Venture capitalists poured over $2 billion into startup companies in the field of agriculture technology in 2014 and in 2015. This trend is likely to continue into 2016 as the demand for new technologies for farming is high and when innovators can show positive results, farmers of the present are willing to accept these innovations and the latest techniques. In that light this list of seven new technologies that could transform the landscape of agriculture in the coming years.
1. Water and Soil Sensors
The equipment that has the greatest impact is sensors for water and soil. They are robust and unobtrusive, as well as relatively cheap. Many family farms are discovering it economical to spread sensors across their property and offer a variety of advantages. They can measure nitrogen and moisture levels. Agriculture could use that data to determine the best time to fertilize and water instead of relying on a fixed timetable. This results in greater efficiency in the use of resources and reduced costs. However, it will also make the farm greener by preserving water by reducing erosion and also reducing the amount of fertilizer in local lakes and rivers.
2. Climate monitoring
Even though we make jokes concerning our weather experts, reality is that the computerized weather model is becoming more sophisticated. There are weather websites that are primarily focused on agriculture. Farmers are able to access these services not only on specific handheld and onboard farming equipment but also through mobile apps that work on almost every consumer smartphone. This can provide farmers with sufficient advance warning of hail, frost, and other weather conditions so that they can take measures to protect their crops or reduce the losses to a large extent.
3. Satellite Visualizing
Since remote satellite imaging has improved and is accurate, it’s now possible to use real-time cropping images. This isn’t just a bird’s-eye view snapshot but also images with resolutions as high as 5 meters and more. The crop imagery allows farmers to look at crops as if were standing in the field but without actually being there. Reviewing images every week could save farms an enormous amount of time and cash. Furthermore, this technology could be connected to soil, crop, and water sensors, so farmers be notified along with the appropriate satellite images whenever risk thresholds are exceeded.
4. prevalent Technology
Pervasive Automation is the latest buzzword in the field of agriculture technology and is a term used to describe any technology that helps reduce the workload of operators. For instance, autonomous cars that are controlled by robots, or remotely via terminals and hyper precision like GPS navigation devices that allow the fertilization and seeding pathways as efficient as is feasible. The majority of farming equipment is already using an ISOBUS standard, which is a step towards the future of farming in which balers tractors, combines, and other farm equipment communicate and operate with a plug-and-play system.
5. Minichromosomal Innovation
One many of the most fascinating developments in the field of agriculture technology is that it will arrive in a tiny package. Minichromosomes are tiny organelles inside a cell which has only a tiny amount of genetic material, however, they can, in layman’s phrases, contain a significant amount of information. Utilizing minichromosomes, geneticists in agriculture can include dozens, or perhaps hundreds of characteristics to a plant. These traits could be extremely complicated, like the tolerance to drought and nitrogen usage. What is interesting about minichromosomal technology is the fact that the plant’s chromosomes aren’t altered by any means. This results in quicker approval from regulators and more widespread acceptance by consumers.
6. RFID devices
The sensors for water and soil that were mentioned earlier have created the base for traceability. The agricultural industry is just beginning to implement this infrastructure but it’s gaining momentum. Sensors provide information that could be linked to agricultural yields. This may sound like science fiction however, we live in a time where a bag of potatoes could have the barcode you scan using your smartphone to get information about the soil that produced the potatoes. The idea of having farms advertise themselves and have customers who are loyal to their crops track their yields to purchase them isn’t too far off.
7. Agriculture Vertically
Vertical farming was an enthralling science-fiction topic from the 1950s and maybe even later but now it’s not just scientifically feasible, but also economically viable in the next decade. Vertical farming technology is a part of urban agriculture. It is the process of producing food using vertically laid out layers. It has numerous advantages. One of the most obvious is the possibility of growing in urban environments, and consequently, getting fresher and healthier food in a shorter time and at a lower cost. However, vertical agriculture won’t be restricted to urban areas as initially thought. Farmers across all areas could make the best use of the land available and also cultivate crops that aren’t typically feasible in these locations.
Last thoughts
Technology is changing nearly everything we do in our contemporary lives, and agriculture isn’t an exception. What you eat today will have arrived faster, better, and at a lower cost thanks to cutting-edge technology in the field of agriculture. Technology for agriculture will be more sophisticated in the years ahead!