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Agribusiness, Agrotech, Company News, Digital Technologies, India, Start ups

New initiative to support Cropin to develop a Food Security Decision Intelligence solution powered by AWS AI technologies, to track crop cultivation, production patterns, and climate change.

Bengaluru based Cropin Technology, a global Agtech leader enabling intelligent agriculture, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) India Private Limited* have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on enabling Cropin to build a solution to address the pressing issue of global hunger and food insecurity. This initiative aims to help Cropin develop core data architecture, analytics, modelling, and simulation components that can aggregate global farmland data and broader climate intelligence within a single solution. The solution will provide decision intelligence to governments, development agencies, and agri-businesses, and help them ensure food security for vulnerable populations. The collaboration reinforces Cropin’s commitment to enabling predictable, traceable, and sustainable global food systems, while supporting food security efforts undertaken by AWS Impact Computing, an initiative which aims to identify potential solutions that can improve the lives of humans, other species, and natural habitats.

As part of this initiative, Cropin will develop workloads that could eventually constitute a Food Security Decision Intelligence solution powered by AWS. The solution would leverage AWS’s advanced computing capabilities, including High Performance Computing (HPC), modeling/simulation, internet of things (IoT), robotics, visual/spatial computing, and generative artificial intelligence (AI). It will combine Cropin’s deep domain expertise in agriculture, earth observation sciences, data science, AI/ML, and deep learning models to provide accurate and granular crop yield intelligence for the most important food crops worldwide, initially focusing on rice, wheat, potato and maize, as they collectively account for more than half of the world’s food requirements.

AI-Enabled Global Food Systems, a Beacon of Hope:

The AI powered solution will integrate satellite imagery with in-situ field images and remote data to improve agricultural analytics through scalable models. These models will provide both micro (plot) and macro (regional/ global) insights and will be further analysed by identifying patterns and anomalies in the production and quality of major crops across global regions. Cropin’s AI, model building, data processing, and reporting will leverage AWS services such as Amazon Bedrock, a fully managed service that offers a choice of high-performing foundation models from leading AI companies; Amazon Q, a generative AI-powered assistant; Amazon QuickSight, which offers unified business intelligence at hyperscale; and AWS’s HPC infrastructure.

AWS will explore providing technical expertise to Cropin on its advanced computer services (HPC, ML/ Gen AI, IoT, geospatial), as well as industry insights from its agriculture, and sustainability specialists, to power Cropin’s platform. The insights generated through the workloads will be integrated into Cropin’s open-source dashboard. They can be disseminated via a WhatsApp or an SMS-based alerting system for stakeholders, including farmers, field officers, governments, development agencies, and agribusinesses. AWS will further support Cropin by exploring collaboration opportunities with research organisations and academic institutions such as Harvard Data Science Initiative (HDSI), to drive research and development in food security, climate-resilient agriculture, and food sustainability.

Speaking on the announcement, Krishna Kumar, Co-Founder & CEO, Cropin said, “We can analyse and identify changes in cultivation patterns at a country scale, spanning from sowing to harvesting. This includes examining weather parameters, moisture availability, and disease outbreaks at scale to understand their impact on crop health and yield. These insights are crucial for policymakers, enabling them to make informed decisions to combat hunger and ensure food security. Our collaboration with AWS marks a significant step towards building a global real-time decision intelligence solution, which will provide insights into several aspects of food security – agriculture, climate, trade, and supply chain – in one dashboard. This engagement with AWS helps us showcase the use of technology, data, and AI to solve these pressing issues.”

Shalini Kapoor, Director and Chief Technologist, AWS India Private Limited, said, “The world population is expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, increasing food production requirements on the arable land available today. At AWS, we are inspired to work with customers to solve the most complex challenges at scale. Our work with Cropin showcases the power of advanced compute capabilities on the cloud to drive social and environmental impact. AWS’s generative AI, simulation, and data analytics technologies can help organisations like Cropin surface actionable and relevant insights from diverse data sets and scale their solution globally to empower decision makers to reduce food insecurity.”

New initiative to support Cropin to develop

Agribiotechnology, Agrotech, Digital Technologies, Drones, India, IT, Opinions

 By Amit Sinha, Co-founder, Unnati Agri

India’s agriculture industry is on the cusp of a major technological transformation, which is a pivotal moment after decades of growth. The sector has been witnessing robust growth with an average annual growth rate of 4.6 per cent over the last six years. Emerging developments include accurate crop forecasting, sensor technology, robotics, etc., which heralds a paradigm shift in how agriculture is used and managed. Several emerging trends are set to reshape the practices and management of agriculture in India in the coming year of 2024.  Let’s delve into these transformative developments.

Technology adoption is escalating, with precision farming, drones, and IoT devices gaining prominence for improved crop monitoring, management, and resource utilization. The aim is to increase yields, save costs and improve business processes to make agriculture more efficient while increasing income. In this context, AgriTech emerges as a catalyst, bringing transformative and sustainable shifts in farming practices. The primary objective is not only to enhance the quality and quantity of crops, optimize livestock management but also to strive towards achieving a sustainable future.

Sustainable Agriculture

 In India, a growing emphasis on sustainable and organic farming practices demonstrates a dedication to environmental conservation. This change aims to reduce agriculture’s environmental effect, fostering a more climate-conscious and sustainable approach within the farming sector. One of the most prominent trends in sustainable farming is the use of regenerative agriculture practices. This strategy emphasizes the significance of soil health and advocates the adoption of soil organic matter-building practices.

Government initiative

 The active implementation of diverse government schemes and initiatives, with a specific focus on elevating farmers’ income, improving irrigation facilities, and enhancing overall agricultural productivity, stands out as a pivotal pathway for fostering the growth of agriculture.

Moreover, regarding market linkages, it is evident that technology platforms consistently act as facilitators, strengthening the connections between farmers and markets. This leads to an improved system that guarantees better prices for agricultural produce, consequently contributing to the overall economic prosperity of farmers.

Another observable trend is diversification, wherein farmers are venturing into cultivating new crops and engaging in additional activities such as dairy, poultry, and aquaculture. This will not only enable them to to establish multiple income sources but also enhances the resilience of their farms.

Agri-Fintech

Last but certainly not least is the rise of Agri-Fintech. The agricultural sector is witnessing an increasing adoption of financial technology, providing farmers with enhanced access to credit, insurance, and various financial services.

In 2024, developments in Indian agriculture will lead to a paradigm shift toward a more technologically advanced, sustainable, and resilient sector. This transformation not only tackles current difficulties, but also creates the groundwork for a future-ready agricultural sector capable of meeting the increasing demands of a growing population while encouraging environmental care.

Technological revolution in agri sector

The future of agriculture in India is on the brink of a technological revolution, with several advancements poised to transform the sector. As per an EY report, agri-tech startups in India have the potential to reach a market worth $24 billion by 2025.

Agricultural technology aims to make fieldwork more efficient and convenient. Every year, many innovations, sometimes breakthrough technologies, appear in agriculture. With the modernization and expansion of the agricultural industry, it is increasingly important for agricultural consultants, food manufacturers and industrial managers to stay abreast of the latest technological standard. Numerous technologies are contributing to increased efficiency within the agricultural ecosystem.

In this dynamic landscape, precision agriculture is positioned to thrive. This growth is fueled by the widespread adoption of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for real-time crop monitoring. Simultaneously, the integration of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and sensors will provide invaluable data on soil health and environmental conditions. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will play pivotal roles, offering predictive analytics for optimized crop management and image recognition for early detection of potential issues.

Blockchain tech

Blockchain technology is expected to contribute to transparency in the agricultural supply chain, ensuring fair compensation for farmers and providing consumers with information about the origins of their food. Biotechnology may introduce genetically modified crops with enhanced resistance to pests and adverse weather conditions. The deployment of autonomous vehicles and robotics is set to revolutionize farm operations, resulting in reduced labor costs and improved overall efficiency.

Mobile applications that facilitate direct connections between farmers and buyers, coupled with features such as weather forecasting, empower farmers by providing them with crucial information. The integration of renewable energy sources, such as solar power, addresses sustainability concerns, while water management technologies like drip irrigation optimize resource utilization.

Government initiatives, combined with the widespread adoption of data analytics and farm management software, are crucial components propelling this technological revolution. The overarching goal is to enhance productivity, reduce costs, and contribute to a more sustainable future for Indian agriculture.

 By Amit Sinha, Co-founder, Unnati AgriIndia’s agriculture

Agrotech, Digital Technologies, Drones, India, Industry Reports / Analysis, IT

The technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Big data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and agribots are helping the farming community by providing granular data on rainfall patterns, water cycles, fertiliser requirements, improving crop production and real-time monitoring, harvesting, processing, and marketing.

India’s agricultural sector today is said to be on the verge of a breakthrough technological transformation. The new farm management approach uses Geo Positioning Systems (GPS) and Artificial Intelligence-enabled software for precise mapping of farmlands, ensuring that individual fields or crops get precisely the inputs they need for optimum productivity. The technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Big data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and agribots are helping the farming community by providing granular data on rainfall patterns, water cycles, fertiliser requirements, improving crop production and real-time monitoring, harvesting, processing, and marketing.

Despite the array of technology solutions available for farmers and investment flows, the road to transforming agriculture through technology is not without bottlenecks. Agritech solution providers need to consider several actions like training, awareness campaigns, demonstrations of new technologies in 2024 when looking to move toward a more sustainable production and to enhance efficiencies and increase farmers’ income by adopting them.

Agricultural technology aims to make fieldwork more efficient and convenient. Every year, many innovations, sometimes breakthrough technologies, appear in agriculture. With the modernisation and expansion of the agricultural industry, it is increasingly important for agricultural consultants, food manufacturers and industrial managers to stay abreast of the latest technological standards. Numerous technologies are contributing to increased efficiency within the agricultural ecosystem.

In this dynamic landscape, precision agriculture is positioned to thrive. This growth is fuelled by the widespread adoption of drones and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for real-time crop monitoring. Simultaneously, IoT devices and sensors will provide invaluable data on soil health and environmental conditions. AI and ML will play pivotal roles, offering predictive analytics for optimised crop management and image recognition for early detection of potential issues. AI and ML will further strengthen in application for precision farming. These technologies will help analyse vast datasets from drones, providing insights into optimal planting times, soil health, and customised crop management practices. Robotic solutions for planting, harvesting, and crop maintenance will remain in trend and only get better with time. Automated machinery with precision control will ensure accurate planting depths, selective harvesting, and targeted crop treatments.

The government of India has initiated the 4th wave of revolution in the agricultural sector to introduce technological advancement in the sector to improve yields. The government also launched the Digital Agriculture Mission for 2021-25 to include artificial intelligence, remote sensing, drones, robots, and other technology with grants for drone procurement.

The Department of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (DA&FW) in collaboration with the Wadhwani Institute for Artificial Intelligence (Wadhwani AI) developed Krishi 24/7, the first-ever AI-powered solution for automated agricultural news monitoring and analysis, with support from Google.org.

Sensors and IoT Applications

Connected environment for devices is already flourishing and drones equipped with sensors and integrated with IoT applications will further help in real-time monitoring of the field’s conditions. Data regarding soil moisture, temperature, and crop health will empower farmers to make informed decisions, optimise resource usage, and minimise waste.

Blockchain technology is expected to contribute to transparency in the agricultural supply chain, ensuring fair compensation for farmers and providing consumers with information about the origins of their food. Biotechnology may introduce genetically modified crops with enhanced resistance to pests and adverse weather conditions. The deployment of autonomous vehicles and robotics is set to revolutionise farm operations, resulting in reduced labour costs and improved overall efficiency.

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

The technologies such as the Internet of