Fortunately, the time when the countryside was considered the past, as opposed to the modernity of the big city, is now behind us. Increasingly, we know that technology is an ally of agro-industrial development.

More than that: technology is essential and fundamental for the evolution of agribusiness, a sector that has, in recent years, contributed enormously to the Brazilian Gross Domestic Product and that gains more relevance with each passing harvest. Just look at the most recent figures from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics: this year, the projection is that agriculture will contribute with around 25% of the country's Gross Domestic Product, that is, the sector should move at least ¼ of the Brazilian economy in 2023.

In the sector, in general, we have seen an exponential growth in the uses and applications of technology in the agroindustry, leading not only the field, but also the entire production process, to undergo an unprecedented digital transformation.

In the sugar-energy sector, the reality is no different. In a segment in which the circular economy sets the tone for the process and in which (almost) nothing is wasted and (practically) everything takes advantage of sugarcane, its main raw material, agroindustrial operations have evolved steadily, with an eye not only on increasing productivity, but also on process sustainability. The concept of environmental, social and corporate governance has also contributed for the field and industry to evolve in terms of technology and digitization, helping to make practices more sustainable and green.

There are many examples and, like the sugarcane cycle, they start in the field and end with the final customer. Starting with the field, where cultural practices have evolved to the point that today, instead of nitrogenous fertilizers, we already use the residues from sugarcane processing to nourish the soil, as is the case with the application of localized vinasse.

Or we already use sensors and satellites to collect data that will be compiled, analyzed and interpreted to determine, for example, when, where, how and which variety of sugarcane should be planted and harvested. Innovation also helps to further reduce the sector's carbon footprint. The use of analysis is being fundamental in this, as it optimizes the transport routes of sugarcane trucks, for example, reducing the use of diesel, one of the main emitters of greenhouse gases.

In agribusiness, a concept that has gained strength and exemplifies the current scenario is industry 4.0, which has transformed industrial operations, optimizing processes and digitalizing workers’ daily lives through the integration of new technological solutions and the use of artificial intelligence. And who knew that, one day, the sugar-energy sector would be talking about computing, data intelligence and the internet of things?

But the sector not only talks about it, but also applies everything that, one day, already seemed like a distant future and a modernity that only other industries had access to. Today, the massive analysis of data generated by different sensors, equipment and agroindustry tools allows companies to make decisions with an even more integrated view of the entire production process: from planting, agricultural management and sugarcane harvesting, to sugar production, ethanol and bioenergy and demand management and delivery to domestic and export customers.

This integrated vision is supported by the investment of many companies in the sugar-energy sector in so-called agricultural operational controls, operations centers and/or agro-industrial integrations. Among the center's main activities are the monitoring of agricultural equipment, sugarcane traffic control, standardization of processes and sending reports, as well as monitoring sugarcane inventory and supply. These activities ensure a better connection between agricultural and industrial operations, which provides more stability in processes. And all this is only possible thanks to the use of technology, from the collection to the analysis of the generated data.

Another interesting example of technological application in the industrial operation of the sector is the so-called Digital Twin. The tool consists of a digital replica of the industrial operation. Based on information stored in the cloud, such as raw material quality, laboratory data and operation information, Gêmeo Digital predicts the amount of sugar in a harvest and energy consumed in its processing, for example, contributing to more accurate forecasts. frequent and assertive of the production of the crop.

In addition to the Digital Twin, other digital technologies such as artificial intelligence,?big Data, advanced analysis, real-time optimization and the Internet of Things are increasingly present in the sugar-energy industry, bringing strategic results to the business.

At Tereos, for example, to support these initiatives, the company has expanded real-time monitoring, in addition to integrating corporate network data with operation data. With this, engineers and operators are trained and the work of analysts and data scientists is optimized with more assertive decisions.

Another application that can exemplify the current scenario of agribusiness is the development of new energy sources, such as biogas or green hydrogen. Today, it is already possible to use the same vinasse that fertirrigates sugarcane fields to produce biogas, through biodigestion processes, and also biomethane, an organic fuel that can be used, for example, to replace diesel in agricultural machinery and equipment. Green hydrogen produced from ethanol, in turn, considered the fuel of the future, is another sector's commitment to generating clean energy with lower carbon emissions.

Of course, to support this entire transition from analogue to digital, change management is at the heart of all initiatives. The agro as a whole needs to continue not only embracing innovation, but investing and supporting this evolution so that the digital transformation happens efficiently.

The emergence and development of the so-called agrotechnologies, startups, aimed at operating in the agribusiness sector contributes a lot to this evolution. And the numbers show that they are here to stay: last year, a survey carried out by Embrapa, Sebrae and partners revealed that one in every three agrotechnologies Brazilian companies, or more than 80% of them, had already reached international markets, and more than 40% already had revenues of more than 1 million reais annually.

The interesting side is that, at the same time as they bring innovation and agility to agro companies, startups also stimulate digital transformation “at home”. Many companies in the sector have invested in their own developments to solve their challenges. Or, more than that, they counted on the partnership of agrotechnologies to digitize.

In this way, what we see is the sector closely following new trends with no intention of being left behind in the adoption and application of new technologies. Of course, there are still obstacles, such as the lack of connectivity in the field, for example, in some places. However, fortunately, today we can already say that thanks to the evolution brought about by digital transformation, the agro-industrial scenario is more full of solutions than challenges.