5G has been taking a fundamental role in the agri-food industry, being one of the key ingredients capable of revolutionizing the way food is produced, and pushing this industry towards a smarter and more sustainable horizon.
The origin of this change starts in the agricultural production fields, with the increasing rise of so-called "precision agriculture", which integrates more modern and competitive production systems. 5G has contributed to the increased use of solutions such as artificial intelligence, robotics, augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR), biotechnology, and big data.
The alliance between technology and sustainability already has practical applicability, namely through the use of tools that allow the assessment of soil quality and the respective adjustment of irrigation and fertilizer application needs, the use of drones that facilitate pest control, and algorithms that enhance productivity and longevity of soils and the minimization of environmental impacts, among many other examples.
The use of this technology allows for increased efficiency, productivity and competitiveness of the industry. It is estimated that 5G will help increase the industry's productivity level between 20% and 30%. The ultra-low latency of 5G makes it possible to connect all the machines and sensors in a factory, as well as to control production in real time, without cables and without failures. By analyzing more images in real time, from cameras or drones, 5G coverage also makes it possible to quickly and safely inspect infrastructure or products, to avoid moving employees to danger zones, to reduce costs, and to enhance the use of AR/VR tools, which simplifies day-to-day operations.
