Connectivity for a Rural Environment with a Future
Rural areas are at a decisive moment where technology and digitalization are the great allies to guarantee their survival and development. To analyze this landscape, the Asteo Conecta conference, held in Valladolid, featured the roundtable titled “Entrepreneurship, AgroTech and Digital Services. Connectivity for a Rural Environment with a Future” to address the opportunities that connectivity offers in key areas such as the primary sector, mobility, elderly care, and the business fabric.
The meeting was moderated by Pablo Maderuelo, a journalist specializing in rural areas and health, and host of the program “La España Medio llena,” with the participation of María García Rodríguez, Director of Operations at AgroTech Campus (ENIIT); Fernando Andrade, Head of Espacio Innoveas at Cruz Roja, Castilla y León; Giovanni Olcese, President of Ekiwi Movilidad; Pedro Abad, CEO of Asteo Red Neutra.
Technology as the Engine of a Profitable Countryside
In the agri-food sector, innovation is no longer an option, but a necessity. María García Rodríguez highlighted how precision agriculture, the use of drones, and sensor technology are changing the paradigm of the countryside:
“Undoubtedly necessary, but there is also a technological component that must be applied to make the farm or the countryside much more profitable, more respectful, sustainable, so that it can continue to be considered a profitable profession for the future. And that is basically what we do. And to connect industry and business with the world of the countryside and the real world. Make it real, not theoretical.”
To illustrate the scope of this revolution in the primary sector, María detailed the tools that are already being applied in the field to achieve maximum efficiency: “But right now, intelligent drones. Satellite positioning, GIS systems, real-time measurements of water needs divided into zones of what we call precision agriculture. Knowing what nutrient the plant needs, at what moment to automatically decide whether or not to give it fertilizer in detail to precisely optimize all the inputs consumed on a farm and thus reduce costs, make it more profitable, and even achieve greater productivity.”
Furthermore, she recalled that connectivity is a legal requirement today: “Nowadays all fields must be connected with public administrations through the field notebook. So, if we don’t have that, how are we even going to be legally viable?”
Shared Mobility to Break Isolation
Mobility is another major challenge in areas with low population density. Giovanni Olcese explained how eKiwi Movilidad is providing digital solutions to connect rural inhabitants:
“Well, we offer a service that hardly exists in rural areas, which is having a vehicle rental office. That is unthinkable, setting up in a small town, and thanks to a mobile application, you can have that vehicle available on the days you want, by the hour, by the minute.”
This model grants independence to citizens: “We believe that people can be given that freedom to choose how to move and expand the range of possibilities beyond the bus. Being a fixed route, it doesn’t give you the ability to go to the neighboring town,” he added.
Digital Rights and Personal Autonomy
From a social perspective, Fernando Andrade emphasized the vital role of technology in enabling elderly people to maintain their autonomy and remain in their homes, combating unwanted loneliness. For Cruz Roja, access to technology goes beyond a service:
“Digital rights are already an extension of human rights because the absence of digitalization causes unequal access to goods and services that many of us here can enjoy today.”
Regarding the practical application of this technology for care and companionship, Fernando shared the excellent results of the project they are developing using voice assistants, thus eliminating usage barriers for the elderly: “In the case of Alexa, what we do is that, for example, someone who has not had the opportunity to know or be in the digital environment, or handle a computer or a mobile phone, simply does it with their voice. And that is extremely relevant. Through the voice assistant, a small device can provide information, remind them to take medication or remind them of an appointment or a birthday, or why not listen to the radio or listen to the music they like. That is where all this begins to have a transformative effect.”
Andrade also highlighted the importance of synergies between entities to achieve real impact: “Cruz Roja alone possibly cannot, cannot respond, cannot respond absolutely to all the needs and challenges that arise in the vulnerable population. But it can do so with allies and partnerships that allow each to contribute their field of knowledge.”
Infrastructure for the Globalization of Rural Business
As the foundation of this entire transformation are telecommunications infrastructures. Pedro Abad, CEO of Asteo Red Neutra, emphasized the direct impact of fiber optics on the business fabric of rural towns:
“Connectivity is key for that business to begin considering globalization. Because a local business in Valladolid is not going to sell anywhere else. If it has adequate connectivity, it can incorporate tools to have its e-commerce platform, have its online channel, not only optimize its production processes, of course, but also expand its business horizon.”
The deployment of these networks has tangible and immediate consequences to prevent depopulation and sustain local employment. Abad recalled that, while technological progress is unstoppable, the great challenge is to ensure that no one is left behind, warning that “technology, or in other words, the adoption or non-adoption of technology can create an insurmountable social divide.”
A Promising and Collaborative Future
The roundtable concluded with an optimistic vision of the coming years. Rural Spain has before it the historic opportunity to become a connected, innovative space full of opportunities. As María García aptly summarized when visualizing the coming years: “I see a reality of the rural world that involves being well connected, that involves moving by transport. Also being well connected because there are already people who are focusing on solving that problem, which also involves being well accompanied.”
