Precision Agriculture: An Intro to AgTech for the Uninitiated
Simply put, precision agriculture leverages technology to grow crops more efficiently, focusing on three main goals of increasing profitability, efficiency and sustainability. Precision agriculture consists of two components which are precision technology and precision equipment. The term, precision agronomics means combining methodology (used by agronomists and farmers) with technology. In short, precision agriculture allows farmers to more effectively manage resources including land, water, pesticides, herbicides, seeds and time.
The technologies that fall under precision agriculture include GPS, drones, sensor robotics, variable rate technology, automated hardware, artificial intelligence, telematics and software. Data is gathered and used to make decisions on how to manage land, often allowing for a more individualized approach to specific crops and pieces of land.
Currently, the most widespread precision AgTech today is Global Positioning System (GPS) guidance for tractors, which started in the 1990s. It automatically steers the equipment based on coordinates in the field, reducing time, seed, fertilizer and pesticide use. GPS has drastically improved various agricultural technologies through the use of maps.
Another example of precision ag is variable rate technology (VRT), which is defined as “any technology that enables the variable application of inputs and allows farmers to control the amount of inputs they apply in a specific location” (1). This can be done using three approaches which are map-based, sensor-based or manual. VRT is a rapidly growing area, with estimated adoption rates of 15% in North America currently, with the expectation of rapid growth in the coming years. This can be especially useful for non-organic farmers, by spraying pesticides using a targeted approach based on data, rather than uniformly applying pesticides to entire rows or fields. Less fertilizer with higher yields means increased profitability and efficiency in a more sustainable way than current practices allow.
Another innovation that has been around for a long time (since the 1960s) and is constantly being improved upon in precision ag, is remote sensing technology. This gathers data without physical contact, and can measure factors such as air and soil temperature, humidity, crop height, plant width and diameter, wind conditions, and more (2). When applied, this information can have major effects on quality and yields of crops.
There are many new developments in precision agriculture, and most recently artificial intelligence (AI) has made it’s way into the picture, as farmers are able to collect vast amounts of data which AI can synthesize a lot quicker and more effectively than a person. AI is relatively new to agriculture, however, there is a significant amount of research being done and investments being made, to improve these technologies as they can be added on to currently existing tech for vast performance improvements. According to BI Intelligence Research, global spending on smart, connected AgTech and systems, including AI and machine learning, is projected to triple in revenue by 2025, reaching $15.3 billion. Through more effective resource management, precision agriculture has proven to be able to increase efficiency, profitability and sustainability.
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We are Vivid Machines and we leverage AI, using sensors and high speed imaging on vehicle mounted systems, to gather data to provide farmers with real time analytics. These technologies help understand the quantity and quality of fruit and vegetables at the plant level, resulting in the ability to predict and manage yield, and provide means for early diagnosis of pests, diseases, and nutrient deficiencies. To learn more, check out our website at https://www.vivid-machines.com/ and follow us on Instagram & Facebook!
Sources
- https://agfundernews.com/what-is-precision-agriculture.html
- https://www.farms.com/precision-agriculture/remote-sensing/#:~:text=Remote%20Sensing%20Uses%20in%20Precision%20Agriculture&text=In%20agricultural%20uses%2C%20remote%20sensing,%2C%20wind%20conditions%2C%20and%20more.
- https://agriculture.trimble.com/blog/what-is-precision-ag/
- https://croplife.ca/field-notes-precision-agriculture-canada/
Photo Credits (in order of appearance)
1. https://precisionagricultu.re/gps-has-evolved-in-state-and-use-in-the-past-years-in-the-agricultural-industry/
3. https://www.dtn.com/precision-farming-vs-digital-farming-vs-smart-farming-whats-the-difference/
