Smart Farming: The Future of Agriculture Sustainability

The agricultural sector has gradually incorporated technological innovations. It is particularly true for smart technologies that collect, process and analyze data using automated machinery.

FREMONT, CA: In agriculture, smart technologies play an increasingly valuable role, likely to continue growing in the future, especially as sustainable agricultural practices become more important.

Modern agriculture's limitations to sustainable farming

Global population growth has continuously increased the pressure on food production over the past century. Modern agricultural practices are typically characterized by monocultures requiring large spaces reliant on artificial fertilizers, pesticides, and insecticides. The result has been a widespread degradation of natural habitats, biodiversity loss, and increased greenhouse gas emissions.

Food production cannot be sustained into the future because of the consequences associated with agricultural practices, the projected reduction in arable land availability, the decline in soil health, and the growing demand for food. Sustainability is often associated with organic, diverse, and environmentally friendly practices to the detriment of productivity; however, sustainable practices aim for a balanced productivity that does not compromise food production. This critical distinction has hampered sustainability practices despite the changing environmental conditions that will continue.

However, integrating technological innovations is an element of modern agriculture that can improve sustainability and has largely avoided the productivity vs. environmental dilemma. Smart technologies have revolutionized agriculture in particular. The use of smart technologies in agriculture includes automating the production, packaging, and transportation of food, as well as processing and analyzing data using machine learning algorithms.

Smart technologies aim to increase the productivity of crops, livestock, and aquaculture. However, using smart technologies in the food production process can also facilitate the integration of sustainable practices. Smart technologies facilitate transitions to new practices and have an extensive adaptive potential, which aligns with policy goals.

Smart technologies in agriculture: the revolutionizing elements

Agricultural practices are undergoing extensive changes as a result of smart technologies. Automated processes and data-driven decisions are revolutionizing every agriculture sector as manual labor and intensive external support fade away. Food production chains are also being integrated with smart technologies, from seed to packaging.

Agricultural productivity can be increased by using smart technologies. The initial setup of automated machinery is the only cost that needs to be incurred, but supervision and maintenance are minimal. Using machines to analyze data can improve resource efficiency and make practices more sustainable by adjusting real-time fertilizer, pesticide, or water usage.

Smart technologies also enable greater adaptability to environmental changes. With long-term data collection, failproof systems can track changes in food production and anticipate drought, pests, or rainfall by adjusting resource use (e.g., water, pesticides, etc.) accordingly. Smart technologies may be useful for implementing broader policies to foster sustainable practices.