A new application (app), named Agrinsight, has just been released. Its intention is to simplify orchard management by organizing labor and interventions in a timely and targeted manner, while also optimizing water, fuel and pesticide consumption. Alexandra Caminschi, CEO of Advice&Consulting, spoke on the project.
FreshPlaza (FP): What is this app for?
Alexandra Caminschi (AC): Agrinsight is an app created by Advice&Consulting to optimize the agronomic management of farmers' orchards. The app offers complete monitoring of all the information from the field and provides an immediate comparison of the detected data with optimal values. In the presence of anomalies, Agrinsight automatically sends alerts, indicating how and when to intervene, plus the app's integrated chat with the agronomy department ensures total support during every activity.
The basic hardware consists of:
GPRS weather station complete with rain gauge to detect rainfall amount and intensity, anemometer to measure wind speed and direction, air temperature/humidity probe, atmospheric pressure, outer canopy foliar wetting sensor, solar radiation and brightness sensor;
Foliar wetting sensor and inner canopy drip sensor to control the spread of fungal diseases and monitor the dripping of applied products;
Pheromone insect trap with camera, which carries out the monitoring of captures and recognizes dangerous insects;
Volumetric soil moisture sensor, tested in collaboration with the University of Pisa, which provides temperature, tension and moisture monitoring, indicating when to intervene with fertilization.
It is also possible to implement other sensors on demand, customizing the app according to the project. All sensors run on solar panels.
Agrinsight software makes it possible to check the data collected by the sensors in real time via smartphones, tablets and computers and it allows to organize the activities to be carried out, scheduled with a few simple steps in the special section notebook, where you can access all the planning and history. In addition, the app sends a weekly general report, with data and directions from agronomists.
FP: Who is it intended for?
AC: This app is intended for all farms that produce fruit in Italy and abroad. It is possible to use the app in two ways:
Operational mode: + interactive. It was conceived for agronomists who manage, plan and carry out activities in the fields. With this mode, it is possible to record activities in the integrated field notebook, interact in chat with Advice&Consulting® agronomists, and enter sampling data in the pre-harvest and storage phases;
Supervisor + information mode. Designed for directors and investors who wish to monitor the progress and activities being carried out. Agrinsight can be downloaded from the App Store for iOS and Google Play for Android.
FP: How can it improve the performance of an orchard?
AC: Thanks to Agrinsight, all factors that determine production quality are constantly monitored. With this App, any critical conditions for the development of diseases or other problems can be identified early, while planning targeted interventions based on the real needs of the crops.
This allows for optimization of resources, significant organizational improvement of activities and manpower, with lower consumption of water, pesticides and fuels.
In addition, pre-harvest, storage and chat sections with cold storage experts ensure the control of fruit organoleptic qualities at all stages of processing.
FP: Does it have a sustainable cost?
AC: Absolutely, yes. The first year, the investment involves the purchase of the hardware, that is, the sensors that need to be installed based on the number of crop types and varieties to be monitored.
In subsequent years, the investment includes only the software and agronomic support. The economic offer of the app is customized, based on the quantity of the sensors and the number of users who will use the app.
FP: Is it only for the Italian market or also foreign?
AC: Agrinsight technology can be used worldwide. The app is already available in Italian, English and Russian. It has just been launched on the international market in Berlin (at Fruit Logistica) and re-presented in Rimini (at Macfrut). It is already used by several fruit farms with turnkey projects carried out by Advice&Consulting, and from next year it will be available for all orchards around the world.
FP: Over the past few years, there has been a flourishing of these apps. How does yours differ and what are the best solutions it offers?
AC: Agrinsight differs from other apps in the depth of information provided by the different sensors to assist the user from the field to the storage stage, and in terms of providing a team of Italian agronomists and specialized experts available through the integrated chat, by means of which photos, videos and information can be shared as well as field visits can be arranged upon request. The functionality of this app is unique, going beyond an algorithm, representing a true alliance between technology and agriculture.
FP: How do you manage the post-harvesting operations?
AC: In tandem with the hardware, the Agrinsight Kit is provided with tools to carry out sampling in the pre-harvest and storage phases. The data collected from the sampling are entered into the 'Pre-Harvest' section and are compared with the optimum values for each crop and variety to determine the exact harvest window. In the 'Storage' section, cold storage rooms are recorded; in each room, fruit sampling must be carried out with the tools in the kit, and data must be recorded in the section. Monitoring of the storage status is done by comparing the data collected from the samplings with the optimum values within the section. Through the integrated chat, experienced cold storage technicians assist the user at each step, pointing out any anomalies and how to intervene.
For more information;
Valentina Zuffa marketing manager 
Advice&Consulting
+39 051 0285231
+39 324 6960905
www.advice-consulting.it