Precision agriculture: Technology-led farming

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• November 15, 2021

Precision agriculture has optimized farming by efficiently managing crop yields and growth. This shift has not only transformed daily farming operations, such as tractor routing and seed placement, but also promises a future of self-driving tractors and data-driven decision making. However, while the potential benefits are vast, including reduced food waste and economic growth in rural areas, challenges such as data privacy concerns and potential job displacement need to be addressed.

Precision agriculture context

Precision agriculture, a method of farming that uses technology to optimize crop yields and efficiency, began to gain traction in the 1990s, mainly due to the advent of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). These systems provided the ability to accurately map and monitor agricultural fields, a significant shift from traditional farming methods. For instance, a 2020 study published in the IEEE Open Journal of Industry Applications highlighted how computer vision algorithms can coordinate with a low-cost camera and a LiDAR sensor to detect the relative location of the vehicle in the furrow during early and late growth season. 

The agriculture sector also saw the introduction of advanced sensors, monitors, and controllers. These tools allowed for the collection of detailed data on various factors affecting crop growth, such as soil moisture, nutrient levels, and weather conditions. A 2021 study published in the International Journal of Advanced Computing Science and Engineering demonstrated how sensor technology has been used to measure environmental factors. Depending on the data, the devices monitor and control the parameter changes for each crop. 

The integration of these technologies has had a profound impact on the daily operations of farmers. For example, tractors equipped with GPS can now follow predetermined routes, reducing overlap and ensuring complete field coverage. Seeders can operate at precise angles, enhancing the uniformity of seed placement and ultimately leading to better crop yields. Furthermore, farmers can now monitor their farms remotely, a development that has significantly reduced the need for manual field checks.

Disruptive impact

The development of guidance and steering systems in precision agriculture is likely to have a profound impact on the future of farming. As these systems evolve, we can expect to see more self-driving tractors that can navigate even the most challenging terrains. This advancement could significantly reduce the need for manual labor in farming operations, leading to cost savings for farmers. Moreover, it could also make farming more accessible to a broader range of individuals, including those who may not have traditional farming skills or experience. 

In land preparation, the use of technology to study soil and monitor weather conditions is set to transform how farmers manage their fields. Advanced systems that use infrared technology to assess soil health and predict weather challenges could enable farmers to make more informed decisions about planting and irrigation. This feature could lead to improved crop yields and more sustainable farming practices.

Lastly, the integration of data from various sources is where precision agriculture truly stands out. As management apps and software become more sophisticated, farmers will be able to analyze a wealth of information, from seed prices to weather forecasts to market trends. This development could lead to more efficient farming practices and higher profits. For governments and companies, this trend could stimulate economic growth and promote sustainable agriculture.

Implications of precision agriculture

Wider implications of precision agriculture may include:

• Inter-farm connection where technology between farms could be used to communicate and adjust processes without human intervention.


• Increasing collaboration between satellites and GPRS to not just predict the weather but propose solutions to prevent unfavorable agricultural results.


• The use of ever more farming robots and drones and fewer farmhands, as machines are can operate 24/7 with increasing levels of accuracy and efficiency.


• A significant reduction in food waste as farmers are able to more accurately predict crop yields and plan their harvests accordingly, contributing to more efficient food production and distribution systems.


• Economic growth in rural areas as the demand for skilled technicians and data analysts to operate and maintain these systems create new job opportunities.


• Optimized resources, such as water and fertilizers, leading to lower greenhouse gas emissions and a more sustainable agricultural sector.


• Small-scale farmers struggling to afford the initial investment in these technologies, potentially leading to the consolidation of farmland under larger, wealthier entities.


• Concerns about data privacy and security, requiring new regulations to protect farmers' information and disruptions in essential services.

Questions to consider

• Aside from human labor, what other aspects of farming could be affected by automation not covered by the overview above?


• How else can precision farming address food shortages and security?