Supported by the AgroParisTech Foundation, the H@rvest Alliance is a partnership Chair created to develop and accelerate the emergence of digital solutions that address the new needs of the agricultural world, in order to support its transition towards a more efficient and even more sustainable model.
…digital technology offers numerous opportunities for more sustainable and efficient agriculture.
An Alliance focused on digital technology to help tackle the challenges of the agricultural world
Agricultural and food systems are currently facing new challenges and profound transformations linked to various factors such as climate change, the declining number of farmers, the depletion of natural resources, and growing demands for sustainability and traceability in production methods…
In this context, digital technology represents a potential solution through the accumulation and storage of new data (such as weather, yield, water volumes, etc.) and its use in the development of new tools or decision-making models that it can help to create.
One ambition: to make digital technology a true lever of transformation for agriculture
The evolution of agricultural production models and the management of future farms will require a much more systematic and precise approach. Digital technology will enable the improvement of practices and better management of agricultural systems, through enhanced resource management, allocation of means, risk prevention, and a deeper understanding of the complex interactions that exist within a farm. Our ambition is to provide expertise, talent, and efficient, reliable solutions.
An ideal partnership framework to accelerate the digital and agroecological transition of agriculture
The H@rvest Alliance brings together digital specialists and agricultural industry experts, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration:
- Private partners and sponsors: Excel Industries, Société du Canal de Provence, Sofiproteol
- Academic partners: AgroParisTech, Télécom Paris, UniLaSalle
- Experimentation and application partners: Terres Inovia
- Innovation partners: AgreenTech Valley
Thus, the Alliance provides an ideal framework for identifying needs and use cases in agriculture, testing, experimenting, and developing methods, tools, and digital solutions, and finally disseminating knowledge for the benefit of the wider public, to support the digital and agroecological transition of agriculture in France and more broadly across Europe.
Digital technology in agriculture according to the H@rvest Alliance
Digital technology is a central element of precision agriculture or connected agriculture, two concepts that refer to the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to improve agricultural production, natural resource management, and the marketing of agricultural products. These approaches rely on data collection, analysis, and the design of innovative models or tools.
A wide range of technologies
The technologies used can include sensors, drones, satellites, geographic information systems (GIS), modeling software, agricultural robots, mobile applications, and much more.
Many challenges to overcome
However, the lack of data standardization, the high cost of using certain technologies, the complexity of their implementation, and concerns about data sovereignty and protection are some of the reasons why digital technology remains a promising area that still requires further development. These obstacles are precisely what the H@rvest Alliance aims to address.
