Agriculture: Zannier, AI should be technical support and not decision-making center

“Artificial intelligence can also represent a valuable technical support for the agricultural sector, but it must not and cannot replace the human decision-making process, which also involves the consideration of significant ethical aspects”. This was underlined by the regional councillor for agri-food, forestry and fishing resources, Stefano Zannier, presenting the training event “AI in the field: perspectives of a present innovation”, promoted by the regional management authority of the Ps Pac 2023-27 of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region. The initiative will be held on 21 and 22 May at the Fiera di Udine conference centre, in Torreano di Martignacco. “Technology – continued Zannier – must be used to the best of its ability, accompanied by adequate knowledge that allows for its correct use. Otherwise it risks becoming a cost, rather than a competitive advantage for companies. This is why the Region has financially supported technological development, in the awareness that innovation and training must proceed hand in hand”.

Zannier then highlighted the importance of communication as a strategic lever: “All development opportunities must be communicated effectively. Clear and correct communication itself represents an added value for the competitiveness of agricultural companies of the future. These will be some of the topics discussed by a panel of high-profile speakers”. The councilor then hoped that the event could “encourage in-depth reflection and contribute to the transfer of knowledge to companies in the primary sector”, underlining how this initiative confirms the ability of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region to promote innovation and training for different audiences, with a common goal: improving the conditions and sustainability of the agricultural sector. During the event, an open discussion will be held on the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence in various interconnected sectors, today united by similar challenges: agriculture, public administration and information system. The day of May 21 will open at 10:30 with a session dedicated to the use of AI in public administration, moderated by journalist Luana De Francisco. Speakers will include Monica Palmirani, professor of Legal Informatics at the University of Bologna and president of the International Association of Artificial Intelligence and Law, with a speech on the risks and opportunities of AI in the European and national regulatory context, Salvatore Sapienza, researcher in the same department, who will delve into the technical and legal governance of Big Data and AI in the Agrifood sector, Pierluigi Londero, Head of Data Governance at the EU Directorate-General for Agriculture, and Gabriele Iacolettig, Regional Management Authority of the Strategic Plan CAP 23-27, who will close the session.

In the afternoon, from 2:00 p.m., space will be given to the agricultural sector with a training course led by Federico Quaranta, author and radio and television host, together with Pierluigi Londero, Gianluca Brunori, full professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Pisa, Raffaele Giaffreda, Chief Innovation Scientist at the Bruno Kessler Foundation (FBK), and Francesco Savian, researcher at the VCR – Vivai Cooperativi di Rauscedo research center. The day of May 22 will instead be dedicated to European issues and training for journalists, with speeches by Stefano Polli, deputy director of the Ansa Agency, Monica Palmirani and Salvatore Sapienza, respectively professor and researcher at the University of Bologna, and Andrea Daniele Signorelli, journalist and expert in digital innovation.