From the invention of plows to milking machines, innovations have played a considerable role in agricultural development. Here are some of the latest trends in agriculture technology which are predicted to influence farming globally in 2024 and beyond.
Farm Automation
Automation is already a major part of the farming process, but it will become even more important in the coming years. Farmers are already using drones to monitor their crops, and advanced sensors can tell them exactly when they need to water or fertilize their fields. These devices can also be used to monitor soil quality and ensure that crops aren’t affected by drought or other environmental factors.
The increased level of automation will allow farmers to focus more on other aspects of their business than traditional manual labor tasks like watering, seeding, and harvesting.
Blockchain
Blockchain technologies are used in agriculture to track plant information from the farms to the shelf. Powered by a decentralized database, this technology helps regulate the quality of food and its shelf life. The auditable database allows growers and marketers to monitor farm produce throughout the supply chain.
In recent times, Hyperledger, an open-source blockchain framework, has been adopted by Walmart to help the retail giant detect unwholesome food in real time before it gets to the consumer. In addition, to encourage chemical-free farm products and improve transparency in its agric supply chain, India, the world’s largest fruits and vegetables producer, is planning to adopt blockchain technologies in all its Agri exports.
IoT in Agriculture
IoT is used as a smart farming solution for monitoring the crop field from anywhere. It involves using sensors to track soil moisture, crop health, livestock conditions, temperature, etc.
IoT technologies make it possible to create automated irrigation structures where water resources can be managed efficiently. By collecting crop data such as moisture and temperature, IoT technologies can help determine the right amount of water for crops every season.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Agriculture
GIS in agriculture relies on technology such as drones and satellites to understand crop position and types, fertilization level, soil status, and related information. With data generated from GIS remote sensing devices and software, farmers can determine the best location for crop planting in the field and make informed decisions on how to improve soil nutrition.
In livestock rearing, GIS software monitors the movement of animals. This, in turn, will help farmers track animals’ health, fertility, or nutrition.
AI/ML & Data Science in Agriculture Technology
Agricultural forecasting is made easy when farmers deploy AI/ML & data science technology. The use of 3D laser scanning and spectral imaging/spectral analysis, for example, can help farmers predict weather scenarios and optimize the use of resources required for irrigation, fertilization, and pest control.
Through AI/ML & data science technology, farmers can analyze their fields for the best locations for planting seeds. They can use computer vision to recognize plants’ optimal height, width, and spacing. This data can then be used to optimize their growing methods.
Regenerative Agriculture
The World Economic Forum describes regenerative agriculture as the way forward to decarbonize the food system and make farming resilient to climate shocks. This unconventional farming practice work based on five fundamental principles.
- Promote biodiversity through the integration of animals and plants
- Improve soil health by adopting all options that will reduce soil disturbance
- Practice soil conservation by keeping the soil surface covered as much as possible
- Practice crop diversity by growing varieties of crops on the same field
- Maintain living roots by planting perennial crops or cover crops
Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)
Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) is a method of cultivating plants in a fully regulated environment. It is also known as ‘vertical farming or indoor farming.’ In this type of cultivation, all the plant’s needs are met by artificially providing them with water, nutrients, and light using hydroponic, aquaponic, and aeroponic techniques.
CEA has proven to reduce some of the challenges faced in conventional farming. For example, it greatly reduces water consumption depending on the farm setup. In fact, some vertical farms use 70% to 95% less water than what’s typically required in traditional outdoor farms.
In addition to optimal water usage, CEA protects plants from adverse weather conditions and helps maximize the use of space for cultivation.