Agriculture has been the prime occupation of human civilisation with the aim of fulfilling humanity’s prime concern – hunger. However, despite scientific progress, we stand at a crossroad as hunger remains one of the biggest challenges even today. Agricultural technology was born out of the need to ensure food security to all and optimise produce as much as possible. In this article, we offer an overview of various technologies implemented in agriculture and its multifaceted impact globally.
Highlights on From Traditional Farming to Smart Agriculture
- The market value of smart agriculture is expected to rise to USD 33 billion by 2027.
- Rising hunger rates have driven technological innovations in agriculture.
- The steady deterioration of the environment is a great challenge to traditional agriculture methods coupled with global warming.
- According to a 2023 report by McKinsey & Company, Europe (62%) and North America (61%) rank highest in the implementation of agtech.
Importance of technology in agriculture
Global food crisis is the prime driving force behind the foray of technology in the agricultural space.
- According to the United Nations, 1 in 11 people ‘go to bed hungry each night’.
- The same UN report says that ‘152 million more people face hunger than in 2019’.
- The food crisis is further accelerated by geopolitical conflicts, and chronic disparities in living conditions and standards of living, and climate change.
- Integration of cutting-edge technology enables to accelerate farming timeliness and lessen challenges.
- Technology in agriculture also aims to lessen the enormous human effort required in farming.
From basic ploughs, farming equipment and technology has evolved leaps and bounds. However, the question is: How effective are technological solutions in agriculture to combat the global food crisis?
Global Technological Innovations in Agriculture
Various agricultural solutions have been developed in the recent decade to transform the way farmers approach farming and the handling of their produce.
Let’s take a look at the most popular agtech innovations.
Precision Farming
Precision farming, or precision agriculture, involves processes that aid resource management and strategies in agriculture.
- Precision agriculture employs technologies like GPS mapping and remote sensing to monitor and manage agricultural variables with high accuracy.
- The technologies used in this method helps farmers gain valuable insights in order to improve soil quality and optimise productivity.
- This approach also enables farmers to optimise inputs such as water, fertilisers and pesticides, thereby enhancing yields and reducing environmental impact.
- Example: In Sussex, England, a farm utilises Variable Rate Technology (VRT) to apply fertilisers based on detailed soil and nutrient mapping. This method has led to a 10% increase in crop yield and a 20% reduction in fertilizer usage, resulting in significant cost savings.
Bee Vectoring Technologies
This method is geared towards sustainable farming where honey bees play an important role.
- In Bee Vectoring Technology (BVT), honey bees are commercially reared and used as delivering agents, maximizing their pollination capability.
- Bees pick up specialised pest-control powders on their legs through specifically-designed beehives and act as carrier agents for a targeted delivery of the pest control powders as they pollinate.
- BVT, thus, rules out the use of chemical pesticides and is considered as an environmentally safe system to protect crops.
- Example: This method is preferred by farmers producing apples, sunflowers, tomatoes and blueberries, to name a few.
Farm Automation
Just like its title, farm automation involves automating maximum processes on a farm with the aim of receding human errors.
- Farm Automation technology uses computer systems along with agricultural machinery.
- Automating farming processes helps save a lot of time, increase yields and reduce human effort.
- Farm automation technology has evolved to an extent where drones and automated tractors are employed on the field.
Indoor Vertical Farming
Innovations in indoor farming technologies has opened new doors to home farming or even farming in a limited space.
- Hydroponics: This farming technology enables farming solely with water along with nutrient solutions, eliminating the need of soil.
- Aeroponics: This is a farming technology where produce can be grown with the roots of crops suspended in air. Nutrients are sprayed on the crops intermittently.
- The biggest advantage of indoor vertical farming is reduced use of water.
- It also helps conserve energy and allows for decreased labour costs.
Livestock Farming Technology
Livestock farming technologies refer to innovations in handling livestock and their produce on farms.
- Dairy industry is a prominent example of livestock farming technology.
- Tech-driven dairy farms use automated machines to milk cattle and automated feeders to feed cows.
- Cattle waste is also removed by automated systems built to clean livestock farms.
- In India, micro-farms are increasingly using automation and guaranteeing ‘hygienic milk’ to customers.
Role of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Agtech
AI and machine learning algorithms analyse vast datasets to provide insights into crop health, weather patterns, and pest infestations.
- These technologies facilitate predictive analytics, enabling proactive decision-making in farming operations.
- For example, small-scale farmers in Kenya have adopted AI tools such as the Virtual Agronomist, which offers tailored advice on fertilisation and pest control.
- By implementing these recommendations, farmers have succeeded in multiplying their coffee yield. This demonstrates the transformative potential of AI in agriculture.
Internet of Things (IoT)
IoT devices, including sensors and drones, collect real-time data on soil moisture, temperature, and crop health.
- The information gathered on IoT devices allows for precise resource management and timely interventions, leading to improved efficiency and sustainability.
- Example: In Homestead, Florida, farmers have implemented an automated irrigation system powered by solar energy.
- This system conserves water and reduces labour costs, exemplifying how IoT technology can enhance agricultural sustainability.
Robotics and Automation
The deployment of robotics in agriculture addresses labour shortages and increases operational efficiency.
- Automated machinery can perform tasks such as planting, harvesting, and weeding with precision and consistency. Example: In Australia, advanced technologies, including sensors and apps, are used to monitor cattle and improve productivity.
- Australia’s ag-tech sector has seen significant investments, fostering innovations such as robotic pollinators and microbial soil supplements.
Blockchain Technology
Blockchain offers transparency and traceability in the agricultural supply chain.
- By recording transactions on an immutable ledger, it ensures the authenticity of products and builds consumer trust. Example: In the United States, companies are utilising blockchain to trace the journey of produce from farm to table, ensuring food safety and authenticity.
- This technology enhances transparency and allows consumers to verify the origins of their food.
Technological Advancements in Indian Agriculture
India, with its vast agricultural landscape, has embraced technological innovations to address challenges such as resource constraints, climate variability, and the need for increased productivity.
Digital Platforms and Mobile Applications
Digital tools provide farmers with critical information on weather forecasts, market prices and best practices. Mobile applications have become essential in disseminating knowledge and connecting farmers to resources.
Example: The Kisan Suvidha app offers Indian farmers real-time information on weather conditions, pest management and market prices, enabling informed decision-making and improved livelihoods.
Satellite Imagery and Remote Sensing
The use of satellite imagery facilitates monitoring of crop health, soil conditions and irrigation needs. Remote sensing technologies enable large-scale analysis and timely interventions.
Also Read: PM Narendra Modi Releases 19th Installment of PM Kisan Samman Nidhi
Example: Farmonaut provides satellite-based crop health monitoring services to Indian farmers, allowing them to detect issues early and take corrective actions, thereby enhancing yields and reducing losses.
AI-Powered Advisory Services
AI-driven platforms offer personalised recommendations to farmers, enhancing decision-making and productivity.
Example: In rural India, AI tools provide advanced weather forecasting and crop advisories, helping farmers reduce debts and increase savings. These technologies enhance climate resilience and agricultural sustainability.
IoT-Based Smart Farming
IoT devices monitor environmental factors and automate processes, leading to efficient resource utilisation.
Example: Indian farmers are adopting IoT technologies to monitor soil moisture levels and automate irrigation systems, optimising water usage and improving crop yields.
Government Initiatives and Policy Support
The Indian government has launched initiatives to promote the adoption of modern technologies in agriculture. Policies supporting digital agriculture and sustainable practices are transforming the sector.
The Union Budget 2025 emphasised investments in agricultural infrastructure and precision farming technologies, aiming to revolutionise Indian agriculture through digital transformation and sustainable practices.
Challenges and Considerations: Tech in Agriculture
While technological advancements offer immense potential, several challenges must be addressed to ensure equitable and sustainable adoption:
High Initial Investment: Advanced technologies often require substantial upfront costs, which can be prohibitive for small-scale farmers. Strategies to subsidise equipment and provide financial support are essential to promote widespread adoption.
Finance is often regarded as the ultimate measure of success or failure. And yet, as each day unfolds, we are confronted with mounting crises – food shortages, hunger, water scarcity and the relentless advance of climate change.
In a world entangled in such turmoil, can technology truly be the answer to all our problems? The reality is far deeper, far more profound than any algorithm can compute or any drone can detect. The ultimate solution does not lie in artificial intelligence or automation but in the wisdom of a Tatvdarshi Sant (Enlightened Saint) – the only one who possesses the power to resolve every crisis that plagues humanity.
The Infallible Solution to Escaping the Cycle of Scarcity and Decay
The sorrows of humanity run far deeper than climate change and resource depletion. Jagatguru Tatvdarshi Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj unveils the fundamental error at the root of all suffering – in the relentless pursuit of science and technology, mankind has forsaken God.
In ancient times, when famine, drought or calamities struck, people instinctively turned to God, seeking His divine intervention. Today, we turn to technology. But while technology may offer temporary relief, can it ever rival the boundless power of the Supreme Creator – the very force that brought all souls and universes into existence?
Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj reveals a profound truth: the deterioration of climate, the depletion of food, and the scarcity of every essential resource are not isolated issues of Earth alone. Rather, they are the inherent nature of the entire kingdom of 21 universes.
Everything within these 21 universes exists under the shadow of mortality. Just as the human body ages and withers, so too do planets and their resources diminish with time. This depletion is an unchangeable law of this transient world – one that no scientific breakthrough or technological advancement can ever reverse.
So, what is the way out?
Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj reveals the ultimate truth: the only permanent solution to humanity’s suffering is not in upgrading technology but in transcending these mortal universes altogether. Our true home is Satlok – the eternal realm of abundance, beyond decay, suffering and death. Only by returning to Satlok can human beings escape the cycle of sorrow and experience the everlasting bliss that technology can never provide.
What is the way to Satlok? Who can guide us to Satlok? Uncover answers to these pressing questions through the thought-provoking spiritual discourses of Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj on:
- Website: www.jagatgururampalji.org
- YouTube: Sant Rampal Ji Maharaj
- Facebook: Spiritual Leader Saint Rampal Ji
- Twitter: @SaintRampalJiM
Agri-Tech FAQs
Q1) What is agri-tech?
Answer: Integration of technology into agricultural practices and processes is known as agri-tech or agtech.
Q2) What is the newest agtech?
Answer: There are many new-age innovations like farm automation, use of AI and ML, drone technology, etc.
