The emerging figure of the agro-productive technology consultant

The agribusiness sector has many figures that play a key role in production and in the search for efficiency. It is very common to find that a company hires a crop specialist consultant, an irrigation specialist consultant, an agro-environmental consultant, a variety consultant, an agrochemical consultant, .... but it is very difficult to find a company that has a technology consultant.

On many occasions I have met with great professionals of a crop, experts who have been working on a crop for years and whose knowledge about it is admirable, but when the time comes to advise on the technology you realize that their knowledge is very basic or digress into statements of having heard what a salesperson said at a meeting. 

Just as we differentiate between advisors, we must differentiate and value the figure of the new technologies advisor. This profile will grow and will be in great demand to avoid wasting resources and time on technologies that are not yet ready for the sector. They will help us to adapt our companies, which may not yet be ready for technology. 

When a company is not properly advised it faces the following problems: 

1) Buying expectations without knowing neither the limitations nor the power of a tool.

On certain occasions, I have come across companies that have bought because of what they heard, but had no knowledge of the technology. When in the first few weeks they don't get what they expected, they end up concluding that it doesn't work. They do not use the service, frustration and distrust is generated with this type of technology and the company does not invest in innovation again. If you have a technology consultant, he will warn you of both the potential and the limitations and will plan quantifiable and concrete objectives. 

2) Does your consultant really have a technological background? 

Often, companies rely on the advice of expert crop advisors, advisors with many years of experience in the type of crop and crop experts, but without technological knowledge. In the face of not knowing, it is always good to hesitate. This can lead companies to be late to new technologies because their expert is not an expert in technological matters. It is good to have both a crop expert and a technology expert.

3) Technology without training is a waste of money.

 Every new technology has a mandatory learning curve. From the moment it is acquired to the moment it becomes profitable, there is a time lapse that depends on how the personnel is trained. 

This time can be reduced if accompanied by intentional training. As a company we believe that the acquisition of our services, if not accompanied by the correct training, will not have a great added value.

Aaron G. De Bernardis

BDD NAX Solutions