Balancing Innovation and Tradition to Build Resilient Agriculture

Salomé Santos Lorenzo is the Agriculture Director at Azucarera, where she leads the company’s agricultural strategy with a focus on sustainability, efficiency and innovation. She manages multidisciplinary teams and oversees the use of land, water and inputs to improve productivity and reduce costs. Santos Lorenzo plays a key role in promoting sustainable and regenerative farming practices, while also exploring new agritech solutions to enhance performance. Her work also involves ensuring compliance with food safety, environmental and phytosanitary regulations, helping Azucarera stay aligned with both industry standards and environmental goals.

Through this article, Santos Lorenzo emphasizes the need to build a resilient and sustainable agricultural system by combining precision technologies and data-driven decision-making with farmers collaboration while maintaining a long-term approach.

Cultivating Resilience through Technology, Access and Trust

In today’s volatile geopolitical landscape and under the growing pressure of climate change, the agricultural sector faces unprecedented challenges. These disruptions are testing the resilience of traditional farming models and demanding a paradigm shift. Growers, now more than ever, need comprehensive and innovative solutions that often lie beyond their individual reach. As a leading beet processor, our responsibility extends far beyond the factory gate. We are committed to partnering with farmers to ensure access to high-quality agricultural inputs at the most competitive prices. Moreover, we play a pivotal role in testing and deploying cutting-edge technologies— from precision agriculture to digital tools—that can significantly enhance productivity, efficiency and environmental sustainability. Our goal is to be not only a reliable buyer but also a catalyst for innovation and long-term viability in the beet sector.

“At Azucarera, we work hand in hand with our growers in a fully integrated model, negotiating inputs and services on their behalf to secure the best possible prices and quality. This close collaboration generates a wealth of high-quality data, which we systematically feed into our agritech platforms.”

Data-Driven Decisions for Sustainable Harvest

Over the past few years, we have been steadily integrating data analytics into our crop management strategy, laying the groundwork for a more intelligent and responsive agricultural model. Today, with the emergence of AI-powered agritech tools, data has evolved from a support mechanism to a strategic asset with exponential value. These technologies allow us to monitor, predict and act with unprecedented precision—transforming the way we cultivate beets and manage resources. In a world increasingly defined by water scarcity, limited arable land and mounting environmental responsibilities, precision is no longer a competitive advantage, it is an ethical and operational imperative. The ability to apply water, fertilizers and agrochemicals in the exact quantity needed, exactly when and where they are needed, is essential. It is the only viable path to achieving higher yields while preserving our natural resources and fulfilling our commitment to sustainability.

Precision Agriculture Made Practical and Personal

For digital farming and AI-powered agritech tools to deliver their full potential, usability is key. These technologies must be designed with the end-user in mind, intuitive, accessible and practical for both our area managers and the growers they support. At Azucarera, we work hand in hand with our growers in a fully integrated model, negotiating inputs and services on their behalf to secure the best possible prices and quality. This close collaboration generates a wealth of high-quality data, which we systematically feed into our agritech platforms. These tools are not developed in isolation, they are co-designed, deployed and refined in close coordination with the farming community. Our mission is clear: to build smart, farmer-centric solutions that empower growers, enhance decision-making and ultimately contribute to a more efficient, resilient and sustainable agricultural ecosystem.

Balance Tradition with Technology

My advice is to truly love what you do and adopt a long-term mindset. Agriculture is the antithesis of short-term speculative business—it is not about quick wins or easy profits. It’s about nurturing the health of your land, making informed and precise decisions about inputs and choosing the right crops and rotations to preserve the long-term productivity and sustainability of each plot. This is a profession rooted in responsibility, to the soil, to the environment and to future generations. To succeed, one must also embrace innovation: harnessing the power of new technologies and data-driven tools is essential to support sustainable practices, optimise resource use and achieve better outcomes for both farmers and the planet.