Background:

Drones that monitor hundreds of acres to assess crop and animal health, smart sensors that help detect infestations early, and automated systems that water, fertilize and fumigate each plot based on its specific characteristics and weather forecasts. These are just some of the advantages of smart farming – a concept that could help eradicate hunger in an overpopulated future.

According to UN calculations, there will be 9.7 billion people in the world by 2050, in other words, 2 billion more mouths than in 2020. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations food and agriculture agency, the need to meet this growth is through a 70 percent increase in agricultural output.

This situation poses a serious challenge to UN member states in the 2030 Agenda, in particular Sustainable Development Goal 2, which aims to end world hunger by ensuring that all people, especially the poor and vulnerable, including infants, have access to healthy, nutritious food throughout the year. All of this is not to be forgotten, moreover, that the food industry currently accounts for 30% of the world’s energy consumption and 22% of greenhouse gas emissions. So the challenge is not just to produce more food, but to produce it sustainably.

What is smart agriculture or precision agriculture

Smart agriculture refers to the use of new technologies that emerged in agriculture and cattle production at the beginning of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Improve the quantity and quality of production by maximizing the use of resources and minimizing the impact on the environment. In addition, the implementation of agricultural and livestock technologies will have the potential to contribute to global food security.

Internet of Things devices bring more convenience

The Internet of Things makes it possible to optimize farm monitoring. It uses smart sensors to measure everything from solar radiation to leaf moisture and stem thickness. Or in the case of livestock, the temperature of each animal makes various management decisions easier.

Thanks to Big Data’s ability to analyze large amounts of data, farmers can manage all the information they get from drones, the Internet of Things and other measuring instruments. And combines it with historical information about the farm and weather data. To optimize each stage of the production process.

For example, blockchain could monitor crops and livestock from the time they are grown to the time they are handed over to suppliers. Thus improving the traceability of the supply chain. By using this technology, if an imported vegetable poisons consumers, the source of an outbreak can be easily traced. Only the affected products are withdrawn, rather than banning vegetable imports from the entire country of origin.

The benefits of smart agriculture

The application of the above technology has had a positive impact on agriculture and cattle industry. Let’s take a look at some of the improvements:

1.Increase productivity: Optimizing all processes related to agriculture and livestock raising increases productivity.

2.Save water: Weather forecasts and sensors that measure soil moisture mean watering only when necessary and at the right time.

3.Better quality: Analyze the product quality related to the applied strategy and make adjustments to improve the quality of subsequent production.

4.Lower costs: In the case of agriculture, automation of sowing, handling and harvesting reduces resource use.

5.Pest detection and animal health: Early detection of crop infections or animal diseases means that their impact on production can be minimized and animal welfare improved.

6.Better sustainability: Conserving resources such as irrigation water and getting the most out of the land, reducing environmental impact.

JXCT Intelligent agriculture solutions

Intelligent agriculture is an advanced stage of agricultural production. It combines emerging Internet, mobile Internet, cloud computing and Internet of Things technologies. It relies on various sensor nodes (ambient temperature and humidity, soil moisture, carbon dioxide, images, etc.) and wireless communication networks. To realize intelligent perception, intelligent early warning, intelligent decision and intelligent analysis of agricultural production environment.Online guidance from experts on intelligent agriculture solutions provides precision planting, visual management and intelligent decision-making for agricultural production.