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3E230830 VLIR – Short Initiatives Ongoing

Smart Farming methodology for efficient and sustainable cultivation of dragon fruit in Ecuador's Amazon: Pilot evaluation of the impact of technology on poverty and inequality reduction

Promotor Flamenco: Vandewalle Patrick
Promotor Contraparte: Valencia Torres Esteban Alejandro

Context and Justification

This initiative proposes the implementation of precision agriculture for the intelligent, efficient, and sustainable production of dragon fruit in the Ecuadorian Amazon, Palora canton as case study. The project is motivated by the great appeal of this fruit in international markets due to its numerous health and nutritional properties. The national government has done a good job managing commercial agreements; however, very little has been done regarding the modernization of agricultural processes, which has made it difficult for many farmers, mainly small and medium ones, to export their production to markets such as Europe, North America, and Asia because they do not meet the quality, biosecurity, traceability, and sustainability requirements established by those markets.

Main Research Goal

Develop a methodology for intelligent, efficient, and sustainable cultivation of dragon fruit in the Ecuadorian Amazon, employing precision agriculture techniques such as remote monitoring systems and computer vision. The goal is to demonstrate in pilot farms how precision agriculture can help farmers use resources like water and soil more efficiently, reduce agrochemicals, plan production based on data, ensure fruit quality, and apply sustainable cultivation techniques that enhance product quality and farmers' overall quality of life.