A new calculator sustainability indicators for farmers
The Technology Platform for Sustainable Agriculture Association (PTAS), in collaboration with the Centre for Studies and Research for the Management of Agricultural and Environmental Risks (CEIGRAM) of the Polytechnic University of Madrid and the US company Zdex Inc., has launched today a new project that will allow the farmer to calculate the sustainability of their farm by a simple computer program.
Through a simple software application where a farmer has to include various features of their operation, use of inputs, time commitment, technologies, etc., it can take decisions on the implementation of a more sustainable agriculture.
This project aims to provide a tool farmer that through the introduction of various parameters such as location of the holding, use of inputs, technology, agronomic practices, dedication, etc., in a simple program through internet, indicating a very graphic if farms continue economic parameters, social and environmental sustainability, three key factors to define this type of agriculture.
To develop this instrument has the support of various industry associations such as the Spanish Commercial Fertilizer Association (ACEFER), the Spanish Association of Agriculture Soil Conservation-Alive (AEAC/SV), the Business Association for the Protection of Plants (AEPLA) Research Association for the Improvement of Crop Sugar Beet (AIMCRA), the National Association of Fertilizer Manufacturers (ANFFE), the National Association of Plant Breeders (Anove), the National Association of agricultural machinery, forestry and green spaces (ANSEMAT) and Sigfito Agroenvases, SL It has also had the urge to leading companies such as BASF, Fertiberia, John Deere, Monsanto, New Holland and Pioneer Hi-Bred.
Sustainable agriculture is one that allows maximum production efficiency by minimizing the resources used to ensure the quality and food safety, which allows the present needs of citizens without mortgaging future generations.
A logical step
This calculator is the logical step of action following the publication of the seminal study in Europe “Indicators of sustainable agriculture and livestock in Spain”, promoted by the PTAS and in which a favorable trend in agriculture showed in our country through the gradual introduction of various technologies and practices in the sector.
“The intensified agriculture sustainably in our country is the sum of all activities and decisions that all farmers, individually, carry out on their farms,” said Carlos Palomar, president of the PTAS. “This calculator will allow each of them to check the sustainability of their exploitation, as well as the efficient use of resources, which will make changes and increase the benefit of the farmer.”
This new tool will enable farmers to make a comprehensive monitoring of their agricultural activity, and to make comparisons, for example, the average of their province or exploitation activity in different years, allowing you to carry out variations will help increase the productivity and sustainability of production.
PTAS has also launched, win an IPad between farmers participating calculating the sustainability of their holdings through this tool. All information on this call is available in www.agriculturasostenible.org.
Intensification reference in Spain
To develop this new project of PTAS, it has made an agreement with the American company Zdex Inc., a leading developer of products and services in information technology for the agricultural and environmental industries and experienced in this type of tool in the US farms.
As stated Carlos Palomar, “our goal is facilitating the farmer to agriculture in our country will soon become a reference worldwide sustainable intensification”.
Source: PTAS
