Interconnected technologies have slowly permeated each aspect of human life. From health, fitness and home security to large-scale industries, the Internet of Things (IoT) makes it possible to automate nearly anything. Agriculture has grasped onto the concept and is making strides for the food industry using the IoT.
Farming isn’t as lucrative as it once was ” there are many more career paths that people choose over agriculture to make their living. The practice once dominated the market, but with a growing population, the demand for farmers is higher now than ever before.
The solution? Adding technology to farming. Smart agriculture or smart farming integrates communication systems and robots into crop and livestock production to increase yields and reduce human dependency, along with the costs associated with agriculture.
From small family farms to industrial-sized farms, here is how IoT is transforming the future of food.
Crop Monitoring
Agricultural crop monitoring provides a wealth of benefits. Crop monitoring allows farmers to both produce quality products and make a profit. Sensors and robotic machines placed within crops detect any variations in weather conditions such as frost, soil characteristics like low pH levels, crop health and so on.
This information gathered from IoT devices allows farmers to take the proper measures ” such as adding fertilizer, watering or adding the right pesticides ” to ensure their crops succeed. The complex data analysis aids farmers to know exactly what their crops or livestock need to reap the top rewards.
Increased Reliability of Farm Labor
As previously stated, farming’s popularity has dwindled as other careers take precedence over the man-powered, labor-intensive agricultural businesses. Therefore, larger farming corporations can no longer rely on gathering multiple farmhands to help crop and livestock management and production.
Fortunately, IoT has made it possible for farmers to get the same amount of work from machines. IoT continues to become more capable of completing human tasks. Whether it’s harvesting crops, spraying pesticides, sowing seeds, driving cattle or managing water supplies, robotic machines can perform those essential farming tasks.
Water Conservation
As the world population trajectory is estimated to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, water conservation will be more critical than ever. The Internet of Things has developed ways to conserve water in agriculture since the industry is one of the largest freshwater consumers, whether it be for watering crops or hydrating livestock.
Water conservation is of utmost importance to climate-smart agriculture, aiming to positively help the environment while increasing agricultural productivity. IoT water conservation methods use sensors and monitoring systems to detect moisture in crops, the atmosphere and soil. The data collected helps farmers know exactly how much water is needed for crops, which drastically reduces water waste while increasing yields.
Beyond the Farm
While the Internet of Things has heavily influenced the ways of agriculture, it has done just as much within food processing, packaging and retail as well. Here are just a few of the ways IoT is involved in the rest of the food industry:
â— Food Safety: With the help of IoT, food safety is, well, safer. The food safety industries like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) require detailed monitoring of food products. Smart sensors make it possible to provide detailed data about those items.
â— Waste Reduction: Some technologies can monitor the shelf life of food products. If there are products with lower shelf lives or the shelf life is about to end, the sensors alert food manufacturers to sell those products first.
â— Warehouse Management: Sensors act as food tracking systems to provide alerts for low inventory or when consumer demands change.
â— Consumer Loyalty: Because of the IoT in the food industry, consumer loyalty has increased. Consumers can trace the origins of their food. In turn, transparency keeps them invested in the product.
Many more IoT applications beyond the farm exist, but these give a general idea about how far the IoT can reach within the food industry.
Smart Farming: The Future Is Now
The IoT has already transformed the future of food. Integrated technologies on the farm and beyond make it possible to keep up with the growing population’s demand for food. As IoT continues to advance, so will the way food is brought to your table.
