Advancing agriculture digitally for environmentally friendly growth in line with development objectives
In 2023, Transforma Insights published a report titled 'Digital Transformation (DX) in the Agriculture sector', highlighting the significant changes spurred by advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. The focus is on optimizing agricultural production, reducing costs, and preserving the environment.
The agricultural industry faces numerous challenges, from water wastage and food demand to diminishing land resources and skilled labor shortages. One of the most critical issues is water wastage, as around 50% of irrigation water is lost due to inefficient methods. Another concern is the increasing food demand, with the FAO predicting a 70% rise in production capacity by 2050 to feed the growing population.
employing digital technologies can help alleviate these issues and contribute to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
SDG 2: No Hunger and food security: Technologies such as indoor vertical farming and precision agriculture ensure high yields, limiting food shortages. For instance, vertical indoor farms reportedly result in 15 harvests a year compared to twice in conventional farms. Additionally, soil monitoring helps to minimize over-irrigation and over-fertilization, ensuring resource conservation and improved crop health.
SDG 3: Good health and well-being: Digital agriculture promotes good health through crop management solutions, using less chemicals and improving food quality. For example, sensors like chemPEGS allow farmers to monitor and prevent over-fertilization.
SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation: Technologies such as tank level monitoring devices, soil monitoring, and automated irrigation systems help maintain clean water availability and prevent pollution. These tools can reduce water consumption by an average of 15%-30%, and some organizations have achieved 70%-75% water savings.
SDG 7: Clean energy: Agriculture consumes around 30% of worldwide energy, predominantly from fossil fuels. Digital agriculture can optimize electricity consumption, freeing up energy for general use. Smart irrigation techniques save electricity by optimizing machine usage, while combining water pumps with digital technologies can minimize electricity usage.
SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production patterns: Agricultural technologies address food waste, a major issue with 13.3% of produced food lost before reaching retail markets. Grain storage monitoring platforms use sensors to prevent crop spoilage, and organizations like Sohan Lal Commodity Management have achieved a significant reduction in warehouse storage losses.
SDG 13: Climate change: Digital agriculture can combat climate change by reducing the fuel used in agricultural activities, which significantly contribute to emissions, particularly in irrigation. Drones, automated trucks, and indoor vertical farms help minimize fuel consumption, improving the sector's overall carbon footprint.
SDG 15: Life on Land: Indoor vertical farming and virtual fencing techniques can help restore life on land by conserving resources and minimizing deforestation. Virtual fencing can regulate grazing patterns and reduce the impact on pastures.
Overall, digital transformation offers a sustainable solution to pressing agricultural challenges, making it a promising approach to achieving multiple SDGs. However, challenges such as high upfront costs, data management, cybersecurity, and digital literacy must be addressed for widespread adoption.
- In 2023, Transforma Insights published a report, 'Digital Transformation (DX) in the Agriculture sector', emphasizing the impact of advance technologies like artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things on optimizing agricultural production, reducing costs, and preserving the environment.
- With the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) predicting a 70% rise in production capacity by 2050, employing digital technologies is crucial to alleviate the challenges faced by the agricultural industry, such as water wastage and food demand.
- Technological innovations, such as indoor vertical farming and precision agriculture, contribute to SDG 2: No Hunger and food security by ensuring high yields and addressing food shortages, with vertical indoor farms reportedly resulting in 15 harvests a year compared to twice in conventional farms.
- To meet SDG 3: Good health and well-being, digital agriculture promotes good health through crop management solutions that use less chemicals and improve food quality, like sensors that prevent over-fertilization.
- In terms of SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation, technologies such as tank level monitoring devices, soil monitoring, and automated irrigation systems help maintain clean water availability and prevent pollution, potentially reducing water consumption by an average of 15%-30%.
- Addressing SDG 7: Clean energy, agricultural digitalization can optimize electricity consumption in a sector that consumes around 30% of worldwide energy, predominantly from fossil fuels.
- Digital agriculture plays a significant role in achieving SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production patterns by addressing food waste through grain storage monitoring platforms and organizations like Sohan Lal Commodity Management, which have achieved a substantial reduction in warehouse storage losses. Furthermore, this approach can combat climate change, as technologies like drones, automated trucks, and indoor vertical farms help minimize fuel consumption, thereby improving the sector's carbon footprint.
