O ensino e a pesquisa em agricultura de precisão nos cursos de agronomia nas instituições da região sul do Brasil

Abstract

The aim of this study was to understand the state of the art and the scientific and educational development of the new management strategies based on Precision Agriculture in the universities of the southern region of Brazil, that present undergraduate courses in the agronomy area. Understanding how the approach of Precision Agriculture in these institutions is carried out can provide teaching management by associating technologies and practices that can allow significant gains in education and, consequently, in the productivity of different cultivated species. This is possible through the correct handling of computerized procedures for recording and analyzing data of the entire production process, involving and complementing with the traceability of products offered internally or exported. The lack of information on how the subject is being addressed in universities; who are the agents; and what they are researching in the area of Precision Agriculture - mainly in the courses with direct relation with agronomy, rendering the discussions on the subject deficient. Within this context, it was sought to quantify, through research via e-mail and telephone contact, the number of agronomy courses in the southern states of the country; which courses offer the discipline of Precision Agriculture; and how it is offered to students. In this way, it was possible to elaborate a mapping of the distribution of the agents (teachers, researchers) who work on Precision Agriculture in agricultural science courses in these regions. During the research, it was verified that the subject is approached in the universities in general, some as a specific discipline, giving due importance to the subject, others only commenting important points in other disciplines of the course. It was noted that the three states - but especially Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul - still lack trained and qualified professionals to work in this area.