Connected agriculture: the Internet of Things extends to farming
This article is also available here in Spanish.

Connected agriculture: the Internet of Things extends to farming

My list

Author | Jaime Ramos

As with urban simulators such as Sim City, farming simulator games have become a phenomenon in the world of videogames. In them, the player appears as a kind of all-powerful manager who sees and controls everything, to a large extent thanks to the interconnection of functionalities on the farm. Could this scenario be extrapolated to the current primary sector just a Sim City inspired countless digital twins?

The day-to-day of a farmer is not such fun. Climate change, pests and the unstable prices they receive for their products, among other factors, condition their survival.

What is connected agriculture?

It is a sector that provides a livelihood for 40% of the world’s population and feeds the other 60%. That is why we cannot afford to let it get it left behind in terms of the benefits of existing technologies. In fact, according to the United Nations, the primary sector will need to increase its food production by 70% over the next thirty years in order to satisfy the increases in population by 2050.It is a hidden challenge that requires smart agriculture. Within this smart agriculture, which also involves urban spaces, the so-called connected farms will be the next revolution.The aim of a connected farm is to apply existing telecommunications technologies to increase the control over the farming facilities, which in turn will result in more efficient farm management.

How does agriculture implement the Internet of Things?

smart farming 42

The connected farm is largely based on the Internet of Things (IoT). By installing sensors in the farm infrastructure, a farmer can digitally check factors that once required specific skills or were quite simply impossible to anticipate.

These tools enable pests or animal diseases to be controlled, crops or livestock to be monitored, or breeding or irrigation system requirements to be managed more accurately. There are also smart spraying systems now that are capable of distinguishing between crops or weeds and machinery and robots that operate autonomously.

The use of algorithms and analytical instruments are also enabling resources to be used to their full potential.

How does technology affect crops? Advantages and disadvantages

smart farming 41

The new farming interconnection networks are full of advantages and some disadvantages.

• Water savings.• Improved productivity, cost reduction and capacity to offer more competitive prices.• Unique climate information: levels of solar radiation, humidity, rain, etc.• Weather alerts such as frost detectors with notifications to anticipate meteorological phenomena.• Reduction of agricultural emissions.• Remote process management.• Greater crop health management.• Harvest mapping.• Inventory precision.

On the other hand, the digitalization of agriculture involves a complex investment. Not just because of “how expensive” it is. It can favor certain discriminations between countries or different areas of the world that do not have access to these technologies.

Are there any alternatives? Not many, to be honest. Connectivity is a powerful factor in economic terms. According to the McKinsey Center for Advanced Connectivity, if connectivity is successfully integrated in agriculture, the value of global production would increase by $500 billion.

To achieve this, an unprecedented digital deployment is required, which is not an easy task, particularly in terms of telecommunications. Therefore, despite the undeniable advantages of these technologies, consolidating the connected farm will not be child’s play.

Images | iStock/Ekkasit919, iStock/Blue Planet Studio, iStock/vitpho, iStock/Scharfsinn86

Related content

Recommended profiles for you

RF
Rui Fragoso
SAPCC
General Manager
AR
Ann Rönnerbäck
Rönnerback Communications
LM
Luis Martins
Meo, SA
Consultant
CD
Cyril DARY
TEAM COTE D\'AZUR
Head of Cleantech & Services dpt
KC
Katerin Lizet Cueva Bardales
Privado
RB
Romina Benzi
Entel
Head of Development IoT products for enterprises\\n
FF
Florian Falger
Endress+Hauser
Industry Manager
HD
Heng rang DJQucikSystemagrianger
ONE DRAGON CORPORATION
OP
Oscar Pereira
Atelier alcaparra
Manager
OK
Olga Kavvada
ENGIE
Research scientist
ML
Mariano Lo Valvo
Municipalidad de la Ciudad de Mendoza
DA
Daniel Ayala
Khora Urban Thinkers
Urban planner
FO
Fridtjof Okkenhaug
Telia
PM working with Smart Home / City
VA
virginia alonso
ADVANTAGE AUSTRIA Madrid
Business Development & Communications Manager
TR
Thomas Reukauf
Habbel ug
Partner
SB
Shekhar Chandra Biswas
Public Works Department
AM
Anh Mai
Company of Nomads
SY
Shwunnlak Yadanar
Berim Asia
Project Coordinator
CJ
Chad Julian
University of Hawaii Maui College
DM
Daniel Mantovani
ECOL Saneamiento Ambiental
CEO