IngeDATI: Artificial intelligence that boosts agriculture, Colombian case.
- Andrea Velázquez
- Jun 12
- 6 min read
When Nitrofert first contacted Navigamo, it was through our agent, nemo. We quickly setup a call, during which they told us that, after meeting Buja , they knew we could help them with their vision.
I was excited by the idea that a company in this sector was investing in technology. They came to us with a challenge: the mission of creating the first specialized artificial intelligence for Colombian agriculture. I knew we had an opportunity to transcend the purely technological scope and generate a significant social impact . The development process for IngeDATI became a deep dive into national agricultural knowledge, an opportunity to realize one of our goals: to positively impact society using our knowledge and technology.
Information from wisdom: the birth of IngeDATI
Our work on Navigamo began with a clear objective: to create an accessible tool for all profiles working on farms, who often lack immediate technical information to make decisions about their crops. The goal was to democratize agricultural knowledge , bringing it directly to those who need it most and, in doing so, impact the backbone of our country.
The initial training process relied on an extensive library of technical documents provided by Nitrofert: specialized journals, product data sheets, cultivation manuals, and data collected over years of field experience. However, we quickly identified that this information, while valuable, was unstructured and did not fully capture the wealth of practical knowledge.
"We wanted it to be a precise and technical tool, yet intuitive, capable of responding to the real needs of those who work the land every day," says Camilo Ramírez of Navigamo.
Beyond documents: capturing tacit knowledge
A crucial turning point in development came when we proposed supplementing the documentary base with interviews with Nitrofert's crop experts . This methodological decision, guided by our production team, allowed us to capture invaluable tacit knowledge that wasn't recorded in any manual.
We organized structured sessions with specialists in different crops, strategically starting with coffee to prepare for the presentation at the company's annual convention. These interviews revealed nuances, field experiences, and practical solutions that greatly enriched IngeDATI's knowledge base.
"There's a fascinating contrast between the cutting-edge technology we're implementing and the ancient knowledge of farm work... our work has been to bridge the gap between these two worlds, translating oral agricultural wisdom into a format accessible through artificial intelligence," shares one of Nitrofert's experts.
A collaborative and multidisciplinary development of artificial intelligence that boosts agriculture
IngeDATI's success would not have been possible without the close collaboration between various teams . On Nitrofert's side, the marketing team contributed its understanding of end-user needs; the crop experts, specialized technical knowledge; and the sales force, who are in direct contact with farmers, contributed invaluable insights into the most common questions and challenges in the field.
At Navigamo, we used innovative processes, leveraging AI resources to facilitate the efficient creation and training of IngeDATI. Our team not only implemented the technology but also guided the entire methodological process to ensure knowledge was captured, structured, and utilized optimally. Our experience in advertising, consumer goods, and digital media allowed us to develop a communication interface, language, and interaction that could reach all users.
The integration of crop-specific knowledge at IngeDATI has spanned several months and has confirmed our understanding of optimal training management. One of the most significant challenges with clients who want to implement AI solutions is the need to organize and clean the information received before proceeding with training. This case was no exception: upon receiving the information, we identified the risk of potential "hallucinations" due to the data not being "clean." There was a large volume of information in different formats, including journals and publications from various sources that did not contain content exclusive to training or the company's products.
Another challenge was maintaining focus on the project's core objective, as is often the case with innovative and high-potential tools, there's a temptation to expand functionality beyond the original core focus. Our role as strategic consultants included helping Nitrofert maintain a clear vision, prioritizing the features that would truly impact the end user and ensure the continued development of artificial intelligence that boosts agriculture.
Real Impact on the Colombian Countryside
The ultimate test of any technology is its real-world impact, and IngeDATI's initial results are fantastic. Following its presentation at Nitrofert's annual convention and internal validation tests conducted by the technical team, the tool has been tested by several real-world users, generating positive feedback , especially from farmers, who appreciate the immediate access to technical information presented in simple, applicable language.
"We worked on training AI with pure Colombian field data. We identified not only the area's rainfall, but also the average soil conditions in Colombia... so that anyone in different crops, in any region of the country, could access it, provide the location of their space, submit their soil study, and receive nutritional recommendations for their specific crop and growing phase," explains Jorge Pacheco, president of Nitrofert.
The reality of the Colombian countryside is complex. Our geography, with three mountain ranges, moorlands, jungles, and vast plains, creates natural barriers that have historically hindered access to resources, information, and technology. This is coupled with insufficient infrastructure and public policies that have not always prioritized rural development.
Yet this same challenging land is what produces the food that reaches our tables. As Gabriel García Márquez put it, "Colombia is an act of faith," and perhaps no one better embodies that act of faith than our farmers, who cultivate the land day after day despite adversity.
The paradox is clear: we are absolutely dependent on a sector that has historically had limited access to tools to optimize its work. With this initiative, we are leading a digital transformation with a social purpose , demonstrating that advanced technology can and should serve fundamental needs such as food production.
Jorge Pacheco also points out that "It's a commitment to this new profile of farmers. We often think that the average farmer is someone who doesn't have access to technology, but the truth is that from now on, artificial intelligence is becoming a tool available to everyone in the world. All you need is a mobile device."
And in Colombia, mobile internet penetration increased, reaching 91 out of every 100 Colombians, according to MinTic (2).
The impact of this initiative extends beyond Nitrofert, as demonstrated by the interest already expressed by other companies in the agricultural sector that have learned about IngeDATI. This suggests a potential multiplier effect , where one company's pioneering innovation can catalyze the digital transformation of an entire sector.
These initiatives have the potential to close part of the technology gap , bringing crucial information directly into the hands of those who feed our country.
One of IngeDATI's most valuable features is its evolving nature. The system continues to improve thanks to ongoing training conducted by Nitrofert engineers in collaboration with the Navigamo AI team. Every interaction, every query, every user feedback contributes to refining the answers and expanding the knowledge base.
This aspect reflects our vision at Navigamo: technology should not be static, but rather respond and adapt to the human realities it seeks to serve.
The Impact that Moves Me
A few years ago, I divorced corporate life because my ethical conflicts became so overwhelming. I retired with the goal of remaining 100% aligned with my principles from then on. Today, I see how this development fills my heart; it's been much more than a project for me as co-founder of Navigamo. It's been a powerful reminder of why we do what we do. If sometimes in advertising, initiatives are pursued solely because of trends, and sometimes in technology, there's an obsession with innovation for innovation's sake, finding purpose in our work with clients is what truly drives me.
Seeing how this tool can help a farmer make more informed decisions, potentially improving their productivity and, consequently, the well-being of their family and society, connects me to the real impact of our work. It's not just about AI, or artificial intelligence driving agriculture; it's about lives transformed through purposeful technology .
I feel it gives us an opportunity to reflect on the role of technology in building a better country. I believe that in both advertising and technology (which are the sectors in which I have experience), our work can serve to close gaps or widen them; we chose the former.
The true digital revolution will not be complete until it reaches every corner of our society, especially those that have remained on the periphery of development.
The Colombian countryside, with its challenges and potential, represents an invaluable opportunity to demonstrate that technology can be a force for social transformation when implemented with purpose and empathy. With this opportunity, the future of the Colombian countryside grows with tools that respect its ancestral wisdom while contributing contemporary knowledge.
We are convinced that this technological seed will yield abundant fruits for our country.
Because in the end, there is no technology more advanced than that which serves the most fundamental human needs. And feeding ourselves, thanks to the work of our farmers, is perhaps the most fundamental of all.
