May 30, 2022
Today’s agricultural landscape is changing as technology, consumer demand, and climate forces reshape the way we grow, process, and market food. In a recent survey by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 30 percent of respondents reported that digital transformation is their top priority for their organization in the coming year. Companies across the agriculture supply chain are embracing digital transformation to capture untapped value from data. How we feed our growing population in an increasingly volatile climate with finite natural resources is a challenge faced by every country on earth.
What is Smart Agriculture?
Smart agriculture is a broad term that encompasses any use of data and technology to improve farming practices. It’s a fairly new concept that has only recently started gaining traction in the industry. The idea of smart agriculture is nothing new, though. It’s been around for decades.
With advancements in technology, farmers now have access to much more information than ever before. They can monitor their fields with drones and cameras and use artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to optimize harvesting volumes with precision GPS irrigation systems. Smart agriculture takes this type of technology as its foundation and goes even further with it by using data and AI-enabled sensors to monitor soil conditions, capture real-time weather data, manage water supplies, execute optimal fertilization plans based on soil analysis, monitor pest outbreaks, and even detect plant diseases at an early stage so they can be contained before they spread or become too costly to treat.
Many countries have faced food shortage crises in recent years. The world population is expected to reach 7.2 billion by 2050, up from 7.1 billion today. With that being said, it is unfeasible to augment the number of agricultural lands or enlarge them in any way. Smart agriculture is the sole means to boost food production in reality. Smart agriculture is an agricultural production management system that optimizes food production’s efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability through data-driven decision-making and technology control.
Smart agriculture aims to use data to maximize crop yields and resource efficiency while minimizing environmental impact. By collecting data from sensors, drones, and soil monitors, farmers can monitor crop health and nutrition, track the progress of planting and harvest, and make decisions about irrigation and fertilization. This information can provide a valuable roadmap for farmers to make more informed decisions about their operations. Smart agriculture also incorporates technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to analyze data and optimize farm operations.
Intelligent fertilization as a subcategory of Smart Agriculture is a process in which soil is monitored to determine the most effective methods of applying fertilizer. By monitoring soil, farmers have access to data on the pH levels and nutrient content of the soil. When this data is combined with weather patterns, farmers can predict when to apply fertilizer to ensure that their crops are receiving the nutrients they need. By using intelligent fertilizing practices, farmers can increase crop yield and reduce their costs.
What is the Difference Between Traditional and Intelligent Fertilization? What are the Intelligent Fertilization Benefits?
Traditional fertilization is the process of adding fertilizer to the soil to help plants grow and thrive. Intelligent fertilization, on the other hand, involves using sensors and other technology to monitor soil conditions and automatically deliver just the right amount of nutrients to plants. This approach can help plants thrive and produce more consistent results than traditional methods.
Smart or intelligent fertilization can help farmers reduce their use of water, pesticides, and other resources. It can also help them detect problems with crops earlier, so they can take steps to fix them before too much is lost. By using technology to monitor crop health and soil conditions, farmers can make better decisions about what steps to take next. They may be able to reduce the amount of fertilizer they use by feeding plants only when they need it. Or they may be able to identify problems with a crop sooner so they can take steps to fix it before too much is lost. Using smart fertilization also allows farmers to use resources more efficiently and reduce their impact on the environment.
How Does Intelligent Fertilization Work?
Intelligent fertilization is organic fertilization using biofertilizers or nano-fertilizers. Biofertilizers are microorganisms that can improve the efficiency of natural and synthetic fertilizers, stimulate plant growth, and improve soil health. The first use of this approach was to recycle organic waste, such as sludge from septic tanks, into fertilizers for plants. By adding these microorganisms to the soil, the nutrients in the sludge could be used by plants. In addition to recycling organic waste, the presence of these microorganisms stimulates the natural processes of decomposition and mineralization in the soil. This additional decomposition increases the number of nutrients available to plants. In addition, intelligent fertilization can be a subcategory of nanotechnology, in which the aim is to deliver nutrients to the plant using nanoparticles with sizes of 1 to 100 nm.
Smart agriculture is the next step in the evolution of agriculture. Just as the arrival of the smart car heralded the end of the car age, the development and implementation of smart agriculture will profoundly change the way we grow and consume food. Smart agriculture is the use of data and technology to improve the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of agriculture operations while minimizing environmental impact.
The possibilities are limitless and so are the benefits. Not only will farmers be able to optimize their operations and make better decisions about what to grow, but they will also be able to do this while improving the health of their soil and mitigating the effects of climate change. This will involve implementing advanced technologies such as robotic tractors, smart irrigation systems, bioreactors, and lab-on-a-chip systems.
