IoT in Smart Farming and Sustainable Food Production

IoT Devices and Technology in Smart Farming

Turning Farming into smart implies using of specific IoT-enabled sensors, monitoring systems, cameras, trackers, and more: 

The number of connection devices within Smart Farming is expected to surge to 33.3 million by 2025. Among these, cellular connections, numbering 1.1 million in 2020, are projected to escalate to 2.1 million by 2025. Low-power, wide-area (LPWA) technologies are poised for remarkable growth and are set to secure a substantial share in the remote monitoring and control sector. Below are the leaders of connectivity hardware usually used in smart farming: 

Sustainable Crop Management

• Challenge

  Traditional farming practices often lead to overuse of water and chemicals, resulting in environmental damage and reduced crop quality.

• Solution

  Smart Farming optimizes resource usage through real-time data analysis. According to Transforma Insights, irrigation management and soil monitoring decreases water consumption by 25-30%. 

Livestock Health and Lower Expenses

• Challenge

  Monitoring the health and location of livestock can be challenging, leading to disease outbreaks and inefficiencies. In addition, farming decisions based on intuition can be less effective and lead to inefficiencies.

• Solution 

  Digital transformation (DX) technologies like IoT, AI, Cloud computing, in livestock management streamline administrative tasks, minimize losses due to theft, enable early disease detection, and consequently lower operational costs. These technologies also lead to substantial reductions in veterinary expenses and decreased insurance premiums tied to the health of cattle. Short range technology and LPWA, including LoRa are the key connectivity types here.

Learn more Digital Transformation in the Agriculture Sector - Reports & Insights (transformainsights.com) 

Crop Yield Optimization

• Challenge

  Maximizing crop yields is a critical challenge for farmers.

• Solution 

  IoT-connected Crop Monitoring Sensors track the progress and maturation of crops, assessing parameters such as plant height, leaf area, and chlorophyll levels. This collected data influence precision of fertilization and pesticide administration, leading to increased crop productivity and improved yields. 

Rural Connectivity and Farmer Empowerment

• Challenge 

  Remote areas often lack reliable internet access, limiting farmers' access to information.

• Solution 

  Smart Farming initiatives also involve improving rural connectivity with LPWAN technologies like Nb-IoT and LTE-M, enabling farmers to access valuable agricultural information, market prices, and resources online.

Learn more M2M/IoT Applications in the Agricultural Industry (berginsight.com)