Agriculture Technology as a Service Market: Rising Adoption of AI

Agriculture Technology as a Service Market: AI in Farming Practices

Despite the production of enough food to feed the global population, nearly one billion people still suffer from malnutrition and hunger owing to factors such as, climate change, food wastage, etc. Furthermore, with the population across the world expected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, the pressure on the agricultural industry to produce more food, while using fewer resources and reducing its environmental impact, is mounting.

Aligning with this, Agriculture Technology as a Service (ATaaS) represents a paradigm shift in farming practices, with AI-driven solutions driving efficiency, sustainability, and profitability. Its ability to process vast amounts of information and make data-driven predictions has immense potential in agriculture. For example, as per a report by the World Economic Forum (WEF), AI integration in agriculture could bring about an approximately 60% reduction in pesticide usage as well as a 50% slash in water usage.

On that note, let’s take a look at how the increasing adoption of AI is driving the growth of the ATaaS market – 

• Precision Agriculture: Precision farming utilizes modern technologies such as field mapping and satellite imagery in order to enhance crop quality and profitability. AI-driven precision agriculture tools are transforming the way farms operate – while sensors, drones, and IoT devices collect data on soil health and crop growth, AI algorithms process this data in real time. This enables farmers to make informed decisions on irrigation, fertilization, and pest control. Here are a few examples – 
• • • The Efficient Agriculture System (EASY) by CLAAS KGaA mbH (Germany) provides mixed expertise in data management and precision farming. Integrating telematics machine networking and remote services, it helps optimize the application of fertilizers and crop protection products.

• • • Raven Industries Inc’s (United States) Slingshot offers connectivity via mobile networks for access to RTK correction signals, data management capabilities, online services, in-field services, and precision agriculture equipment.
• Pest and Disease Management: Moreover, manually identifying insects is a laborious, error-prone task, and is often time-consuming. However, the emergence of AI-based solutions offers a promising alternative; the identification and classification of crop illnesses using AI-based solutions are particularly relevant to farmers as they can help aid in the early detection and prevention of plant diseases and provide precise diagnosis. The Planting and Seeding Application software by Trimble Inc facilitates seed management, and nutrient and pest management operations. AI models like these can help detect and identify pests as well as diseases in crops by analyzing images and sensor data. Early detection also enables targeted interventions, thereby reducing the need for widespread pesticide use.
• Crop Monitoring and Yield Prediction: AI-powered image recognition and machine learning algorithms enable the automated monitoring of crops. This technology can identify early signs of disease, stress, or nutrient deficiencies, allowing farmers to take corrective actions promptly. Furthermore, AI can also predict crop yields, aiding in supply chain planning. Several leading companies are taking collaborative measures in this regard. For instance – 

• • Farmers Edge Inc (Canada), a leading digital agriculture service provider, collaborated with Google Cloud (United States) in 2021. The strategic measure was aimed at promoting the Canada-based company’s services and boosting the implementation of artificial intelligence, predictive analysis, and machine learning. 

• Smart Farming Equipment: Artificial intelligence, when embedded or integrated into farm machinery, plays a vital role in making them smarter and more autonomous. For instance, AI-enabled tractors can perform tasks like planting, harvesting, and plowing with precision, subsequently reducing labor costs and improving efficiency. Likewise, leading companies such as Topcon and AT&T have extensive technological backgrounds in smart agriculture related to AI, big data, and sensors. AT&T M2X, for example, is an agriculture IoT software as a service that provides data storage, event triggering, alarming, device management, and data visualization. 

As AI continues to evolve and integrate with farming operations, a continued expansion is expected in the global Agriculture Technology as a Service market. Over the upcoming years, farmers and stakeholders in the agrarian ecosystem can also look forward to a future where AI-driven solutions cultivate not only crops but also a more sustainable agricultural landscape.

By Shruti Vanjare