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BY LAURA ROSS
AT a time when the agricultural industry faces various hardships , including growing consumer demand and the impacts of climate change , it ’ s fortunate that technology solutions are fast advancing . Indeed , the global agriculture technology market is worth US $ 24.08 billion and is expected to surpass US $ 40 billion by 2030 . Before we delve into the pros and cons of agriculture technology and consider what the future holds , let ’ s explore some of the industry ’ s hottest trends .
1 . Bee Vectoring Technologies Bee vectoring is a precision agriculture system that sees bees disseminate naturally derived pesticides , known as biologicals , to flowering crops , such as strawberries , apples , blueberries , tomatoes , and sunflowers . Pioneered in the 1990s at the University of Guelph in Ontario , the technology is patented by Bee Vector Technology ( BVT ), which is also based in Ontario .
2 . Indoor Vertical Farming Indoor vertical farming is the practice of growing produce on vertical surfaces in a closed and controlled environment . Not only does this technology enable agricultural workers to produce more food with less land , but it is climate- and weather-agnostic , reduces labour costs , and requires less water than traditional farming methods .
The world ’ s first contemporary vertical farming tower was designed by Prof Dr Dickson Despommier at Columbia University in 1999 .
The global vertical farming market was valued at US $ 8.47 billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach US $ 59.13 billion by 2031 .
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3 . Precision Livestock Farming ( PLF ) PLF is defined as the “ management of individual animals by continuous , automated , and real-time monitoring of health , welfare , production and reproduction , and environmental impact .”
The technology enables farmers to increase their output , improve animal welfare , minimise waste , and drive operational efficiencies . The technology is necessitated by the growing demand for livestock products , agricultural worker shortages , limited land availability , and concerns surrounding global warming and deforestation .
4 . Precision Agriculture ( PA ) PA is the science of improving crop yields via sensor and analytics tools , which observe , measure , and respond to the variability of crops .
Some of the most common PA technologies include global positioning systems , which gather data with accurate location information in real-time , Geographic Information Systems ( GIS ), which use object details and location data to create digital maps and variable-rate input application technologies ( VRT ), which allows agricultural workers to apply fertiliser , chemicals , or seeds to specific crops , or areas of land , based on their unique needs .
5 . Laser Scarecrows Laser scarecrows deploy moving laser beams to scare birds away from sweetcorn fields , where it is not unusual for farmers to lose as much as 75 per cent of their crop .
For the past few years , researchers from the University of Rhode Island ( URI ) and Cornell Cooperative Extension have been testing the former ’ s 50-milliwatt scarecrows on New York farms , which can cover up to nine acres . The units are affordable , silent , straightforward to set up , and invisible to humans
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in the daylight .
6 . Farm Automation Farm automation augments the role of agricultural workers to improve working conditions , increase production , address labour shortages , reduce costs , and drive operational efficiencies . Examples of automated agritech include crop-monitoring drones , autonomous tractors , robotic harvesters , and seeding and weeding robots .
These devices , which use a combination of sensors , analytics , and robotics , are increasingly sophisticated and effective . For example , more companies are developing robots capable of picking fruit gently , while weeding robots are leveraging computer vision to weed fields and reduce pesticide usage by up to 90 %.
The high costs associated with implementing autonomous technologies are perhaps the biggest barrier to widespread adoption in modern farming . Still , prices will drop as these devices become more commonplace and the technologies less novel .
7 . Real-Time Kinematic ( RTK )
Technology RTK technology uses the Global Positioning System ( GPS ) — or other satellite-based navigation systems — to correct common errors in current satellite navigation ( GNSS ) systems , enabling them to deliver highly accurate positioning and navigation data . The technology provides real-world object accuracy up to one centimetre , as well as sending correction data in real time .
The technology is widely used in PA devices to establish drainage and irrigation systems and for seeding , spraying , land levelling , and spreading . It improves the efficiency of agricultural machinery , reduces the use of pesticides and fertilisers , minimises pass-to-pass overlap , and facilitates consistent high performance in low-light conditions .
8 . Minichromosomal Technology Minichromosomes are tiny circles of DNA contained within a cell . Although they carry very little genetic material , they can hold a significant amount of information .
Minichromosomal technology is applied by agricultural geneticists to add a range of different traits to plants , which can improve resilience , crop yield , and quality . Because a plant ’ s genes are not altered during the process , the technology has been quick to secure regulatory approval .
To give a few examples , Bt toxin genes are being used for insect resistance , while herbicide-resistant genes help
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with weed control . Scientists have created apples that won ’ t brown when their flesh is exposed , crops that can withstand drought , and potatoes resistant to potato blight .
9 . Farm Management Software ( FMS ) Farm management refers to the activities required to ensure a farm ’ s seamless operations , good production , and satisfactory profit . This includes the management of finances , marketing activities , production , human resources ( HR ), and risk .
FMS monitors and optimises all modern farming activities via a centralised tool , enabling farmers to run their businesses more effectively . It can do everything from monitoring crops and livestock , tracking expenses , and predicting farming trends , to tracking the use of fertilisers and pesticides , climaterelated risk assessments , and predictive maintenance .
The most sophisticated solutions help farmers with decision-making and longterm strategising .
10 . Water Management Technology Water management technology enables the real-time monitoring of a farm ’ s soil conditions to ensure the right amount of water is delivered to the right place at the right time .
These smart systems are efficient and accurate , resulting in cost savings and higher yields for farmers . In addition , water management technology can help to address the critical problem of water scarcity . Currently , agriculture accounts for 70 per cent of global freshwater withdrawals .
The biggest barrier to the widespread adoption of water management technology is the reluctance among farmers to overhaul legacy infrastructure
11 . Geographic Information Systems
( GIS ) A GIS is an automated tool used for managing and analysing geographic information . It performs spatial analyses and enables users to create visual representations of complex data to inform decision-making . The technology is typically used to map the location of things , find patterns , and map quantities , densities , and changes .
In agriculture , these systems assist with acreage calculations , mapping field data , drawing crop boundaries , and remotely monitoring crops .
A GIS is most useful when integrated with another agriculture technology , such as precision agriculture machinery . The GIS is used for monitoring variables
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