DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 28 March)—This year’s Davao Agri-Trade Expo (DATE), scheduled from September 19 to 21 at SMX Convention Center in SM Lanang Premier, aims to focus on enhancing food security using Agriculture 4.0, or digital agriculture.
Launched last Tuesday afternoon during the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc.’s (DCCCII) third general membership meeting in Acacia Hotel here, this year’s DATE will highlight on the so-called “Agriculture 4.0,” such as exploring the “Internet of things (IOT), artificial intelligence, robotics, precision forming, and data analytics,” said lawyer Paolo Claudio, event chairperson.
“These advancements are empowering farmers to make sure there’s food security for generations to come,” he said in a speech.
The event will also feature exhibits, conferences, breakout sessions, seminars, business matching, agritourism, and appreciating Halal agriculture.
Claudio said the future of these advancements are crucial in sustaining food security, now with agri-businesses calls for sustainable and effective agricultural methods.
Such advancements like AI, for example, can be used for both in back office departments and in food production, he added.
For instance, Claudio mentioned that there are AI-powered monitoring machines for farming that help with preventive maintenance. These machines can alert its users to repair issues before they cause breakdowns.
He also suggested using AI in various business back-office departments.
“For instance, in my business, I am making a huge database of everything regarding the company… and the future employees will just ask questions there, and the action plans, solutions for any type of problem, will just show up,” Claudio said.
The agricultural production in Davao Region had the fastest annual growth among all regions in 2022 at 3.4%, according to the latest Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data.
Maria Lourdes Lim, regional director of the National Economic Development Authority – Davao Region (NEDA–Davao), said the growth can be attributed to the accelerated expansion of the agricultural sector, posting a P146-billion output for 2022.
“To enhance agricultural productivity, the government and relevant agencies shall prioritize research and development (R&D) initiatives aimed at identifying and developing new technologies and farming practices,” the Regional Development Council – Region 11 (RDC–11) stated in its Davao Regional Development Report (DRDP) for 2023 to 2028.
“By leveraging R&D efforts in these areas, we cannot only increase the productivity of our farms but also ensure that our agricultural practices are sustainable, environmentally responsible, and respectful of local knowledge and traditions,” it added.
The DATE is an annual event by the DCCCII, now on its 26th year. (Ian Carl Espinosa / MindaNews)
