Characterization and topological simulation of production networks aiming at impact indicators of digital transformation

• Grant number: 24/20662-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: January 01, 2025
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Physics - Classical Areas of Phenomenology and Applications
• Principal Investigator: Jayme Garcia Arnal Barbedo
• Grantee: Fabiane de Fatima Carvalho
• Host Institution: Embrapa Agricultura Digital. Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA). Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (Brasil). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/09319-9 - Center of Science for Development in Digital Agriculture - CCD-AD/SemeAr, AP.CCD

Abstract

Projections of global population growth indicate a rising demand for food, fiber, and energy, driving the need to increase agricultural productivity, reduce costs, and use natural resources sustainably. Additionally, factors such as changing consumer market habits, increased frequency of extreme weather events, the longevity of the urban population, and the shrinking rural workforce present unsolved challenges. Therefore, it is essential to consider the digital transformation of agriculture, with the increased integration of devices and sensors that collect and generate a significant volume of data, exceeding human processing capacity. The diversity of data that can be utilized across all stages of the production chain-pre-production, production (on-farm), and post-production-and the various scales at which it exists, present relevant research challenges for Computer Science. This field can contribute innovative solutions through the application of computational techniques, methods, and algorithms to better, faster, and more efficiently manage and understand the interrelationships of these data, thus supporting farmers in making improved field decisions.However, for Brazil to ensure and expand its leading role in sustainable markets for food, fiber, and bioenergy, meeting the growing national and international demands for food security, nutrition, socio-environmental, and climate resilience, it is crucial to overcome inequalities in rural areas. This can be achieved through research, development, innovation (R&D&I), and better dissemination of digital agriculture technologies among small and medium-sized producers. Some of the key technologies identified as critical to agriculture's digital transformation include edge/cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), social media and networks, big data, data science, artificial intelligence, augmented reality, robotics, ubiquitous connectivity, machine learning, digital twins, automation, biotechnology, bioinformatics, and nanotechnology.From this perspective, R&D&I focused on digital technologies for small and medium-sized producers is justified as it offers opportunities to advance Brazilian agriculture by:Engaging these producers in the ongoing digital transformation, considering regional diversity in production and natural resources;Promoting increased connectivity of electronic devices in the field, aiming to reduce the implementation costs of digital technology assets;Connecting multiple stakeholders in production chains to reduce transaction costs;Effectively and simply integrating digital technologies into rural production processes, aiming for short- and medium-term socio-economic impacts;Promoting technological training and knowledge sharing to accelerate digital technology adoption in markets;Enabling new business models and operations in the digital transformation process, aiming to secure investments for scalability;Encouraging and strengthening sustainable intensification models through integrated production systems to achieve efficiency and productivity gains in agriculture.The project titled "Center for Science in Digital Agriculture Development (CCD-AD/SemeAr)" is an integral part of a set of complementary actions within the "SemeAr" initiative. The SemeAr initiative aims to increase production and productivity in agribusiness more sustainably on a national scale through the use of digital technologies and connectivity.