While the potential for digital agricultural technology is impressive, some barriers remain. Costs are some of the most significant, as net farm income could fall by $6.5 billion by the end of 2024.
A Closer Look at the Digital Tools Promoting Sustainable Land Use in Agriculture
Martin Banks, Editor | Modded
Sustainability is a critical issue for modern farms. The agricultural sector has historically had a considerable negative impact on the environment, but continued growth is necessary to feed a rising population. Thankfully, new technology makes it easier to address both sides.
While farming has not always been a tech-forward industry, that’s starting to change. At least half of large farms in the U.S. use some form of digital agriculture technology. Here’s a closer look at seven of these innovations promoting greener land usage.
Soil Sensors
The Internet of Things (IoT) is among the most promising digital solutions for farmers today. Under this umbrella of interconnected devices, soil sensors show particular promise. IoT-connected soil monitoring systems gather real-time data on the ground’s condition to inform smarter, more sustainable decisions.
Soil sensors reveal deeper insights into crop health, including if they need additional fertilizer or water. Farmers can then keep their produce as healthy as possible without overusing resources that may contribute to erosion or other environmental issues. Some farms have reduced their fertilizer use by 80% by implementing such monitoring solutions.
Smart Irrigation
Irrigation is another area seeing significant improvements from the IoT. By connecting to soil sensors, smart irrigation systems can determine the exact amount of water an area needs at a given time. It then automatically dispenses the precise amount necessary to preserve crop growth without wasting water.
Conventional irrigation approaches are often wasteful, as how much water a farm needs can vary. Smart alternatives avoid waste by responding to real-time data. The same study finding fertilizer reduction from soil sensors found growers could reduce their water consumption by 20% to 50% through this technology.
Supply Chain Tracking
Farmers can also use IoT solutions to provide transparency over their environmental efforts, enabling a greener agricultural supply chain. IoT supply chain tracking platforms make real-time data about crops’ origins and transport available to all relevant stakeholders. Consequently, farms can ensure they’re keeping up with broader environmental standards and prove their own sustainability to buyers.
Many farms take part in broader sustainability initiatives, such as the Forest Stewardship Council, which presides over 500 million acres of forest. Projects like this prove responsibility and eco-friendliness to downstream supply chain partners, but they only work when all parties can see the data verifying their environmental status. IoT tracking solutions provide that visibility.
IoT Management
Similar technologies make it easier to manage farm equipment. IoT maintenance sensors can detect incoming repair issues and automatically alert farmers to foster earlier, more effective fixes. This practice — known as predictive maintenance — keeps machinery at its most efficient at all times, resulting in a lower carbon footprint.
The EPA emphasizes how regular upkeep reduces vehicle emissions, so predictive maintenance can make tractors and other farm vehicles less environmentally harmful. It also reduces ongoing costs, which can justify the higher price tag of electric alternatives. As farms become able to afford such options, their overall emissions can fall dramatically.
Equipment Sharing Platforms
Web-based resource-sharing platforms have become increasingly common as farms struggle with equipment prices. These networks connect farmers to others nearby to enable peer-to-peer tractor lending, the same way rideshare services have democratized transportation. On top of making equipment more accessible, they can lower the industry’s emissions.
Individual ownership has created significant emissions spikes from vehicle operation and the manufacturing necessary to meet demand. Consequently, a model requiring fewer machines and encouraging responsible use will reduce production-related and operational emissions. It may also enable a wider range of farms to find and use newer electric alternatives to diesel equipment.
Digital Twins
More sophisticated technologies are also emerging to enable sustainable agricultural land use. Digital twins are some of the most impactful. These are virtual models of real-world objects, systems or processes that incorporate timely data to provide deeper insights or simulate potential realities.
In a farming context, businesses can use digital twins of their local climate to model changing weather conditions. They can then make informed decisions about the shifting growing season or how to apply resources like water, pesticides and fertilizers responsibly. Digital twins of the farm itself could simulate potential changes to reveal which strategies would yield the biggest sustainability improvements.
Artificial Intelligence
It’s difficult to talk about digital technology in any sector without mentioning artificial intelligence (AI). Many of the other innovations on this list produce large amounts of data, which AI can analyze to pave the way for a wide range of environmental optimizations.
Some farms may use AI to monitor soil sensors to identify practices they should change to use fewer pesticides or contribute less to erosion. Others may use predictive AI models to anticipate incoming weather changes and respond accordingly to minimize crop loss or maximize yields while using fewer resources. While this field is still in its infancy, some farmers have already seen 21% increases in yields and 5% drops in fertilizer usage through the technology.
Overcoming Barriers to Agricultural Tech Adoption
While the potential for digital agricultural technology is impressive, some barriers remain. Costs are some of the most significant, as net farm income could fall by $6.5 billion by the end of 2024.
The solution to the cost problem is a forward-thinking, slow approach to adoption. Precision agriculture technologies like AI and the IoT reduce ongoing expenses, so they’ll eventually pay for themselves. Farms can achieve such a return on investment sooner by implementing just one innovation at a time, starting with whichever will likely produce the biggest improvements for their specific situation.
Using agricultural tech effectively may also present issues. Many farm workers lack experience with cutting-edge technology, but like any tool, such resources are only as impactful as their application. Farmers can work around the gap by looking for technologies emphasizing ease of use and partnering with suppliers who will either take on much of the technical responsibility or offer ongoing support.
AI’s own environmental impact also deserves attention. Powering AI models requires a substantial amount of energy, leading the technology to produce considerable greenhouse gas emissions. At a certain point, that could limit AI’s ability to make farms truly sustainable.
Partnering with green AI companies will help. Some AI services already rely on data centers using 100% renewable energy, offsetting power-related environmental concerns. Using less complex models and analyzing a smaller amount of data while pursuing other sustainability initiatives can also reduce AI’s relative carbon footprint.
Digitalization Makes Sustainability More Achievable
Significant challenges remain, but overall, digital innovations are opening the door for a greener future in agriculture. Achieving such a goal will take a long time and substantial investment and adaptation. However, the results justify these complications if farms can capitalize on technology effectively.
Learning which tools offer the greatest potential is the first step. Once farmers know how tech can reduce their ecological footprint, they can begin to use the land more efficiently.
The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of AgriTechTomorrow
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