CONFORMATION OF THE HUB SMARTFRUIT-ALC PLATFORM

The initiative is aimed to favor the transfer of knowledge, the production of social assets, and the development of linkages with key actors who sustain the adoption and creation of solutions AgTech applied to the fruit growing sector.

Context of the story

The frequent change of climatic conditions generates great economic losses in the agricultural sector.
Costa Rica reports a hydric deficit of up to 50%, in the same way in Chile, and specially in La Araucanía region, the water deficit reached a 70% during the summer period of 2019. This climatic variation generates a negative effect on the yield and quality of the fruit. Faced with this scenario, the need for tools that can help reduce the impact of the effect of climate change takes on great relevance, especially for family fruit systems (SFF) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

A regional innovation platform between Argentina, Chile, and Costa Rica, called Hub SmartFruit-ALC.

The implemented initiative

This platform is composed by universities (UFRO and UTALCA of Chile, UBA of Argentina and UCR of Costa Rica), a research institute (INIA-Carillanca, Chile), public services (INDAP, Chile), a network of AgTech entrepreneurs (AP Software, Chile), a plague control company (BIOFUTURO, Chile) and small producers and consultants linked to the fruit sector (Cooperativas produras de Berries and CAPACITEC de Chile; Cooperparrita Tropical and Coopecerroazul de Costa Rica). Chile and Costa Rica, in cooperation with small producers and entrepreneurs in each country, have coordinated technological development, validation, training and transfer activities considered in the proposal along with small producers and enterpreneurs of each country.

Create integration and articulation spaces for producers, AgTech entrepreneurs and other actors in the fruit value chain, promoting the production of social capital and the commitment to the aim of the Project.

The technological solution

This platform will promote the development and embracing of technological solutions based on precision agriculture to strengthen the competitiveness and sustainability of LAC's family fruit systems (SFF). The platform develops a collaborative computing tool called "OpenFruit" as precision agriculture technology for small producers and fruit advisers in the participating countries. This tool will support agricultural management decision making increase the fruit yield and promote efficient use of resources. Chile and Costa Rica will lead the technological development, validation, training and transfer activities, under the coordination of the University of La Frontera and the University of Costa Rica.

Over the course of the 21st century, can be portayed that the effects of climate change will reduce economic growth and thus, weaken efforts to reduce poverty and food security.

Smit, B., I. Burton, R.J. Klein y J. Wandel. 2000. “An Anatomy of Adaptation to Climate Change and Variability”, Climatic Change, vol. 45, núm. 1, pp. 223-251.