6 smart ways to use IoT in agriculture
What is smart farming?
Smart farming uses Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for more efficient and productive farming. Smart agriculture, also called agtech, is an integrated approach that aims to increase agricultural production by making farms more connected and intelligent.
Smart agriculture and more efficient farming are critical as globally we’re facing resource depletion, a shrinking amount of arable land, and an enormous, long-term labor shortage. Sustainability is a primary goal in today’s farming efforts.
To that end, the agriculture industry has come up with IoT-based solutions that make for higher crop yields, reduced water usage, less need for pesticides and fertilizer, lower food costs, reduced runoff and resulting impact on natural ecosystems, and increased worker safety.
There are agtech startups incorporating IoT for just about every aspect of farming—from Granular, which offers farm management software that monitors an entire farm operation with high-frequency satellite imagery, to La Ruche Qui Dit Oui, which provides e-commerce marketplaces that connect farmers directly to suppliers or consumers without a middleman.
Why is Smart Farming critical now?
Human populations around the globe are facing new and growing challenges in regards to food production. Smart farming will play a critical role in providing sufficient food for future generations in a sustainable way. Let’s take a look at a few of the obstacles facing the world’s farmers today: