Riso Gallo inducts xFarm Technologies’ digital solutions to digitalise its rice supply chain – Agriculture Post

Riso Gallo inducts xFarm Technologies’ digital solutions to digitalise its rice supply chain  Agriculture Post

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Mar 26, 2024 - 00:30
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Riso Gallo inducts xFarm Technologies’ digital solutions to digitalise its rice supply chain – Agriculture Post

Riso Gallo inducts xFarm Technologies’ digital solutions to digitalise its rice supply chain - Agriculture Post

Riso Gallo Collaborates with xFarm Technologies to Digitalize Rice Supply Chain

The aim of the project is to completely digitalize Riso Gallo’s supply chain, which currently consists of more than 180 farms participating in the ‘Rice that sustains’ project.

Introduction

During the closing ceremony of the Mario Preve Award, xFarm Technologies, a tech company specializing in digitalization and sustainability projects for agri-food supply chains, and Riso Gallo, one of the largest rice mills in Europe and one of the oldest in Italy, presented the results of the 2023 pilot project and the start of the most intense phase of their collaboration.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  • Goal 2: Zero Hunger
  • Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
  • Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
  • Goal 13: Climate Action

Project Overview

The project aims to completely digitalize Riso Gallo’s supply chain, which currently consists of more than 180 farms participating in the ‘Rice that sustains’ project, to guarantee full traceability of the activities carried out in the field, production efficiency, and thus greater environmental and economic sustainability of the supplying farms. In 2023, six pilot farms were involved in testing the technologies of xFarm, totaling more than 400 hectares digitally mapped. The goal for 2024 is to increase the number of users by developing a dedicated platform to manage the entire rice supply chain.

Focusing on the Rice Supply Chain

The project was launched in the 2023 season, during which pilot farms used IoT (Internet of Things) sensors and the xFarm platform. The aim is that, within four years, all participating farms will be using the digital tools provided free of charge by Riso Gallo. The farmers involved so far have been given special sensors, including weather stations and soil moisture sensors, and have received customized training carried out by xFarm Technologies in collaboration with Riso Gallo’s team of agronomists, to learn the features of the platform and be supported every step of the way.

Agronomic Support against Rice Diseases to Improve Sustainability

xFarm Technologies and Riso Gallo will develop two main innovations specifically for Riso Gallo’s ‘Rice that sustains’ supply chain. The first is a sustainability indicator dedicated exclusively to rice cultivation, which will make it possible to identify the most virtuous agronomic practices and to have a complete sustainability report on the supply chain at the end of the season. It will make it possible to assess and compare the impact of the different rice varieties grown or the different agronomic techniques used, to make choices that have the least impact on the environment.

The second is a specific DSS for rice blast fungus, a particularly aggressive fungal disease. This specific DSS will be calibrated for the main varieties of interest for Riso Gallo. The development and calibration work will start in 2024 and will be carried out by a team of agronomists, engineers, and researchers in the form of experimental trials to calibrate the models as well as possible. This will provide accurate information on the best time to carry out treatments, protecting the crop while reducing the number of interventions required and, consequently, the environmental impact.

Conclusion

Riso Gallo and xFarm Technologies are working together to digitalize the rice supply chain and promote sustainable agricultural practices. By providing digital tools and agronomic support, they aim to improve production efficiency, traceability, and environmental sustainability. This collaboration aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and Goal 13 (Climate Action).

(The story is based on a press release issued by xFarm Technologies.)

References

  1. Digitalization
  2. Supply Chain
  3. Internet of Things
  4. Agronomic Practices
  5. Sustainable Agricultural Practices
  6. Riso Gallo

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

  • SDG 2: Zero Hunger – The article discusses the digitalization of Riso Gallo’s rice supply chain to improve production efficiency and sustainability.
  • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – The article highlights the use of digital technologies, such as IoT sensors and a dedicated platform, to transform the rice supply chain.
  • SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – The article mentions the goal of certifying the product through precise field data and communicating the added value to the consumer.
  • SDG 13: Climate Action – The article mentions the development of a sustainability indicator to identify virtuous agronomic practices and assess the environmental impact of different rice varieties and techniques.
  • SDG 15: Life on Land – The article discusses the development of a specific decision support system (DSS) for rice blast fungus, a fungal disease that affects rice crops.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

  • Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers.
  • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
  • Target 12.6: Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.
  • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning.
  • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

  • Indicator 2.3.1: Volume of production per labor unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size.
  • Indicator 9.4.1: CO2 emission per unit of value added.
  • Indicator 12.6.1: Number of companies publishing sustainability reports.
  • Indicator 13.3.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning into primary, secondary, and tertiary curricula.
  • Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

SDGs Targets Indicators
SDG 2: Zero Hunger Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists, and fishers. Indicator 2.3.1: Volume of production per labor unit by classes of farming/pastoral/forestry enterprise size.
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes. Indicator 9.4.1: CO2 emission per unit of value added.
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production Target 12.6: Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle. Indicator 12.6.1: Number of companies publishing sustainability reports.
SDG 13: Climate Action Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising, and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning. Indicator 13.3.1: Number of countries that have integrated mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction, and early warning into primary, secondary, and tertiary curricula.
SDG 15: Life on Land Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services. Indicator 15.1.1: Forest area as a proportion of total land area.

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: agriculturepost.com

 

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