“Data is becoming the key driver in agriculture”
- Ramil Azmammadov
- Acting CEO of Grand-Agro Invitro
“The whole sector is changing rapidly. Farmers today need access to real-time data, from weather and soil conditions to market trends. That information helps them make better decisions and produce crops that match market demand.”
Ramil Azmammadov is Acting CEO of Grand-Agro Invitro, a rootstock production company in Azerbaijan with a capacity of 4 million plants. While the company mainly serves the local market, it is expanding into Central Asia, including Uzbekistan and neighbouring regions.
With a background in agribusiness and rural development, Ramil has always been motivated to deepen his knowledge and bring innovation back to his work. “It has always been my goal to come to Wageningen and learn from its expertise in agriculture,” he explains. “When I saw this programme, I immediately applied.”
Understanding what data really means for agriculture
What stood out most to Ramil during the programme is how quickly agriculture is changing, and the central role data now plays in that transformation. “If farmers have access to real-time data, about weather, soil or the market, they are in a much stronger position to produce what is actually needed,” he explains.
But the real shift, according to him, is not about having more data. It is about how that data is used. “It is not about raw data. What really matters is having data that is ready to use. That is what helps farmers, businesses and governments make better decisions.”
“It is not about raw data. What really matters is having data that is ready to use. That is what helps farmers, businesses and governments make better decisions.”
From insight to application in the field
Coming from Azerbaijan, where agriculture is strongly focused on crops such as hazelnuts, persimmons and cherries, Ramil sees clear opportunities to apply these insights. “We are already exporting to different regions. With better data and understanding, we can improve our production and respond more effectively to market demand.”
The programme helped him not only to deepen his understanding, but also to look at his work from a broader perspective. “You start to see how everything is connected, from farmers and businesses to government and climate. That changes how you approach decisions.”
Learning to stay ahead in a changing sector
For Ramil, the value of the programme is clear. “Wageningen is known as one of the leading agricultural universities in the world. There is a lot to learn here.”
He would recommend the programme especially to professionals in leadership roles. “Managers and decision-makers can gain new perspectives and find new ways to improve their business. Agriculture is changing fast, and you need to keep up.”