Innovation is more important in modern agriculture than ever before. The industry as a whole is facing huge challenges: from rising costs of supplies and labor shortages to changes in consumer preferences for transparency and sustainability. There is increasing recognition from agriculture corporations that immediate solutions are needed for these challenges. Thankfully agriculture technology, also known as agtech is here.
This new concept refers to the use of technology in farming and agricultural practices to increase efficiency, productivity, and sustainability in food production. It includes several different types of technologies, such as precision agriculture, smart irrigation, biotechnology, and automation. Additionally, there are significant technological advancements in areas like indoor vertical farming, livestock technology, modern greenhouse practices, artificial intelligence, and blockchain, which we will explore further in this article.
Indoor Vertical Farming
Indoor vertical farming can increase crop yields, overcome limited land area, and even reduce farming’s impact on the environment by cutting down the distance traveled in the supply chain. This new concept can be defined as the practice of growing produce stacked one above another in a closed and controlled environment. Its key attribute is that it can significantly reduce the amount of land space needed to grow plants compared to traditional farming methods.
Vertical agriculture has the added value that in some setups it doesn’t require soil for plants to grow. Most are either hydroponic -the plants grow in a nutrient-dense bowl of water, or aeroponic, where the plant roots are systematically sprayed with water and nutrients.
Vertical farms use up to 70% less water than traditional farms.
From sustainable urban growth to maximizing crop yield with reduced labor costs, the advantages of indoor vertical farming are apparent. This new agriculture technology can control variables such as light, humidity, and water to precisely measure year-round, increasing food production with reliable harvests.
Labor is also greatly reduced by using robots to handle harvesting, planting, and logistics, solving the challenge farms face from the current labor shortage in the agriculture industry.
The benefits of farm automation
Farm automation, often associated with “smart farming”, is a technology that makes farms more efficient, as it automates the crop or livestock production cycle. An increasing number of AgTech companies are working on robotics innovation to develop drones, autonomous tractors, robotic harvesters, automatic watering, and seeding robots. Although these technologies are fairly new, the industry has seen an increasing number of traditional agriculture companies adopt farm automation into their processes, as its primary goal is to cover monotonous tasks.
Livestock farming technology
The traditional livestock industry is a sector that is arguably the most important yet widely overlooked sector, as it provides much-needed renewable natural resources that we rely on every day.
Traditionally known as running the business of farms, cattle ranches, and other related agribusinesses, livestock management involves maintaining accurate financial records, supervising workers, and ensuring the proper care and feeding of animals. However, technological advancements in agriculture are revolutionizing the world of animal husbandry. These developments have greatly improved the industry, making the tracking and managing of livestock much easier and faster.
Livestock technology can enhance the productivity, welfare, and management of animals and livestock.
The “connected cow” concept is the result of equipping herds with sensors to monitor their health and increase productivity. By attaching individual wearable sensors to cows, producers can keep track of daily activity and health-related issues and make operational decisions quickly and easily.
Animal genomics is a new type of agriculture technology that can be defined as the study of the entire gene landscape of a living animal and how its interaction with others can influence the animal’s growth and development. Genomics helps livestock producers understand the genetic risk of their herds and determine the future profitability of their livestock. So, by being strategic with animal selection and breeding decisions, producers can optimize the profitability and yields of livestock herds.
Agtech has huge benefits for the industry. Data-driven decision-making leads to better and more efficient decisions that will improve the productivity of livestock herds.