Saturday, August 3, 2019, 22:58
Silvia Tomillo31 years and industrial engineer of the University of Valladolid Specialized in industrial chemistry That it was raised, at the end of the race, what to do with all the knowledge I had gained and how they could apply them with something that is related to wine and agriculture. That, along with the fact that he had always had the illusion to have his own company, led him to find him Global Agrimtrics.
– How was the start of your company?
– I have developed a project with a lot of technology and on a little processed market, such as Precision Agriculture. I started seven years ago. It was not something that was closely related to my career and had to study a lot. First I worked on sensors that, with millimeter capacity, allow the tension and the milliliters to calculate water that plants have. Based on that, we measure shortage risks, so that with the least amount of water we get the greatest profitability on the product, in this case in wine tribes.
– And then he decides to set up his own company …
– yes, Agrimrics is now two years old. That was the embryonic project. Until then I had worked in other companies.
– What difficulties have you found?
– I was very lucky because many people helped me. Financially we have had no problems because I have won economic prizes. But the biggest problem I have encountered is that I am a very technical person and did not know the business world. The economic and financial directorate has made me more effort because I did not have those acquired skills. As a small company, I also had to develop other competitions, such as commercial. You are the visible face. I am from the guy to the CEO. You have to come out of your comfort zone and it is a new challenge every time. In a large company there is more slowness and convenience. Work physically in a men’s sector. But I have not felt discrimination, although some condescendingness because I seem younger and sometimes they treat them as if they didn’t take you seriously.
-The agricultural sector is not very technical. How do they take a sensor to make them more efficient?
– When I started, I went to the free companies to let me try the techniques, that they saw the project and that gave good results. But they didn’t want him, they saw him as more research. He didn’t take it seriously. Although it has changed a lot, the farmer is very jealous of his product. We have made a series of recommendations and they, from experience and knowledge of their country, have made a series of manipulations that we saw with our sensors. But they didn’t want to recognize him. They see the advance as necessary, but they were a lot based on tradition and intuition. This has changed, especially to large plantations, where it is controlled more by agromes. But they were very suspicious, especially in the world of wine. A very famous winemaker told me that he did not love him because his vineyards were something alive that evolved every year, and that if we always did his wine, it was an author, it did not evolve. At first I didn’t understand, but after a while I understood that you had to sell it differently: having a database to make decisions. That it is De Boer who solves, although we also have projects where artificial intelligence makes decisions.
“De Boer sees the necessary progress, but he is still very based on tradition and intuition”
«Helping prices if they have financial compensation help; Although they above all recognize work »
-The some prices have already been received. What do they assume?
– If they have financial compensation, they are a tool, but above all it is a reward for work. During the arrival there are many changeable and discouragement. And each of the prices is a motorcycle because I see that there are people who believe in the project. It is an important progress for Spain. We have a lot of potential for these technologies. We are the garden of Europe and we have to lead this sector. That they give you that palmadita on your back is to encourage you to call new doors.
– Do you like to inspire women and girls?
– Women have little visibility in technification … and I belong to the Board of Engineers. Model is a word that is great, but I do what I can do. I hope you can inspire someone, although I find it a bit overwhelming. I would love that there was no need for inspiring models for children, even if they call your model, is a pride.
– What would you tell these new generations to encourage barriers?
“Above all, not being afraid.” Let them dare. We often create them ourselves. It is true that there are people you don’t accept because you are young or wife, but instead of winning the game, we have to work stronger and show what you are worth.
How you can reach the little farmer
For Silvia Tomillo to work with the large wineries is easier because “they see profitability, they are looking for and more open to technification.” He confesses, yes, that the doors open to the smallest farmer, who “seeks” when he is aware of these tools. His company now works with five wineries and various winemakers in Castilla y León, although he starts having orders from other regions. «We have to grow, but in a controlled way. We have more demand than the supply that we can provide, “he explains.
It also clarifies that their solutions are not just for the wine world. “We have the best results with strawberry and tomato, although they are most looking for us in the vineyard, that’s why we specialized here,” he acknowledges. You already have orders for use in the plantation of peaches and olive trees, but it is still in the development phase.
