Aarhus University professor takes over presidency of global precision agriculture society
Professor Davide Cammarano has officially become President of the International Society of Precision Agriculture (ISPA). In his new role, he aims to strengthen international collaboration and promote a clearer understanding of precision agriculture as a key strategy for sustainable farming.
After serving two years as President-Elect, Professor Davide Cammarano from the Department of Agroecology at Aarhus University has officially assumed the presidency of the International Society of Precision Agriculture (ISPA), the world's leading scientific organisation dedicated to advancing precision agriculture.
The appointment places him at the forefront of an international research community working to improve the sustainability, productivity and resource efficiency of agricultural production through data-driven management and decision-making.
"It's a great honour, but it is also a big responsibility," says Davide Cammarano. "Precision agriculture has become a widely used term, but it is often misunderstood. One of my ambitions is to strengthen a common understanding of what precision agriculture actually is and how it can support more sustainable farming systems worldwide."
As a President he will chair the 18th International Conference on Precision Agriculture in Athens, Georgia USA in 2028. But he is also the main organizer of the European Conference on Precision Agriculture that will be held in Copenhagen from 11 to 15 July 2027.
Shaping the future of a rapidly growing field
Established in 1998, ISPA brings together researchers, educators, industry representatives and practitioners from across the world. As president, Davide Cammarano will help guide the society's strategic direction over the coming years, with a particular focus on international collaboration, education and outreach.
Among his priorities is strengthening the global reach of the society and building stronger links between regional and international precision agriculture communities.
"The society's name includes the word international, and we want to make sure that is reflected in our activities and engagement," he says. "We are working to increase participation from different parts of the world and create stronger connections between researchers, educators and practitioners."
Another key objective is to improve awareness of the internationally agreed definition of precision agriculture.
According to ISPA, precision agriculture is "a management strategy that takes account of temporal and spatial variability to improve sustainability of agricultural production." For Davide Cammarano, this distinction is important.
"Precision agriculture is fundamentally a management strategy. Technology can be an important tool, but precision agriculture is not defined by technology alone. The goal is better management decisions based on variability within fields and farming systems."
Aarhus University at the centre of international precision agriculture
Davide Cammarano's presidency comes at a time when Aarhus University is becoming increasingly visible on the international precision agriculture scene.
In July next year, Davide Cammarano and ISPA will host the European Conference on Precision Agriculture in Copenhagen, one of the field's most important scientific events, attracting several hundred participants from around the world.
The new role also complements his position as Editor-in-Chief of Precision Agriculture, the discipline's leading scientific journal.
Together, these responsibilities place him in a unique position to help shape both the scientific discussions and the future development of precision agriculture worldwide.
From Denmark to the world
For the professor from Aarhus University, the presidency marks the next chapter in a career dedicated to understanding how data, agronomy and technology can be combined to make agriculture more efficient and sustainable.
Over the next two years as President, and the next two as Past President to complete the board commitment, he hopes to contribute to a stronger scientific foundation for the field and create closer collaboration across continents, institutions and sectors.
"If we can help people better understand what precision agriculture really means, and how it can improve decision-making in farming, that will be a major success," says Davide Cammarano.
About ISPAThe International Society of Precision Agriculture (ISPA) is the world's leading scientific organisation dedicated to advancing precision agriculture through research, education and international collaboration. Founded in 1998, the society brings together researchers, educators, industry representatives and practitioners from across the globe. ISPA promotes the development and responsible use of precision agriculture to improve productivity, profitability and sustainability in agriculture. According to ISPA, precision agriculture is “Precision Agriculture is a management strategy that gathers, processes and analyzes temporal, spatial and individual plant and animal data and combines it with other information to support management decisions according to estimated variability for improved resource use efficiency, productivity, quality, profitability and sustainability of agricultural production.” The society also publishes the journal Precision Agriculture and organises international conferences and professional networks that connect scientists and stakeholders worldwide. |
Contact
Professor Davide Cammarano, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University. Tel: 93522545 or mail: davide.cammarano@agro.au.dk
Communicationsadviser Camilla Brodam Galacho, Department of Agroecology, Aarhus University. Tel.: 93522136 or mail: brodam@agro.au.dk