20 Agricultural Technologies & Advanced Methods Of Farming

At a time when the agricultural industry faces various hardships, including growing consumer demand and the impacts of climate change, it’s fortunate that technology solutions are fast advancing. Indeed, the global agriculture technology market is currently worth $24.08 billion and is expected to surpass $40 billion by 2030. 

Before we delve into the pros and cons of agriculture technology and consider what the future holds, let’s explore some of the industry’s hottest trends. 

Innovative Technology in Agriculture 

From laser scarecrows to vertical farming, here’s a rundown of 20 agricultural innovations that are taking the industry by storm. 

1. Bee Vectoring Technologies

Bee vectoring is a precision agriculture system that sees bees disseminate naturally derived pesticides, known as biologicals,  to flowering crops, such as strawberries, apples, blueberries, tomatoes, and sunflowers. Pioneered in the 1990s at the University of Guelph in Ontario, the technology is patented by the company Bee Vector Technology (BVT), which is also based in Ontario. BVT has developed an easy-to-use tray system, which introduces biologicals to commercially reared bees as they exit their hive. 

One of the biggest advantages of this technology is that biologicals have a zero-reentry interval (REI), which means agricultural workers can be in the field at the same time as the bees. 

2. Indoor Vertical Farming

Indoor vertical farming is the practice of growing produce on vertical surfaces in a closed and controlled environment. Not only does this technology enable agricultural workers to produce more food with less land, but it is climate- and weather-agnostic, reduces labor costs, and requires less water than traditional farming methods.  

Life Magazine published the earliest drawing of a “modern” vertical farm in 1909, but the world’s first contemporary vertical farming tower was designed by Professor Dr. Dickson Despommier at Columbia University in 1999. 

The global vertical farming market size was valued at $8.47 billion in 2022 and is estimated to reach $59.13 billion by 2031.

3. Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) 

PLF is defined as the “management of individual animals by continuous, automated, and real-time monitoring of health, welfare, production and reproduction, and environmental impact.”

The technology enables farmers to increase their output, improve animal welfare, minimize waste, and drive operational efficiencies. The technology is necessitated by the growing demand for livestock products, agricultural worker shortages, limited land availability, and concerns surrounding global warming and deforestation. 

PLF technologies include automated weighing systems, imaging solutions, animal sensing systems, and electronic identification (EID) solutions.  

4. Precision Agriculture (PA) 

PA is the science of improving crop yields via sensor and analytics tools, which observe, measure, and respond to the variability of crops. 

Some of the most common PA technologies include global positioning systems, which gather data with accurate location information in real-time, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which use object details and location data to create digital maps, and variable-rate input application technologies (VRT), which allows agricultural workers to apply fertilizer, chemicals, or seeds to specific crops, or areas of land, based on their unique needs.

Technologies like these enable farmers to remotely monitor large areas of land, reduce labor costs, improve product quality, increase production, and use water more efficiently. 

5. Laser Scarecrows

Laser scarecrows deploy moving laser beams to scare birds away from sweetcorn fields, where it is not unusual for farmers to lose as much as 75% of their crop.

For the past few years, researchers from the University of Rhode Island (URI) and Cornell Cooperative Extension have been testing the former’s 50-milliwatt scarecrows, which can cover up to nine acres, on New York farms. The units are affordable, silent, straightforward to set up, and invisible to humans in the daylight. 

A new grant will see URI researchers adapt the units for use on aquaculture farms, to deter birds from sitting atop — and contaminating — oyster beds. 

6. Farm Automation

Farm automation augments the role of agricultural workers to improve working conditions, increase production, address labor shortages, reduce costs, and drive operational efficiencies. Examples of automated agritech include crop-monitoring drones, autonomous tractors, robotic harvesters, and seeding and weeding robots. 

These devices, which use a combination of sensors, analytics, and robotics, are increasingly sophisticated and effective. For example, more companies are developing robots that are capable of picking fruit gently, while weeding robots are leveraging computer vision to weed fields and reduce pesticide usage by up to 90%.

The high costs associated with implementing autonomous technologies are  perhaps the biggest barrier to widespread adoption in modern farming, but prices will drop as these devices become more commonplace, and the technologies less novel.

7. Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) Technology

RTK technology uses the Global Positioning System (GPS) — or other satellite-based navigation systems — to correct common errors in current satellite navigation (GNSS) systems, enabling them to deliver highly accurate positioning and navigation data. The technology provides real-world object accuracy up to 1 centimeter, as well as sending correction data in real time.

The technology is widely used in PA devices to establish drainage and irrigation systems and for seeding, spraying, land leveling, and spreading. It improves the efficiency of agricultural machinery, reduces the use of pesticides and fertilizers, minimizes pass-to-pass overlap, and facilitates consistent high performance in low-light conditions. 

8. Minichromosomal Technology

Minichromosomes are tiny circles of DNA contained within a cell. Although they carry very little genetic material, they can hold a significant amount of information. 

Minichromosomal technology is applied by agricultural geneticists to add a range of different traits to plants, which can improve resilience, crop yield, and quality. Because a plant’s genes are not altered during the process, the technology has been quick to secure regulatory approval.

To give a few examples, Bt toxin genes are being used for insect resistance, while herbicide-resistant genes help with weed control. Scientists have created apples that won’t brown when their flesh is exposed, crops that can withstand drought, and potatoes resistant to potato blight. As well as improving food quality and production, genetically modified plants reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers. 

9. Farm Management Software (FMS) 

Farm management refers to the activities required to ensure a farm’s seamless operations, good production, and satisfactory profit. This includes the management of finances, marketing activities, production, human resources (HR), and risk.

FMS monitors and optimizes all modern farming activities via a centralized tool, enabling farmers to run their businesses more effectively. It can do everything from monitoring crops and livestock, tracking expenses, and predicting farming trends, to tracking the use of fertilizers and pesticides, climate-related risk assessments, and predictive maintenance. 

The most sophisticated solutions help farmers with decision-making and long-term strategizing.

Farmer’s Edge, for example, is a leading FMS tool that enables farmers to make informed decisions about their land and resources, helping them to be more sustainable, productive, and profitable.

10. Water Management Technology

Water management technology enables the real-time monitoring of a farm’s soil conditions to ensure the right amount of water is delivered to the right place at the right time. 

These smart systems are efficient and accurate, resulting in cost savings and higher yields for farmers. In addition, water management technology can help to address the critical problem of water scarcity. Currently, agriculture accounts for 70% of global freshwater withdrawals. 

The biggest barrier to the widespread adoption of water management technology is the reluctance among farmers to overhaul legacy infrastructure. Concerns about cost and technical complexity have also been raised.

11. Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

A GIS is an automated tool used for managing and analyzing geographic information. It performs spatial analyses and enables users to create visual representations of complex data to inform decision-making. The technology is typically used to map the location of things, find patterns, and map quantities, densities, and changes. 

In agriculture, these systems assist with acreage calculations, mapping field data, drawing crop boundaries, and remotely monitoring crops. 

A GIS is most useful when integrated with another agriculture technology, such as precision agriculture machinery The GIS is used for monitoring variables such as crop temperature, vegetation levels, and soil quality, while the machinery responds to this information by adjusting seed, nutrients, herbicides, and fertilizer. A system like this enables farms to operate more effectively and efficiently; it reduces labor costs, increases production, and improves the quality of produce.  

12. Blockchain

A blockchain is a ledger of records that enables transparent, secure, and real-time information sharing within a business network. Each “block” of data is secured with cryptography to minimize the risk of manipulation or censorship. 

Blockchain solutions are used to manage various types of data, including online transactions, currencies, medical records, shipping documents, and production chains. 

In the agricultural sector, in which a myriad of valuable transactions occur every day, the technology has numerous applications. For example, increased data transparency exposes supply chain vulnerabilities, which enables growers, buyers, retailers, and consumers to implement robust risk mitigation strategies. 

Blockchain solutions reduce the occurrence of fake food labeling, provide accurate information surrounding the cost of production, and guarantee expected product quality. These use cases are of particular benefit to small farms, which suddenly have the means to attract large buyers, such as grocery chains.  

Finally, smart contracts stored in a blockchain offer a new level of security to suppliers and buyers. 

13. Internet of Things (IoT) 

IoT refers to the collective network of physical objects that are embedded with sensors and software to facilitate inter-device and cloud communication. 

In agriculture, IoT devices are embedded in soil, water tanks, crops, machinery, fields, vehicles, greenhouses, drones, and livestock. They monitor temperature, humidity, soil moisture and fertility, inventory, weather conditions, nutrient levels, and animal location and behavior.

As a result, farmers gain a comprehensive understanding of their crops’ behavior and growth, enabling them to pursue optimal strategies to increase crop yield and quality. In addition, the implementation of IoT devices can help farmers improve efficiency, streamline food supply chain operations, raise healthier livestock, optimize resources, and minimize labor shortages.  

The global IoT in agriculture market size was valued at $27.1 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach $84.5 billion by 2031.

14. Robotics

Agricultural robots augment the role of farm workers by assuming slow, repetitive, and labor-intensive tasks.

Some of the most common agricultural robots include:

• Aerial Imaging Robots – to inspect crops from the air.
• Seeding and Spraying Robots – to deploy seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides in optimum locations.
• Harvesting Robots – to carefully harvest crops and fruits. 
• Autonomous Mobile Robots – to transport fruits, vegetables, and plants around the farm.
• Weeding Robots – to identify, kill, and remove weeds.
• Robotic Greenhouses – to plant, prune, and harvest produce. 

The use of robots like these enabled farmers to focus on value-add activities, enhance productivity, use resources more efficiently, lower food production costs, and improve worker conditions. 

15. Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Machine Learning (ML) & Data Science 

AI, ML, and data science have numerous applications in agriculture, serving to improve agricultural productivity, facilitate data-driven decision-making, lower costs, and drive sustainable business practices. 

A solution that analyzes soil conditions, for example, can determine crop health, identify lacking nutrients, spot pests and diseases, and predict yields. These insights enable farmers to adjust their methods to optimize output and quickly address potential issues.   

Other AI-powered tools can detect leaks in irrigation systems, monitor the impact of livestock diets to improve well-being, complete yield mapping on large datasets, predict the best time to harvest crops, and identify the plants most resilient to extreme weather.

Some of the biggest challenges associated with the adoption of AI and ML solutions in agriculture are high upfront costs, a lengthy technology adoption process, and industry skepticism. Nonetheless, spending on AI in agriculture is projected to grow from $1.7 billion in 2023 to $4.7 billion in 2028

16. Regenerative Agriculture

Used by Indigenous communities for centuries, regenerative agriculture takes a holistic approach to food and farming systems, centering conservation and rehabilitation.  

The practice is designed to restore soil health, address food inequity, and leave the planet in better shape for future generations. Industrial-scale agricultural practices have a huge impact on the environment. For example, soil erosion occurs at a rate of 10-100 times higher than soil formation.

The core principles of regenerative agriculture are nurturing relationships across ecosystems, prioritizing soil health, reducing the use of inputs such as herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers, and promoting ethical working environments. 

The use of cover crops and green manure, crop rotation,  and crop diversification are essential components of regenerative agriculture.  

17. Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)

Given the world’s volatile climate, CEA is one of the most critical innovations in agriculture. It refers to the production of plants and their products within a controlled environment, such as greenhouses or vertical farms, to optimize productivity. 

Not only does CEA enable produce to be grown in any place at any time, but it also protects against harmful contaminants, such as pests and pollution. Typically, less land and water are required and farms are located within close proximity to the end customer, which reduces food miles and wastage.

18. Drones

The most common agriculture drones are single-rotor or multi-rotor drones. Single-rotor drones are usually fairly large, which means they can manage heavier payloads, while multi-rotor drones are compact, easy to control, and can hover with ease. 

Drones are typically integrated with precision agriculture devices to scout pests and diseases in crops, monitor water quality, spot stray livestock, provide high-resolution data for large land areas, and collect samples.

As a result, farmers can increase crop growth, conserve resources, limit their impact on the environment, troubleshoot potential problems, and reduce the environmental impact of their operations.

The global agricultural drones market size was valued at $1,176 million in 2022 and is expected to reach $6,836 million in 2028.

19. Biotechnology

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), agricultural biotechnology describes “the range of tools that alter living organisms, or parts of organisms, to make or modify products; improve plants or animals; or develop microorganisms for specific agricultural uses.” 

Scientists in this sector have made exciting advancements in recent years. For example, it’s possible to engineer crops to tolerate specific herbicides, which enables farmers to better manage weeds, or make them resistant to certain diseases and pests, which helps with pest control. Growing crops that are resistant to these kinds of pollutants is of enormous value since profit margins are tight and food cannot afford to be wasted.   

In the future, agricultural biotechnology could result in nutritionally enriched or longer-lasting produce or aid in the development of new medicines. 

20. Big Data & Analytics

Farmers can use big data and analytics to meaningfully interpret information collected by various agricultural technologies, which ultimately informs data-driven decision-making.

For example, precision agriculture sees data being collected via sensors, drones, robots, and autonomous machinery. Comprehensively collating and reviewing this data could highlight problems such as the presence of pests and diseases, or non-optimal soil conditions. It can also be used to monitor market trends, predict weather patterns, and optimize the workforce.

As a result of this technology, farmers can better manage their resources, maximize crop yields, and improve operational efficiencies. 

Benefits Of Agriculture Technology

The main benefits associated with agriculture technology include:

1. Higher Crop Production

Technologies such as vertical farming, precision agriculture, and big data enable agricultural workers to produce more with less; less land, less labor, less money, and less effort. As such, farmers can expand their businesses to meet the growing demand for their produce. 

2. Decreased Use of Water, Fertilizer, and Pesticides

Global prices for inputs such as fertilizer and crop protection chemicals have risen by 80-250% over the past few years. But thanks to a range of technologies, farmers no longer have to uniformly apply water, fertilizers, and pesticides to entire fields. Instead, they can target specific crops or areas of land to lower costs, as well as reduce waste, improve crop quality, and drive sustainable farming practices. 

3. Reduced Impact on Natural Ecosystems

Agricultural technology reduces the use of pesticides and fertilizers, which can damage natural ecosystems and waterways.  

4. Increased Worker Safety

The use of technology in agriculture vastly improves working conditions for farmers, providing increased comfort and safety. 

5. Better Decision-Making 

AI-powered climate-prediction technology helps farmers determine when to plant and harvest their crops, biotechnology aids the development of more resistant crops and sensor technology ensures soil conditions are optimal. 

Drawbacks Of Agriculture Technology

The main challenges associated with agriculture technology include:

1. High Equipment Maintenance Cost

Cutting-edge agricultural technology is expensive to implement and maintain. North American farmers cite high costs and unclear ROI as the biggest barriers to adopting new technologies.

2. Environmental Damage from Machine Overuse

Agricultural technology may pollute air, soil, and water with toxins and pesticides, disrupting natural ecosystems and contributing to various diseases in humans. In addition, heavy machinery can contribute to soil damage. Farmers who are unfamiliar with new devices are more likely to misuse them, which can lead to excessive use of toxic substances.

3. Data Security 

Technologies including AI, IoT, drones, and satellites put the security of sensitive farm data at risk. Farmers may be reluctant to invest in such technologies without a guarantee that their data is safe from both the public and their competitors. 

4. Time-Consuming Installations

Although many technologies deliver amazing benefits, the agriculture industry may be deterred by the prospect of a long and complex installation process. That’s not to mention the time it takes for workers to adopt – and make full use of – a newly implemented technology.

The Future of Technology in the Agricultural Industry 

The global population is growing with such speed that demand for food will rise by 70-100% by 2050. The UN estimates that meeting these needs will require the food production in developing countries to almost double.

Modern farming must overcome additional hurdles in the form of climate change, labor and skills shortages, diminishing profits, and calls to implement sustainable farming practices.     

These challenges are all but insurmountable without the use of advanced technology, such as PA, vertical farming, and minichromosomal technology.  

McKinsey argues that the sector needs these sophisticated and – most critically – connected digital tools to “increase yields, improve the efficiency of water and other inputs, and build sustainability and resilience across crop cultivation and animal husbandry.” Some of these tools are yet to reach full maturity, but promise to be transformative in the years to come.