Tech News and Trends

Top Tech Trends in Agriculture to Watch For In 2024

Top Tech Trends in Agriculture to Watch For In 2024

Smart agriculture, also known as smart farming, is booming today. According to Statista, this market is expected to grow from $15 billion in 2022 to $33 billion by 2027. The growth is driven by the need to address issues such as climate change, resource management, increased food production, and air pollution. The use of advanced technologies helps farmers struggle with issues in a more efficient, productive, and sustainable way than traditional farming methods. 

So, if you’re curious about the top tech trends in agriculture and their future development, this article is for you. Below, we explore the hottest trends in agriculture for 2024 and beyond and discuss how these innovations help farmers optimize their operations and achieve sustainable growth.

Overview of AgTech in 2024

The AgTech sector, or agricultural technology, has rapidly expanded due to technological innovations and the need to increase agricultural productivity. As we look to 2024 and beyond, the market is expected to continue its upward trajectory. So, understanding what’s hot in agriculture right now is necessary – not only for using the newest tech but also to predict future trends and stay ahead in the industry. But the success of AgTech will depend on selecting the right solutions and its seamless integration into the business processes. That’s where an agriculture software company can help you.

With over 15 years of experience, SoftTeco is an agriculture software company that offers comprehensive services in this sector. Our expertise spans various aspects of agriculture, ensuring our clients fully harness technology to optimize operations and achieve sustainable growth. Whether you need precision farming solutions utilizing IoT and AI or advanced analytics tools providing actionable insights, we offer support for all your agricultural needs.

To help you succeed in the agriculture sector, let’s consider the most prominent agribusiness trends below.

IoT and smart sensors

Top Tech Trends in Agriculture to Watch For In 2024 2

The IoT market in agriculture is expected to reach $33.57 billion by 2032 from $13.61 billion in 2022 (Precedence Research). The market for sensors is also expected to grow to $3.1 billion by 2028 (GII Research). It is no surprise that sensors and IoT in agriculture are so popular because these technologies have many applications, including, but not limited to:

Climate software monitoring uses smart weather stations that use sensors to collect data about temperature and sunlight from the environment and send it to the cloud. The collected data is analyzed to optimize crop selection, improve yield potential, and plan farming operations.

IoT-based devices gather data on plant health and leaf moisture to quickly detect diseases and adjust irrigation schedules. This automation helps prevent yield damage by detecting issues early and ensuring sustainable farming procedures.

By using IoT sensors and collected data, farmers can control the greenhouse environment remotely and automatically. These systems measure parameters such as air temperature, lighting levels, and soil conditions to increase yield and optimize water and electricity.

IoT sensors on farming vehicles track their run hours to optimize performance and schedule timely maintenance. This remote equipment tracking reduces fuel consumption, better manages labor costs, and extends vehicle lifespan.

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)

The drone market in agriculture was worth $1.1 billion in 2022 but is expected to reach $7.19 billion by 2032 (Precedence Research). It means that UAVs or drones are a trend worth watching in the coming years for various reasons. Today, the most prominent applications for the usage of this technology are: 

  • Seeding and crop spraying

Equipped with sensors, GPS, and cameras, drones can automate time-consuming tasks and access difficult or dangerous locations, such as waterlogged areas or small fields. In contrast to traditional methods, they use up pesticides faster and save resources.

Drones have high-resolution cameras and sensors to capture detailed aerial images and data. This allows farmers to map crops accurately, assess crop health, and detect problems early on, such as pest infestations.

UAVs can assess water levels in irrigation reservoirs, monitor water distribution in fields, and identify over- or under-watering. This data helps farmers optimize water usage and ensure efficient irrigation processes.

Digital twins & generative AI 

Digital twins and generative AI are changing how farmers manage and optimize farming operations. Digital twins create virtual replicas of farms, crops, and livestock using real-time data from IoT sensors and drones. They monitor crop growth, soil conditions, and water usage. This predictive modeling allows farmers to explore various scenarios and evaluate the performance, cost, and sustainability of farming.

Generative AI complements digital twins by analyzing extensive datasets to predict real-world outcomes, such as optimal planting times, crop varieties, etc, with remarkable accuracy. This synergy not only helps farmers improve productivity but also reduces project costs and development timelines. Together, these technologies revolutionize agricultural approaches by offering dynamic, predictive insights into farming operations.

Artificial Intelligence

In agriculture, artificial intelligence is expected to grow from $1.7 billion in 2023 to $4.7 by 2028. AI is widely used to transform non-digital and unstructured data collected by IoT devices into structured digital data for analytics. As a result, AI and ML in agriculture have many applications from year to year, such as: 

  • Precision farming
  • Crop monitoring and management
  • Predictive analytics
  • Automated machinery
  • Livestock management
  • Smart irrigation systems
  • Farm management software

Thus, AI optimizes crop management by predicting ideal planting and harvesting times. It also improves efficiency through automated machinery that reduces labor costs and enhances overall productivity in farming operations.

Biotechnology

Top Tech Trends in Agriculture to Watch For In 2024 3

Biotechnology, or AgriTech, is an advancing trend in agriculture that combines genetic engineering, molecular biology, and bioinformatics methods for sustainable farming practices. With it, farmers can create genetically modified organisms (GMOs) with traits like drought tolerance, improved nutrition, and resistance to pests, addressing global food security challenges. It also allows farmers to monitor plant health, predict crop yields, and use resources more efficiently.

Moreover, biotechnology offers eco-friendly solutions like bioplastics and biofertilizers, which help reduce soil toxicity and environmental impact. Genetic engineering can also improve livestock by enhancing growth rates and disease resistance. So advances in biotechnology do more than boost agricultural productivity; they also minimize the ecological footprint, making the food production system more sustainable and resilient.

Precision farming 

Precision farming, also known as precision agriculture (PA), is a method of using advanced technologies like IoT, AI/ML, UAVs, GPS, robotic systems, and big data & analytics to automate and improve various farming operations. Unlike traditional farming methods, precision farming involves detailed and continuous monitoring of field variables, from crop planning to harvesting, helping farmers improve productivity and sustainability. 

For example, GPS technology helps farmers accurately map their fields, while IoT sensors monitor soil health and moisture levels in real-time. Then, with the help of Big Data analytics, farmers can make informed decisions about planting, watering, fertilizing, and harvesting. Other benefits of precision farming include:

  • Increased crop yield and productivity;
  • Efficient use of resources (water, fertilizers, pesticides);
  • Cost savings;
  • Risk management;
  • Improved traceability of farming activities;
  • Minimizing environmental impact.

Autonomous farm equipment

Autonomous farm equipment automates and streamlines traditional farming processes. Equipped with sensors, GPS, and artificial intelligence, autonomous machines perform various tasks, such as reaping, gathering, threshing, and winnowing, without human intervention. Beyond that, they use 360-degree vision cameras to monitor their performance and environmental factors like soil conditions, plant health, and weather changes.

They are also used in precision farming since they can precisely plant seeds, apply pesticides, and harvest crops. By analyzing real-time data and using AI algorithms, these systems can ensure precise actions tailored to specific agricultural needs. This not only improves safety and reduces labor costs but also allows farmers to focus on overall farm management. It’s no wonder that the global market for autonomous tractors is projected to reach $3.29 billion by 2028 (Mordor Intelligence).

Conclusion 

As we move into 2024 and beyond, the agricultural sector is increasingly integrating emerging technologies and will continue to do so. The adoption of generative AI, IoT and sensors, biotechnology, digital twins, and autonomous machinery is reshaping traditional farming methods, leading to more efficient, sustainable, and productive agricultural practices. Taking advantage of AgTech trends is crucial for farm businesses seeking opportunities for long-term success.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *