Smart Farming: How Automation Is Shaping the Future of Agriculture
With the rapid development of technologies like cloud computing, big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), drones, and robotics, the agriculture industry is expected to see significant change.
In this guide, you will find everything you need to know about smart farming and how the adoption of new technologies are shaping the future of agriculture.
Market Insights
Modern farmers are facing a variety of challenges these days. Challenges that need to be addressed through the adoption of new technologies — smart farming. Let’s have a look at those challenges.
Population Growth
Having reached 7.8B people in 2021, the ever-increasing world population growth is not showing any signs of slowing down. According to the United Nations (UN), it is estimated that there will be 9.7B people in the world by 2050 — that’s an additional 2B people that need to be provided with food and water. How? That’s a question that first and foremost lies in the hands of the agriculture sector.
9.7B The world population by 2050. |
70% The increase in agricultural production needed to meet the food demand in 2050. |
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According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), agricultural production needs to be increased by 70% in order to meet the food demand in 2050. However, the fact that the food industry is responsible for 22% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions and 30% of energy consumption only makes this situation more challenging. It is no longer about just producing more food, but also in a sustainable way.
Sustainable Sustenance
Life during the Covid-19 pandemic has intensified the demand for immune-boosting foods and supplements. In fact, 23% of global consumers have recently stockpiled more vitamins and supplements. According to a 2020 US survey, these are the top 5 benefits health-motivated eaters seek from food:
Weight management (62%)
Energy (57%)
Digestive health (46%)
Heart health (44%)
Immune function (40%)
In addition, according to a study conducted by Proagrica, 39% of US consumers have considered shifting to a vegetarian or vegan diet since the pandemic began.
54% The amount of consumers that care more about the healthfulness of their foods and beverages in 2020 compared to 2010. |
27% The amount of respondents that are concerned about the environmental impacts of meat. |
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