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HomePosts Tagged "digital farming"
Agrotech, Digital Technologies, Drones, India, Opinions

By Dr Sat Kumar Tomar, Founder and CEO, Satyukt Analytics

The amount of data in the agriculture sector is increasing at an exponential rate. Smart tractors, drones, and other linked farm equipment are examples of connected equipment (IoT) gadgets that are starting to accumulate data. Growers and leaders in agriculture are realising that big data holds the key to unlocking discoveries that could accelerate the development of new technologies and improve soil health, plant genomics, animal management, and other areas. With embedded AI, agriculture analytics may extract useful insights that can improve agricultural production, animal and plant health, sustainable practices, and more.

With over 50 per cent of its population engaged in farming, the impact of ever-changing climate patterns on agriculture is profound in India. Notably, as two-thirds of the farmland in the country depends on rainwater, the climate stands as the primary factor affecting crop productivity.

Climate change is therefore a major worry, impacting agriculture both directly and indirectly. This change reflects itself through higher global temperatures, rising sea levels, more intense rainfall, glacier melting, shifts in crop growing seasons, and an increased frequency of extreme events like droughts and floods.

In light of the above, the use of agri-analytics, incorporating soil testing, plant disease diagnosis, precision agriculture, digital farming, agricultural remote sensing, and more, is increasingly vital in enhancing agricultural sustainability and productivity.

Soil Testing for Precision Agriculture

Soil forms the foundation of agriculture, and its health directly influences crop yields. In India, where more than 70 per cent of cultivated land suffers from soil degradation, soil testing is a crucial component of agricultural resilience. Soil testing involves analysing the nutrient content, pH levels, and other parameters of the soil to determine its health. By utilising data from soil testing, farmers can make informed decisions about fertilisers and irrigation, leading to improved crop yields and reduced environmental impact.

Plant Disease Diagnosis for Crop Health

Climate change brings not only unpredictable weather patterns but also altered pest and disease dynamics. The increased prevalence of pests and diseases poses a significant threat to crop health. Accurate and timely diagnosis of plant diseases is crucial for early intervention, preventing crop losses, and reducing the need for chemical pesticides. Agri-analytics can assist farmers by offering tools and technologies for plant disease diagnosis, allowing for quicker responses and more sustainable pest control methods.

Precision Agriculture and Farming

Precision agriculture and precision farming are methodologies that integrate technology and data-driven approaches to optimise crop production. These techniques can mitigate the risks associated with climate change. Precision agriculture primarily involves utilising advanced technologies such as ground, air or satellite-based sensors to manage resources efficiently. It enables precise planting, irrigation, and harvesting, reducing waste and increasing yields. By adopting precision farming practices, farmers can adapt to changing climate conditions and enhance agricultural resilience.

Digital Farming for Data-Driven Decision Making

Digital farming which boasts of various technologies, including precision agriculture, data analytics, and the Internet of Things (IoT) allows farmers to collect and analyse data from sensors, drones, and other sources to make informed decisions about their crops and land. Digital farming empowers farmers with real-time information about weather conditions, soil health, and crop growth, enabling them to respond proactively to climate-related challenges.

To read more click on :https://agrospectrumindia.com/e-magazine

By Dr Sat Kumar Tomar, Founder and

Company News

The AGCO 3D Product Advisor sets new standards in digital product visualisation while reducing complexity, increasing farm productivity, and generating sustainability impacts

AGCO, a worldwide manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment, infrastructure and precision ag technology, has recently received the Red Dot: Best of the Best award in the “Interaction and UX” category with its digital design concept, the AGCO 3D Product Advisor.

“This award is a tremendous honour that recognises one of the innovative, industry-leading solutions that AGCO offers to the world’s farmers,” said Eric Hansotia, Chairman, President and CEO of AGCO Corporation. “Creating digital solutions that maximise value while improving long-term sustainability is core to our farmer-first strategy.”

Developed in collaboration with farmers around the world, the AGCO 3D Product Advisor sets new standards in digital product visualisation while reducing complexity, increasing farm productivity, and generating sustainability impacts. Unity Technologies and Infosys Consulting were key partners in developing this solution.

The AGCO 3D Product Advisor sets new

Agro chems – Chemicals, Agrotech, Europe

BASF continues to invest in digital services for sustainable agriculture, in line with the European Green Deal

 BASF acquired Horta S.r.l., an Italian company specialized in digital farming solutions. Founded in 2008 as a spin-off of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Horta is an established player for the development of highly innovative agronomic Decision Support Systems (DSS) for crops such as grapes, tomatoes, cereals and olives.

With the acquisition, which comes after a long-standing partnership between the two companies, Horta will continue to operate on the market with the current organization and management and its well-established brand in the agri-food market to ensure business continuity.

The agricultural sector increasingly relies on digital farming services, which optimize the use of production factors and enable sustainable and precision agriculture. With this transaction, BASF Agricultural Solutions confirms its commitment to expanding its portfolio, by investing in digital solutions that support the work of farmers and make agriculture more productive and environmentally friendly.

“We, at BASF, strongly believe that innovation and digitalization are the key factors to support sustainable yields and contribute to the targets of the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork strategy”, said Gustavo Palerosi Carneiro, Senior Vice President, Agricultural Solutions EMEA & CIS. “BASF strives to leverage the growth potential and opportunities of digitalization toward the benefit of our customers. In this regard, Horta is complementary to our digital farming portfolio. I am therefore very pleased to welcome the entire Horta team, who brings along profound digital know-how and a very unique technological offer.”

As an Italian agro-tech leader in smart agri-food solutions, Horta is a prime example of transferring innovation from R&D and universities to agricultural practice.

 Pierluigi Meriggi, President and Founding Partner of Horta said, “Together with BASF, we pursue a consistent growth path for the next years.” Franco Anelli, Rector of the Catholic University underlined: “BASF’s interest in Horta, one of our spin-off companies, is a significant recognition of the quality and the innovative nature of our research activities. It also confirms the scope of our researchers of the Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences Faculty to combine scientific expertise with a deep understanding of the needs of the agri-food value chain, and with the skills necessary to develop operational proposals. This embodies the sense of responsibility and care for the environment that inspires our Faculty. The partnership bears witness to the quality of our graduates and PhDs, whose skills and competencies have contributed to the development of Horta.”

BASF continues to invest in digital services

Agrotech, Environment, Sustainability

BASF continues to innovate across its pipeline of seeds and traits, seed treatment, biological etc

BASF has announced its ten-year outlook on agricultural innovations that support food security for future generations while minimising the impact of farming on the climate and the environment. The company focuses on improving agricultural outcomes in major crops, like wheat, canola, soybean, corn, cotton, rice, as well as fruits and vegetables.

Within these major crops, BASF continues to innovate across its pipeline of seeds and traits, seed treatment, biological and chemical crop protection, as well as digital farming solutions and will launch major pipeline projects across all business areas over the next decade. The value of the innovation pipeline is strong, with an estimated peak sales potential of more than €7.5 billion. The importance of BASF’s products and solutions to society is growing, as the company systematically incorporates sustainability criteria into its agricultural research.

In 2021, it spent about €900 million on R&D in the Agricultural Solutions segment, representing around 11 per cent of the segment’s sales. In 2022, BASF will continue to invest in the research and development of agricultural innovations at a high level.

“Innovation in agriculture is essential to enable sustainable food production. We need to find the right balance for better yield – yield produced in ways that meet the demands of future generations, has minimal impact on the environment and helps farmers make a living,” said Dr Livio Tedeschi, President, BASF Agricultural Solutions.

BASF continues to innovate across its pipeline