**Mexico**: The Federal Telecommunications Institute highlights that digital tools could significantly enhance agricultural productivity in Mexico, despite challenges like limited internet access and an ageing farmer population. Bayer aims for a 50% increase in production through new technologies while addressing these barriers.
Connectivity and the digitalisation of agriculture in Mexico have the potential to significantly enhance productivity within the sector, according to the Federal Telecommunications Institute (IFT). The Institute’s findings suggest that digital tools could lead to a 30% reduction in input costs, a 20% decrease in overall expenses, and up to a 15% increase in crop yields.
Bayer, a company specialised in agricultural and health products, is aiming to boost agricultural production in Mexico by as much as 50% over the coming years through digitalisation initiatives. This effort will employ technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, big data, and the Internet of Things (IoT), as explained by Abdalah Novaes, Head of Digital Agricultural Solutions for Latin America at Bayer.
However, a major challenge facing Mexico in achieving this goal is the limited internet coverage. Currently, only 18 of the country’s 32 states that have agricultural production units have access to the internet, with a mere 7.8% of agricultural producers having digitalised their operations. Marco Antonio Oropeza, Technical Secretary in the Agricultural and Livestock Coordination of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader), noted, “The adoption of technologies in the field is progressing very slowly, there are many challenges that still complicate the adoption of new technologies in agriculture, whether because producers lack the skills or because they do not have the capacity to adopt these technologies much more quickly.”
During the launch of FieldView, Bayer’s new software aimed at digitalising agricultural operations in Mexico, Oropeza highlighted another obstacle: the generational gap among farmers. He stated, “Currently, the average age of farmers is over 55, this complicates the adoption of new technologies, but also the possibility that they can learn to use it, as many producers do not even own a mobile phone.”
Despite these challenges, Bayer plans to utilise its technology to cover around 80,000 hectares of farmland by August 2025, aiming for a 10% improvement in yields within the initial months.
In another significant development, the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris), directed by Armida Zúñiga Estrada, has approved a new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. This disease currently impacts at least 1.3 million individuals in Mexico, a figure that could grow to 3.5 million by 2050. The therapy, named Donanemab and developed by pharmaceutical company Lilly, led by Karla Alcázar Uribe, represents a pivotal advancement for patients and their families. It will also provide healthcare professionals with a new treatment option. Mexico is the fifth country to receive approval after the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, and China, with Lilly investing $13 billion in research for innovative therapies targeting this condition that affects 7.8% of those over 60.
In the aviation sector, Grupo Aeroportuario del Sureste (ASUR) reported a 37.2% year-on-year increase in net profit for the fourth quarter, amounting to 3.589 billion pesos. This growth was accompanied by total revenues exceeding 9 billion pesos, reflecting a 31.2% annual increase, despite experiencing a decline in passenger traffic to and from its principal airport in Cancun.
Lastly, on 26 February, the Mexican Accreditation Entity (EMA), led by Raúl Tonel y Cruz, is set to hold sessions on Standards and Accreditation at the Expo Guadalajara in Jalisco. The event is intended to raise awareness about the importance of compliance with various standards and norms, gathering representatives from state authorities, including Profepa, as well as members of business chambers and other stakeholders.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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