Smart tech in agriculture: Fabrizio Delage (EMLV 2012) shares +10 years' experience in agri-food tech

Interviewed by CIO AT WORK, the medium for information systems directors, Fabrizio Delage (EMLV 2012) looks back on ten years of developments in the Internet of Things (IoT) in the agricultural sector. His career path, combining contacts between startups and investors and immersion in the realities of the field, makes him a key player in the technological transition in this field.

From investment to impact: a human approach to IoT

Fabrizio has built his expertise at the crossroads of two worlds: technology and strategic support for start-ups. Having led IoT startup mapping missions on behalf of investment funds, he has been able to detect the most mature and useful solutions for farmers.

This positioning between technology watch and in-depth knowledge of the field has enabled him to identify one constant: the adoption of IoT in agriculture depends less on the technology itself than on its sociological relevance. Understanding the human realities of the agricultural world is therefore crucial to the successful deployment of these innovations.

A concrete example: Sencrop's breakthrough in Italy

One of Fabrizio's most memorable experiences was working with Sencrop, a start-up specializing in connected weather stations. Thanks to his network in the Italian agricultural sector, he was able to facilitate the integration of Sencrop's post-Covid solutions in a highly segmented market.

In his opinion, connected weather stations remain one of the most useful objects, as they enable rapid, localized decision-making, which is essential in precision agriculture. Today, the Sencrop network extends to over 20,000 stations worldwide.

LinkedIn Fabrizio Delage Paganini

A clear-sighted view of investment and adoption

With a decade's hindsight, Fabrizio observes a notable evolution in the market: while the early days were marked by enthusiasm that was sometimes disconnected from the reality on the ground, investment criteria have now hardened. Sales, rapid adoption (6 to 8 months maximum) and the first concrete use cases have become essential prerequisites.

He deplores the fact that some promising innovations have been discarded for lack of an immediate return on investment, but also points out that this has helped to clean up the sector and better allocate funds.

Tomorrow's IoT: artificial intelligence and agroecology

The future of agricultural IoT? For Fabrizio, it clearly hinges on artificial intelligence and the quality of data collected in the field. He is betting on the rise of sensors for measuring soil health, capable of assigning an environmental score and valorizing agroecological practices via economic incentives.

With the upcoming CAP 2025 and reinforced environmental measures, this type of tool will be central to accelerating the transition to sustainable agricultural practices.

A call to reality in the operational field

A final word of advice to companies and managers: never lose sight of experience in the operational field. IoT is not a miracle product; it must meet a real need. For Fabrizio, this means listening first to farmers, the real experts in living things, and relying on specialists capable of making the link between technology, concrete need, and viable business models.

🔗 To find out more:

Full interview on cio-at-work.com

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