INTERNET OF THINGS IN AGRICULTURE

As the Agriculture 4.0 trend is transforming the production capabilities of the farming sector, connectivity is the basis of this transformation and Internet of Things (IoT) has become the key to enable the necessary technology. Beyond the introduction of new tools and practices, the real promise of Agriculture 4.0 in terms of productivity increase, in fact, resides in the ability to remotely collect, use, and exchange data.

Internet of Things (IoT)

The term IoT, which means Internet controlling things, describes the connection of different devices which can communicate with each other using the same language despite technical differences and without human intervention. These devices are expected to be smart, to learn and to be able to make decisions on their own.
In agriculture, the IoT enables a variety of tools such as drones, sensors or satellites to connect and communicate in order to exchange information as well as data useful for improving crop development conditions, while at the same time saving both time and money. An example of an IoT application is a network of sensors positioned in cultivated land which transmits data to a platform (usually in the cloud and accessible via the web) through a network infrastructure. This allows all the necessary parameters for better cultivation (temperature, humidity, brightness, etc.) to be remotely controlled and changed, if necessary, using a PC, tablet or smartphone.

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IoT and SDGs

By the end of 2030, Goal 2 (Zero hunger) requires practices in agriculture that can increase productivity and the capacity to adapt to climate changes, extreme weather, flooding, drought, etc. IoT seems a potential enabler of a beneficial transformation of the agricultural sector.

Benefits of IoT

Nowadays, IoT technology is already contributing to the improvement of citizens’ quality of life and companies’ competitiveness. Some of the reasons for investing in IoT technology are:

  • manufacturing cost reduction;
  • better use of natural resources and preservation;
  • product quality improvement;
  • regulatory compliance.

IOT technology is mainly used to detect and monitor water leaks, potential contamination, soil moisture, pollution, weather conditions, livestock movements, natural ecosystems, as well as detect threats linked to poaching, overfishing (or illegal fishing) and deforestation.1


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1 Do you know how loT can help protect endangered wildlife?