 2017, increasing by one third the current
country production. The project aims to integrate animal food farming, cattle breeding,
milk production and industrialization, and bio fertilizers and energy (biogas and
electricity) extraction. It incorporates artificial irrigation as a tool for alimentary security.
In the same line, mega agro-industrial projects geared to exports are in
production, in fields such as meat processing, cellulose production and fiberboard.
Can all these changes lead to increased development? The Government is
focusing on improving the infrastructure, in a joint private-public participation effort.
Private energy production - alternative energies from wind force and biomass- is
encouraged to increase the countries energetic sufficiency. Technical education is
extended via public university courses specific to the demands of the industry. Artificial
irrigation is encouraged to reduce climate risks, and logistics developments are
increasing, mostly in fluvial and maritime ports and to a lesser extent in roads.
Definitely, a country in development that needs watching.

Alice Bonet is a freelance writer living in Uruguay. She runs an architectural

practice focused on rural buildings, both for dwelling and production.