Sensors, robots, satellites, GPS and drones have become a part of everyday life and serve as invaluable data sources concerning crop growth, soil characteristics and weather conditions. Although each of them is very interesting on its own, these datasets are reaching their full potential only after we aggregate them and apply advanced AI algorithms. Information technologies allow us to comprehend large amounts of data and extract hidden knowledge about agricultural production and processes happening inside the plants. Sensors and technological advances have already been adopted by numerous farms globally to assist in more precise applications and better decisions in the framework of a new farming approach called precision agriculture.
In precision agriculture, the fields are treated applying variable rates of inputs (irrigation water, fertilisers, pesticides, etc.) according to the actual needs of each location in the field. This way the efficiency is increased, yield, quality and impact to the environment are optimised.
In modern agriculture mechanisation and sensors are continuously being developed, making precision farming applications highly automated and available to more and more farmers.
Extract from IoF2020 blog by Oskar Marko and Aristotelis Tagarakis,
Senior researchers at BioSense Institute
