Publish at June 07 2016 Updated April 08 2026
Although agriculture is first and foremost an activity to be carried out in the field, it now makes extensive use of technology to enhance its development.
This partly explains why there is such a wide range of agricultural courses, from CAP (vocational training certificate) to doctorate level, with operators who are sometimes highly qualified in other areas, supplementing their baggage with elements more directly linked to production or breeding.
To keep pace with developments in connected agriculture, AgroTIC services was set up in 2013, to serve as a concrete link between education and companies in the Montpellier region.
Since then, the transfer and expertise unit has produced annual reviews to chart the sector's progress around 4 axes:
For greater visibility, a digital agriculture observatory will be launched in autumn 2016, at the same time as the corresponding business chair in Montpellier.
But this digital-oriented spirit can also be found across numerous events and structures, all over France. In 2015, Agreen Startup echoed this spirit through a competition for start-ups working on innovative projects combining innovation and agro-ecology. Last year's prize-winners highlighted the success of mobile applications for e-learning, personal safety and public relations.
This craze is also evident in everyday life, as more and more farmers believe that the circulation of data promotes the development of their farms. Cell phones can be used to enhance traceability, thanks to integrated cameras, clouds or computer graphics tools that are easier to track.
In addition to the advantages of GPS geolocation on our phones, we can also see the benefits of sharing information on insects, parasites or unknown plants to watch out for. The hunt is on for pests with a more ecological approach.
Robots have been around for a long time, although they are more common in Asia than in the West. Today, however, they are infiltrating more and more of our professional spheres, with agriculture being a particular target.
The first robots were undoubtedly static milking robots, making milking easier for dairy farmers. However, there are many other equally useful models, such as the wheelbarrow robot , which helps market gardeners to save their backs during harvesting periods in particular, but also to avoid putting too much strain on the body by transporting equipment from one point to another.
Another technology is playing an increasingly important role in agricultural monitoring: drones. A number of companies are looking into this field, using the aerial dimension to produce precise topographical surveys. This data is then transferred to decision-support tools for detailed analysis, creating tailor-made solutions for each farm.
Spreading, sowing, harvest management - everything is calculated according to the terrain (surface, composition, etc.). These data exchanges are destined to expand, which is why drones have made some notable appearances at various industry events, including the Salon de l'Agriculture. The latest studies show that farmers have become the leading users of drones in France. Far from being a mere gadget, drones help rationalize expenditure and the quantities of fertilizers and chemicals used. This helps control costs, whether in raw materials, or even in the rental of a combine harvester at the end of the season, when we know exactly the areas to be treated.
Photo credit: tec_estromberg via Foter.com / CC BY
Sources
Ecole supérieure d'agriculture - Lifelong learning for all.
http://www.groupe-esa.com/des-formations-pour-tous-tout-au-long-de-la-vie-3707.kjsp?RH=GESA-FR-GESA-MOD
AgroTIC services - http://www.agrotic.org
Supagro and relations with AgroTIC
https://www.supagro.fr/web/pages/?idl=19&all=actualites&id=1050
Chamber of Agriculture - Agreen startup event
http://www.chambres-agriculture.fr/chambres-dagriculture/nos-evenements/agreenstartup/
Terre-net website - Rémi Duméry "my smartphone is my digital toolbox" 29/03/2016 Arnaud Carpon
http://www.terre-net.fr/actualite-agricole/economie-social/article/remi-dumery-mon-smartphone-c-est-ma-boite-a-outils-numeriques-202-118225.html
Wab-agri - Effibot, the wheelbarrow robot that takes the strain off your back - 15/01/2016- Benoît Egon
http://www.web-agri.fr/machinisme-batiment/tracteur-manutention-transport/article/effibot-une-brouette-robotisee-qui-soulage-le-dos-1151-115843.html
Web-agri - 4800 dairy farms equipped with milking robots - 09/05/2016 - RV
http://www.web-agri.fr/machinisme-batiment/batiment-traite/article/4-800-exploitations-laitieres-equipees-de-robots-de-traites-1157-119079.html
Terre-net - Agricultural drone: flying over intelligent agriculture - 03/30/2016 - Sebastien Duquef
http://www.terre-net.fr/materiel-agricole/tracteur-quad/article/drone-agricole-vol-au-dessus-d-une-agriculture-intelligente-207-117495.html
France 3 région - New technologies for agriculture - 01/03/2016- CH
http://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/poitou-charentes/les-nouvelles-technologies-au-service-de-l-agriculture-940501.html
Le Figaro - Les agriculteurs premiers utilisateurs de drones - Eric de la Chesnaie - 02/29/2016
http://www.lefigaro.fr/conjoncture/2016/02/29/20002-20160229ARTFIG00014-les-agriculteurs-premiers-utilisateurs-dedrones.php
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