EBOOK
Top 7 Tech Trends
in Agriculture in 2024_
How New Technology Shapes Smart
Agriculture and What to Do with It
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Table of Contents
What Drives Smart Farming Adoption? 3
Agtech Investment 3
Key Trends in Agritech to Watch Out For 4
Time to Act 9
About Infopulse 10
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What Drives Smart Farming Adoption?
Smart agriculture, or smart farming, has been expanding by leaps and bounds recently. From
$15 billion in 2022, its market value is projected to grow up to $33 billion by 2027. The trend to
increasingly implement advanced tech in this sector is one born of necessity, and has emerged
for a number of reasons.
○ Food production growth. According to a report published by the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the UN, the world population is expected to reach 9.1 billion by 2050, which is
34% higher than in 2023. The study suggests that in order to feed such a growing population,
food production should rise by 70% — which translates to an annual meat production
increase of more than 200 million tons and yearly cereal production by a whopping 3 billion
tons.
○ Overconsumption. Natural resource extraction is growing at an incredible pace. For example,
in 2022, the EU’s material footprint amounted to a stunning 14.8 tons per capita. It is clear that
resource consumption will continue growing faster than economic output, which requires the
immediate optimization of natural resources use.
○ One of the key modern curses, air pollution, contributes to 8.8 million deaths annually.
Agriculture plays a significant role here, with its production accounting for 40% of global food
system emissions (which is 18 GtCO2e per year).
Agtech Investment
Precision agriculture, a set of agricultural technologies (agtech), has developed as a response
to the ever-rising food production challenges. At the moment, companies around the world are
increasingly investing in advanced tech solutions.
According to a recent McKinsey report, farmers from Europe and North America are at the helm
of the world’s agtech adoption, at 62% and 61%, respectively. As for particular solutions used in
agricultural settings, farm workflow management software tops the list (21% of farmers have
adopted the practice), followed by sensor and precision agriculture systems (15% are utilizing this
tech).
Outlining the country by country breakdown, the United States leads with 3,475 startups that
produce agri technologies, among them Indigo, Apeel, Plenty, Ginkgo Bioworks, and GrubMarket.
The second spot is held by the UK — it has 689 agritech startups and invests heavily in smart
agriculture (its market value is $18.6 billion). Canada closes our list of the top three with 632
agritech companies.
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Top Agritech Use Cases Across Regions
Farm-management software
Global
North America
Europe
Remote sensing
South America
Europe
Farm automation and robotics
Asia
Source
Key Trends in Agritech to Watch Out For
IoT and Smart Sensors
The IoT market in agriculture amounted to $13.61 billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach $33.57
billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 9.5%. Sensors are also actively implemented in this sector, worth
an estimated $1.8 billion in 2023 and a projected $3.1 billion by 2028.
The popularity of sensors and IoT in agriculture is no surprise, considering the value these
technologies bring. Here are the most relevant use cases:
○ Crop management IoT devices gather essential data like plant health and leaf moisture to
detect diseases quickly and adjust irrigation schedules. Such remote control helps prevent
crop yield damage and ensure higher sustainability.
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Internet of Things (IoT) in agriculture market size, 2022 to 2032 (USD Billion)
35
33.57 Bn
31.5 30.55 Bn
27.82 Bn
28
25.36 Bn
24.5 23.14 Bn
21.13 Bn
21
19.32 Bn
17.6 Bn
17.5 16.18 Bn
14.83 Bn
13.61 Bn
14
10.5
3.5
0
2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032
Source
○ Greenhouse monitoring presupposes measuring parameters such as air temperature,
lighting levels, humidity, and soil conditions to increase yield and optimize resource spending.
○ Cattle supervision leverages IoT sensors attached to animals to monitor cattle health
conditions and log their activities. This approach helps prevent the spread of possible
infections.
○ Smart irrigation. Soil moisture sensors placed at the predetermined locations and depths in
the field help agronomists define the level of water required for a particular area, enhancing
irrigation planning.
○ Fertilizer management. Electrochemical sensors accurately analyze parameters like pH
and soil nutrients to measure soil fertility and help make more informed decisions on seed
planting and fertilizer application.
For more detailed info about IoT implementation in agriculture, check out this comprehensive
blog post.
Artificial Intelligence
An umbrella term for machine learning, computer vision, NLP, and other technologies, the use of
artificial intelligence in agriculture is skyrocketing, with the market share increasing from
$1.7 billion in 2023 to an expected $4.7 billion by 2028, at a CAGR of 23.1%. Artificial intelligence
is widely applicable in agriculture to revamp data management workflows. It does this by
turning non-digital and unstructured data collected by IoT devices into structured digital data for
advanced analysis.
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To mitigate the threat of natural resource devastation due to overconsumption and waste,
farmers can use artificial intelligence and build more sustainable practices. For example, by
predicting weather patterns (based on historical and real-time data) as well as monitoring soil
and crops, AI algorithms can help agronomists optimize water and fertilizer usage, and notably
reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
As for computer vision powered by video footage, its object tracking and anomaly detection
mechanisms help accurately spot insects and weeds, detect as well as prevent aggressive cattle
behavior, and capture plant disease. Such automation results in enhanced product quality and
maximized business efficiency.
A case in point: Infopulse built an AI-powered land management app for a global agricultural
company. The solution enables the real-time monitoring of hyperlocal weather for smart
irrigation planning, field health status control through remote sensing and AI, and enhanced land
management from a smartphone.
CASE IN POINT
One App to Monitor All Farms and Fields: Learn more
Corteva Experience
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
UAVs or drones represent another trend that is worth keeping an eye on in the years to come. In
2022, the drone market in agriculture was $1.1 billion. By 2032, that number is projected to grow
at a CAGR of 20.7%, reaching $7.19 billion.
Agriculture drones market size, 2022 to 2032 (USD Billion)
7.19 Bn
7.2
6.48
5.94 Bn
5.76
5.04 4.91 Bn
4.32 4.06 Bn
3.6 3.36 Bn
2.88 2.78 Bn
2.31 Bn
2.16 1.92 Bn
1.59 Bn
1.44 1.32 Bn
1.1 Bn
0.72
0
2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032
Source
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UAVs are picking up steam because of their tangible business value. Here are some use cases
that support the anticipated level of growth:
○ Equipped with ultrasonic echoes, GPS, and lasers, seeding and crop spraying drones do
more than automate time-consuming tasks — they also maximize efficiency by covering
difficult-to-access and dangerous spots like waterlogged locations, small fields, steep slopes,
and more. UAVs are able to administer pesticides up to 5 times quicker than conventional
equipment, saving up to 60% of materials.
○ Crop monitoring drones provide high-resolution data on plant conditions, helping AI
algorithms with precise plant count as well as detection of stressed areas and disease
infestations.
○ Field analysis drones enable farmers to create 3D maps of the soil to analyze its quality,
including moisture, nutrients efficiency and dead zone detection. This information is further
used to improve planting, irrigation, and crop management.
Autonomous Farm Equipment
Valued at $1.03 billion in 2023, the global market for autonomous tractors is forecasted to reach
a stunning $3.29 billion by 2028, with an expected CAGR of 26.1% in the 2023-2028 period.
On top of offering full autonomy in tasks like reaping, gathering, threshing, and winnowing,
autonomous tractors leverage their 360-degree vision cameras, sensors, and GPS tech to
perform other functions. Among them is monitoring their own performance and health as well
as detecting changes in the environment, including soil parameters, plant health, and weather
conditions.
Such autonomous machinery can also be used in dairy farms. For example, the Monarch
Tractor has its advanced MK-V dairy feed pusher with 24/7 capacity. This feature helps increase
productivity and profitability by bringing down feed refusal rates to below 4%, thus saving a farm
up to $80,000 a year.
Advanced Analytics
Another farming trend that needs particular attention is data analytics. As a recent report states,
the big data analytics market in agriculture was assessed at $1.24 billion in 2022, and with a CAGR
of 15.60% it is expected to reach $3.95 billion by 2030.
In order to get valuable insights, a great amount of unstructured data collected by sensors,
drones, and other devices should be processed and deeply analyzed. Here is where advanced
data analytics comes into play:
○ Yield prediction. Granular insights into weather conditions, rainfall patterns, fertilizer quality,
water cycles, and other parameters are key to deciding what crops to plant, how to irrigate
and fertilize them — all for better yields and minimized waste.
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○ Field analytics helps decide what pesticides to administer, when, and how much — to avoid
its overuse in food production and decrease the side effects on the ecosystem.
○ Predictive maintenance means analyzing farming equipment health and specifications to
detect any deviations from the normal performance and forecast failures long before the
machine fails.
A case in point: Infopulse built a robust data platform powered by Microsoft Azure to help our
client introduce smart precision agriculture capabilities. By accurately processing IoT data from
10 sources and 6,000 field geometry centroids each day, the solution enables time and cost
efficiency, eliminates inconsistencies, mitigates equipment downtime, and minimizes carbon
footprint.
CASE IN POINT
IoT Data Platform for MHP to Practice Learn more
Precision Agriculture
Precision Farming
This agriculture term presupposes using a combination of technologies like IoT, AI/ML, UAVs,
remote sensing, robotics, and big data to automate a range of farming operations. In 2022, the
precision farming market was $9.8 billion, with a projection to exceed $34.01 billion by 2032,
which equals 13.30% of CAGR.
Such tech enthusiasm is logical considering the benefits precision farming offers, including
increased yield, resource use optimization, and slashed costs.
The details on how this trend reinvents agriculture can be found in our recent blog post.
Regenerative Agriculture
Over the last ten thousand years, agriculture has decreased soil carbon by 840 billion metric
tons. This has led to many cultivated soils losing 50–70% of their original organic carbon that is
released into the atmosphere, negatively contributing to climate change.
To ensure the longevity of soil health so that it could continue feeding the planet, farmers started
adopting the approach called regenerative agriculture, or carbon farming. This practice is focused
on making the soil absorb and hold more carbon through technological innovation:
○ Farm management software helps revamp planting and harvesting schedules, livestock
management, inventory, budget, and the agricultural supply chain.
○ GPS-guided farm equipment enables the precise, variable-rate application of fertilizers and
seeds.
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○ Combined with AI, satellite imaging captures images of fields to monitor crop health, gauge
soil conditions, optimize field management zone by zone, and assess weather patterns to
predict floods and droughts.
○ LED (light-emitting diode) lighting systems mimic the spectral distribution, intensity, and
duration of sunlight to create ideal conditions for plants — despite harsh weather conditions.
Mostly used in smaller farms, these methods of soilless agriculture also contribute to
sustainability and biodiversity:
○ Hydroponics is an approach applied for growing plants with a water-based nutrient solution
rather than soil.
○ Aquaponics is a method that combines raising fish in tanks with soilless plant culture
(hydroponics). Then, this nutrient-rich water is used as a natural fertilizer for the plants.
○ Aeroponics is a method of growing plants when the roots are suspended in the air and
irrigated with a nutrient-dense mist.
Biotechnology
Among current trends in agriculture is biotechnology. The worldwide market for this domain of
agricultural science was a stunning $106.62 billion in 2022 and is projected to hit the $242.17
billion mark by 2032. This novel approach means modifying living organisms to grow transgenic
plants with extreme pest resistance, disease tolerance, drought resilience, and higher yield
potential.
The method also includes producing eco-friendly solutions such as bioherbicides, biopesticides,
bioplastics, and biofertilizers — to eliminate soil toxicity issues and minimize the negative
environmental impact. Genetic engineering is also used to modify the genome of animals, thus
improving their suitability for agriculture by enhancing their growth rates and making them
resistant to disease.
Time to Act
Understanding what’s hot in agriculture right now is a necessity — not only for applying the
newest tech, but also for predicting future trends to stay ahead of the game. Experts in intelligent
automation and current innovations in agriculture, Infopulse is ready to assist with both. Our
competence in agriculture covers but is not limited to:
○ Computer vision solutions implementation ○ IoT software development
○ Advanced data analytics ○ AI/ML services
Whether you need comprehensive consulting with business case analysis, existing solution
customization, or full-fledged development, Infopulse has got your back.
About Infopulse
Infopulse, part of the leading Nordic digital services company Tietoevry, is an international vendor of services
in the areas of Software R&D, Application Management, Cloud & IT Operations, and Cybersecurity to SMEs
and Fortune 100 companies across the globe. Founded in 1991, the company has a team of over 2,000
professionals and is represented in 7 countries across Europe and the Americas.
Infopulse is a Global Outsourcing 100® company recognized by IAOP® and trusted by many established
brands, such as Allianz Bank, BICS, BOSCH, Corteva Agriscience, Credit Agricole, Delta Wilmar, ING Bank,
IPCO, Metinvest, Microsoft, Offshore Norge, OLX, OTP Bank, Raiffeisen Bank Aval, Santander, UkrSibbank BNP
Paribas Group, Vodafone, Zeppelin, and others.
For more information, please visit www.infopulse.com
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