Agritech - Future Trends

Agritech has so far addressed various challenges faced by farmers using traditional farming approaches. Agritech can still be improved for enhancing crop yield, promoting sustainable agriculture, minimizing the risk of crop loss, and many more. Future agritech will be driven by IoT, AI, robotics, and blockchain, enabling precision farming with real-time data, automation, and transparent supply chains.

Biotechnology will enhance crop resilience and nutrition, while these advancements together will promote sustainability and address global food security challenges. Some of the agricultural technologies and their future improvements are mentioned below.

IoT

• Advancement in sensor technologies to become precise, diverse, and more affordable. It will help in monitoring a wider range of crop conditions, nutrient levels, plant diseases, and animal health.
• Integrating AI, machine learning, and IoT data analytics to provide deeper insights into farming practices for predictive farming approaches.
• The expansion of 5G globally, will help in the widespread deployment of IoT devices to farms in rural and remote areas.

Robotics and Automation

• Agricultural robots to become more autonomous and intelligent with the integration of AI and ML to learn from their surroundings and adapt to new situations without human intervention.
• Deployment of swarm robotics or Cobots(Collaborative Robots), to achieve a bigger target where each smaller robots collaborate to perform their specific functions like planting and fertilizing.
• Robotics along with AI, will manage factors such as light, temperature, and humidity with high precision, providing optimal growing conditions in indoor/vertical farming.

AI and Machine Learning

• The integration of AI with robotics, sensors, and machine vision systems for autonomous farming operations from planting and irrigation to harvesting and crop monitoring with minimal human intervention.
• AI in crop breeding and genetic engineering, to develop crops that are more resilient, nutritious, and productive.
• The integration of AI with IoT to create smart farms, for real-time data collection of soil moisture, temperature, humidity, and crop health and analysis, enhancing farm management.

Drones and Satellite

• Introduction of swarming drones, where multiple drones work simultaneously to cover large areas. It will help in large-scale agriculture, saving the time needed for field inspections or treatments.
• Hybrid drone with a combination of fixed-wing and rotor designs to improve flight time and greater range.
• The CubeSats or nano-satellites or miniaturized satellites will make data easily accessible and more affordable. These satellites can be deployed in constellations to cover larger areas.

Blockchain

• Blockchain will allow fully transparent and traceable supply chains. Consumers will be able to trace information about where the product was grown, how it was harvested, its environmental impact, and the entire path it took to reach their hands.
• Integrating blockchain with IoT and AI to create a food safety system. Blockchain systems will be able to immediately pinpoint the source of the product in case of food safety issues. It will minimize consumer risk and financial loss.
• Blockchain can help small farmers by decentralizing marketplaces. They can sell their products directly to consumers without mediators ensuring they receive fair compensation.

Biotechnology and Gene Editing

• Improving traits such as drought tolerance, pest resistance, and nutritional content using CRISPR technology by precise modifications of specific genes in crops.
• Development of environment-friendly bio-pesticides and bio-fertilizers to enhance soil fertility and crop resilience while reducing chemical usage.
• Gene editing can be used to combat malnutrition in vulnerable populations by enhancing the nutritional composition of crops by increasing vitamins and minerals.