Work meeting or photo with a hidden agenda?
Senator Olga Patricia Sosa Ruíz sat down with the directors of Bayer México. Rodrigo Coria and Julieta Ramírez were on the other side of the table. The theme? How to introduce technology to the Mexican countryside.
Sounds nice, doesn’t it? But when a multinational with more than 100 years in the country—and 15 operating sites—meets with a legislator, you always have to ask yourself: who earns more?
The jewel in the crown: “Carlota”
They presented a digital tool called “Carlota”. Use artificial intelligence, sensors and satellite images to optimize water. According to them, it saves 30% of consumption. That is the water of an entire city like Puebla.
They also talked about “Cultibot Red Nacional”—georeferenced information for decisions in the field—and the “Cultivating Better Lives” program, which offers telemedicine to rural communities.
“Innovation must become a tool for inclusion and development,” said the senator.
Informed skepticism
Look, I’m not naive. Bayer is not an NGO. It is a company that sells seeds, bioinputs and chemical products. That he now wants to “bring technological solutions” to small producers sounds like a market strategy, not charity.
But I am also not going to deny that if Carlota really saves water and works in 16 states, there is something good about it. The problem is that these meetings usually remain just photos and good intentions.
What they didn’t say: how much does it cost to access those tools? Can small producers pay for them? Or is it another mechanism for large companies to control the chain?
What smells bad
The senator chairs the Agriculture Commission. She just meets with Bayer. Just when reforms to the countryside are being discussed. Coincidence?
I prefer to call it: timing conveniently ignored. As a journalist, I learned that what is not said in these meetings outweighs what is said.
For now, we just have to wait. See if “Carlota” reaches those who really need it or remains the same beautiful speech as always.
