How IoT Technology is Helping to Revolutionise the Agriculture Sector

Smarter Technologies works with farmers to create bespoke farming solutions. From livestock security to asset tracking monitoring and recovery, our Orion Data Network system feeds back real-time data on the location, health and security of your livestock and other valuable assets.

Data-driven agriculture has the potential to transform the UK’s farming sector.

The UK’s population is expected to exceed 70 million people by 2031. To keep up with this growing demand for food, British farmers will need to enhance their farming methods and optimise efficiencies. One way this is already being achieved is by smart farming, powered by the Internet of Things (IoT).

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system used to help autonomous machines make accurate decisions. This technology does not require human-to-human nor human-to-computer interaction and is done using interrelated devices and machines with the ability to transfer data over a network.

Put simply, smart farming is the use of digital technology to improve farming efforts. In other words, it is the use of internet-connected sensors, cameras, and other devices by farmers to gain a holistic view of their farm, adapt to changes, and adjust operations to improve their results.

What are the main benefits of using IoT in farming?

Data on weather conditions and the health condition of cattle and crops can be stored in one easily accessible place. Farmers can then check and analyse the data to make better decisions and predict what situations may arise in the future.

For example, a farmer can install a sensor on a tractor or piece of equipment. The sensor collects data over time and will send a warning once a part is about to wear out, allowing farmers to avoid costly lapses in operations. To put it another way, IoT gives farmers visibility they didn’t possess before.

There are various examples of IoT technology that can be used according to the needs of a particular area. Some of these include monitoring climate conditions, greenhouse automation, crop monitoring, drones and livestock GPS tracking.

Weather stations that are equipped with smart sensors can collect data on weather conditions and send this information to the farmer. This information can then be analysed by special software, providing the farmer with a detailed forecast that can assist in avoiding crop losses.

Greenhouse automation refers to an installed system with multiple sensors.