Are you ready for the fourth agricultural revolution? It’s arrived just in time for a hungry planet facing unprecedented crises and opportunities. Like the three agricultural revolutions before it, our fourth agricultural revolution will drive innovation. Yet it will also leverage and advance existing technologies. To see where we’re headed, it helps to consider where we’ve been.<iframe src="https://c8056756.sibforms.com/serve/MUIFAH4WHDmOPfJMSjdsS64wzhDLr9_Ekkns_0sW9Sqy11_oMRUhEl-fhjm13fNhWsqBj7ilAiaajoZvs3IGxDfOnSWuGThJLjtMyybwWrTiq0pEkb2DNUsB77OqsZmuX8TEbWxrO2lppJZ93PqI2D0HsagcuXW6lpyE6JD95Ze7kL1xhCLOhISOsVQRdbldBChWT6xP_pZsBoyx" frameborder="0" scrolling="auto" style="display:block;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;max-width:100%;width:810px;height:353px" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> The first agricultural revolution, the Neolithic Revolution, began around 10,000 B.C. when humans transitioned from hunting and gathering to farming and herding. The second, the British Agricultural Revolution, began in the 18th century and introduced mechanical farm equipment, livestock breeding, and crop rotation. The third, the Green Revolution, lasted from the 1940s to 1960s and included fertilizers, pesticides, plant breeding, and advances in irrigation.The fourth agricultural revolution, now upon us, is known as Agriculture 4.0 because it uses smart technologies such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and automation to improve efficiency and productivity. Many of these technologies are also part of Industry 4.0, but the demand for agricultural innovation is especially pressing because of our burgeoning population and the condition of the planet.Over the next 30 years, the global population is <a href="https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/population#:~:text=Our%20growing%20population&amp;text=The%20world's%20population%20is%20expected,billion%20in%20the%20mid%2D2080s." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">expected to increase</a> by nearly 2 billion people. Experts predict a 40% gap between water supply and demand by 2030, and over 30% of the world’s soils are <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412019315855" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">moderately to highly degraded</a>, in part because of the overuse of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides that also pose risks to human health and the environment.Clearly, yesterday’s strategies won’t meet the challenges of the future. Previous agricultural revolutions have focused almost exclusively on increased productivity. With Agriculture 4.0, however, there’s an essential balance between growing more food and using less resources. From water, fertilizers, and seeds to labor, chemicals, and energy, farms that learn to do more with less – and the innovative companies who support them – will be the heroes of the revolution. In the pages that follow, you’ll learn how smart agriculture is interconnected. Automation and robotics depend upon advanced sensing and improved connectivity, as well as developments in artificial intelligence (AI) and Big Data. Genetic and biotech innovations aren’t limited to the laboratory. Rather, they’re helping to reduce demand for chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Renewable energy and resource conservation are also critical. How will smart agriculture leverage these technologies? Let’s explore the answers in the chapters that follow. Steve MelitoEditor-in-Chief<hr /><h2> </h2><h2>Thank you</h2>This report was developed by a small writing team, led by Editor-in-Chief Steve Melito, that included Deval Shah, Shailendra Singh, and Julia Masselos.  Additionally, interviews were conducted with leaders, researchers, and companies in the smart agriculture sector to provide practical, real-world insights from those closest to this rapidly evolving field.We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to our sponsors, Nordic Semiconductor and Mouser, whose support enables us to deliver high-quality content to the engineering community.

Introduction

Chapter I: Automation and Robotics

Chapter II: Sensing, IoT, and Advanced Connectivity in Agriculture

Chapter III: Artificial Intelligence and Big Data in Agriculture

Introduction

1. Chapter I: Automation and Robotics

2. Chapter II: Sensing, IoT, and Advanced Connectivity in Agriculture

3. Chapter III: Artificial Intelligence and Big Data in Agriculture

4. Chapter IV: Biotechnology & Genetic Innovations in Agriculture

5. Chapter V: Renewable Energy and Resource Conservation

The Agricultural Technology Report

A deep dive into the technologies driving next-generation agriculture.

Chapter I: Automation and Robotics

Chapter I: Automation and Robotics

Automation and robotics are enabling farmers to improve efficiencies, reduce costs, and meet the growing demand for food. The benefits go beyond reducing the need for manual labor and human-operated equipment. Automation and robotics are also helping with environmental ste ...

Chapter II: Sensing, IoT, and Advanced Connectivity in Agriculture

Climate change and population growth are both impacting agriculture. To feed more people and optimize the use of resources, farmers need more and better information from the field. As with humans, environmental conditions can have complex effects on crops.Consider t ...

Chapter III: Artificial Intelligence and Big Data in Agriculture

Agriculture has evolved significantly from its traditional roots to become a technologically advanced industry. Today, artificial intelligence (AI) and big data are at the forefront oftransforming agricultural practices, enabling more informed and precise decision-making that enha ...

Chapter IV: Biotechnology & Genetic Innovations in Agriculture

IntroductionClimate change is one of the leading drivers of food insecurity and malnutrition worldwide. It affects everything from pest patterns to soil quality and overall crop yields. With the rapid improvements in technology and genetic understanding of the last decades, two ...

Chapter V: Renewable Energy and Resource Conservation

Farmers have harnessed the power of the sun for thousands of years. Whether it’s for growing grains, ripening fruit, or nourishing the forage that livestock consume, the sun is essential for agriculture. Today, the Earth’s nearest star is also valued for its electricity-generating ...

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