Agriculture has been the backbone of human civilization, but today it stands at a critical turning point. With the global population projected to reach 9.8 billion[1] by 2050, there will be about three billion more mouths to feed than there were in 2010. As incomes rise, people will increasingly consume more resource-intensive, animal-based foods. Feeding 10 billion people sustainably by 2050, requires closing a 56% food gap between crop calories produced in 2010 and those needed in 2050 under ‘business as usual’ growth[2].

Traditional farming methods alone are not sufficient to close this gap because of labor shortages, climate change and the need for sustainable resource management. This is where smart agriculture powered by automation, IoT and AI comes into play, revolutionizing the way we cultivate crops and manage livestock.

Smart agriculture integrates advanced technologies such as precision farming, IoT sensors, drones, robotics and AI-driven analytics to optimize agricultural processes. These innovations enable farmers to:

1）Increase yields and improve crop quality through data-driven decisions.

2）Reduce labor dependency by automating repetitive tasks like planting, irrigation and harvesting.

3）Minimize resource waste by precisely managing water, fertilizers and pesticides.

4）Lower operational costs while enhancing sustainability.

New research from IoT analyst firm Berg Insight predicts the global market for precision agriculture solutions will grow from € 5.5 billion in 2023 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.6% to reach about € 9.5 billion in 2028. (Source: https://www.berginsight.com/the-precision-agriculture-market-to-reach--95-billion-worldwide-by-2028)

As climate challenges intensify and food demand rises, smart agriculture is no longer optional, it is a necessity. Automation and digital farming technologies will play a pivotal role in ensuring food security and sustainable agriculture. Specialized smart agriculture technology providers like Verditex are helping farmers with advanced tools to achieve enhanced productivity and precision at the same time as supporting sustainability.

Automation and innovation are the tools needed to make agriculture smart. The Verditex FMA300 Auto Steering System for tractors and other agricultural equipment eliminates the need for manual correction and ensures perfectly spaced crop rows thanks to centimeter-level precision enabled by RTK-GNSS. Innovative technologies such as this are transforming farming, increasing yields and reducing waste and inefficiency.

[1] https://www.un.org/en/desa/world-population-projected-reach-98-billion-2050-and-112-billion-2100

[2] https://www.wri.org/insights/how-sustainably-feed-10-billion-people-2050-21-charts