Biotechnology: Precision Agriculture
Biotechnology is a quickly advancing field. For those that are unaware, Biotechnology is the combination of technology in the study of biology. This technology is helping so many different fields, especially medicine. However, one that is commonly overlooked is how technology has changed agriculture. I am not talking about tractors, advancements in fertilizers, or bioengineered seeds. No. I am talking about precision agriculture. A technique that the International Society of Precision Agriculture defines it as, “Precision Agriculture is a management strategy that gathers, processes and analyzes temporal, spatial and individual data and combines it with other information to support management decisions according to estimated variability for improved resource use efficiency, productivity, quality, profitability and sustainability of agricultural production” (ISPA). It uses mass quantities of data collected via drones, sensors, overall crop output, and whatever else they can find that would help the farmers understand just exactly their crops are being affected by irrigation, weather, planting patterns, pests, or anything else that might change the efficiency of growth for their outputs. We are going to take a deeper dive into what the technology is now.
The main piece of technology that precision agriculture uses is Global Position System (GPS) and Global Navigation System (GNSS). These two paired together or used individually, allow farmers to watch their fields and find any irregularities that may be emerging. They can catch problems before they become severe issues and cannot be corrected. It allows farmers to reutilize their resources in a more efficient way to stop those problems. Those problems typically consist of irrigation, overcrowding of crops, lack of or too much sunlight, and various other factors. These images allow farmers to view their land quickly without having to leave their office and make informed decisions using ariel views. Currently, only around 15% of the US has adopted precision agriculture, meaning this is a quickly emerging field and a huge market is available that has yet to be scratched behind a $1.264 trillion dollar industry in the US alone.
There are other technologies utilized. As I mentioned earlier, sensors are another technology utilized. One specific kind is called Remote Sensing (RS). RS uses spectroscopy, a type of study to determine chemical makeups, to see small changes in planted crops, and to understand the “biophysical and biochemical properties” of these crops. Furthermore, there is technology that allows farmers to see changes in the nutrients of the soil, or the amount of sunlight hitting certain portions of the land. The list could go on and on of all of the technology that is being put into agriculture. These changes are not only making our food quality higher but making it more accessible by lowering costs and increasing the quantity supplied as the world population just crossed over 8 billion people.
AI in Precision Agriculture
Another aspect of precision agriculture that has not yet really caught up is the use of AI and machine learning (ML) in the field. AI can be taught to do many things that could greatly reduce tedious and time-consuming tasks for many farmers. For example, AI could view GPS images and be able to pinpoint any damage to crops or fallen trees. Another use might be using AI to pinpoint exactly where weeds are. Instead of spraying the entire row, only that weed specifically would be sprayed to be neutralized. There is also a huge opportunity for catching disease spreading through crops early. AI systems have begun training to catch various types that can stunt or destroy the growth of crops. There are so many more applications of this technology, from pest detection to irrigation, this is a field within precision agriculture that should be considered as another up-and-coming field to that AI can quickly be applied.
This may feel like a random topic, but this is the industry I was passionate to enter for many years. When I first came to the University, I started in agriculture, before switching to a minor, to finally coming over to MIS. So, many, if not the majority, of my credits here are in agriculture. I have a passion for the subject and this market is massive. I think the combination of my MIS degree with my passion is the perfect bridge to get me into the career field that has always been my dream. However, I would also encourage anyone else who is looking to start a company or get into a new field of business to consider precision agriculture as an option. It will explode within the coming years, and it would be a great place to make a successful living.
Precision Agriculture is an up-and-coming field. Ripe with protentional and a part of a very lucrative market waiting for someone to make the most of it. The technologies are impressive and will also provide a lot of good for our world providing citizens with better food, and a larger quantity for the quickly developing world to use. Thanks for reading this blog post.
Great post! It was very interesting to read about precision agriculture because it builds off the concept of Nick’s post about drones in agriculture. Agriculture, on the outside, seems like an industry that is antiquated and lacking technology, but it’s quite the opposite. One thing that stood out to me was the statistic that only around 15% of the US has adopted precision agriculture- it seems like there is a lot of room for growth/innovation in this field, and I agree that it could be a great opportunity for someone looking to start a company. Contributing to this field would have a global impact and it would be really neat to help transform this industry.
Cool post!! It is amazing to see how science and technology intertwine to accelerate society to this level. The importance of the agricultural industry is not mentioned enough in early education, so reading this post was very eye-opening for me. What stood out to me the most was the use of AI in assessing damage to crops. This blows my mind! Early Mesopotamians would never believe that modern day farmers can have such vital details at their fingertips. I look forward to see how agriculture and biotechnology further enhance farming practices worldwide.
This is some neat content William! I did not know of biotechnology at all before the post and had never heard or seen the term used before either. It’s crazy to believe that this technology will assist in catching issues within the terrain and crops before they become serious. With only 15% of the US using precision agriculture currently, I’m curious as to what this percentage will be in 5 and 10 years from now. I love that the technology is increasing the quality of food with the assistance it provides. Hopefully we can figure out food waste in the US next.
I like this concept and the agriculture industry is a great place to use digital innovation due to growing food needs across the world and higher grocery prices. With the implementation of GPS, RS, and AI agriculture could provide better and more efficient outcomes. Many farmers are also in debt and these technologies could help improve the margins of the industry and provide better livings for farmers and reduced government subsidies possibly due to the improved margins. Very interesting post and I’m excited to see the innovation of the agriculture fields in the coming years.
I have heard some really cool stories of IT in agriculture. There are some amazing applications.
Really enjoyed learning about this topic William. I was intrigued by the applications of technology and AI in Agriculture, especially the GPS and GNSS. Crazy that only 15% of the US has adopted this precision agriculture approach and makes me wonder what kind of profits the other 85% are leaving on the table. It is very cool to hear your passion for agriculture and ideas to utilize your MIS and tech skills in the field (literally).