The world population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, which means the demand for food will rise significantly. It is important to make farming more efficient and sustainable in order to meet this demand. That's where smart farming comes into play. Smart farming, also known as precision agriculture, is the use of modern technologies, such as big data, IoT, and artificial intelligence, to optimize agricultural production. New smart farming technologies can help farmers to monitor crop growth, detect pests and diseases, and manage irrigation and fertilization more efficiently.

In this blog, we will discuss the role of big data and IoT in smart farming, with a focus on case studies from Europe.

Current Scenario of the Agriculture Industry in Europe

The agriculture industry is one of the significant industries in Europe, which contributed nearly 1.3% to Europe’s overall GDP in 2021. Traditional agriculture requires ideal climatic conditions, land availability, and fertility, along with sufficient water availability.

Europe is expected to witness a decrease in population during the forecast period 2022-2027. As per a report by Economic Policy Committee, Europe’s old population will significantly rise by 77% from 2010-2050. Hence, the European Parliament, the agriculture sector of the region, is heavily dependent on migrant labor. Followed by the Brexit vote and the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the region witnessed a significant decrease in the number of migrant laborers.

In order to help the elderly population in the agriculture sector of Europe, the use of modern agricultural equipment is being promoted by governing bodies around the Europe region. Smart farming encompasses several technologies, such as guidance technologies, sensing technologies, analytics, and other precision technologies, which reduce the misuse of agri-inputs and make efficient and profitable farming possible. By further developing the technological innovation currently being used on European farms and within the field, the European Union (EU) desires to transform farming in Europe into an industry that is less wasteful and more efficient and productive.

Many players involved in the value chain of agriculture have widened their scope to include smart farming or digital agriculture solutions to support the European Union's Green Deal commitment and improve their business prospects. In addition to this, the European Union is also funding several companies, projects, and institutions that are working toward developing smart farming equipment and technologies.

Thus, Europe is substantially focusing on investing in cutting-edge technologies to modernize farming methods, which is leading to significant growth in the Europe smart farming market.

According to the BIS Research analysis, the Europe smart farming market was valued at $3.99 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach $8.42 billion in 2027, following a CAGR of 16.09% during 2022-2027. 

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Role of Big Data in Smart Farming- Few Case Studies

Big data refers to the large volumes of data that are generated by various sources, such as sensors, drones, and satellite imagery. In smart farming, big data can be used to analyze weather patterns, soil conditions, and other environmental factors that affect crop growth. This data can be used to develop predictive models that can help farmers to make informed decisions about planting, irrigation, fertilization, and pest control. A few of the case studies of how companies are providing big data and IoT solutions to farmers in Europe are mentioned below:

•    Arable Labs: Arable Labs is a US-based company that uses IoT sensors to provide farmers with real-time data on crop growth and environmental conditions. The company's sensors can measure a wide range of variables, such as soil moisture, temperature, and humidity. Arable Labs has partnered with several European companies to bring its technology to European farmers.

For instance, the company partnered with Yara International, a Norwegian-based multinational company that specializes in agricultural products and environmental protection agents, to develop a system that uses sensors to optimize nitrogen fertilizer use in wheat crops. The system works by placing the sensors in the fields where the wheat is grown and then using advanced algorithms to analyze the data they collect. Based on this analysis, the system advises farmers on when and how much nitrogen fertilizer to apply to their crops. This ensures that the crops receive the nutrients that they need to grow while minimizing waste and reducing the environmental impact of farming.

•    AgroIntelli: AgroIntelli is a Danish company that is dedicated to developing autonomous agricultural machinery to help farmers increase efficiency and productivity. The company's machinery uses IoT sensors and artificial intelligence to perform tasks such as planting, fertilizing, and harvesting. By leveraging advanced technologies, the company aims to create more sustainable and profitable farming practices.

The machines developed by AgroIntelli are equipped with sophisticated sensors that collect data on various crop conditions, such as soil moisture, temperature, and humidity. This information is then used by the machine's artificial intelligence algorithms to make real-time decisions about the optimal amount of seed, fertilizer, and water to apply to the crops.

One of the most significant advantages of AgroIntelli's machines is their ability to detect weeds and other pests. By using advanced imaging technologies, the machines can identify and target specific plants or pests without the need for widespread application of herbicides or pesticides. This precision targeting helps to reduce the use of these chemicals, making farming practices more environmentally friendly and cost-effective.

The company's machines are designed to operate autonomously, which means that they can operate without direct input from a human operator. This reduces the need for manual labor, making farming operations more efficient and freeing up time for farmers to focus on other aspects of their business.

•    Gamaya: Gamaya is a Swiss company that is focused on providing farmers with high-resolution images of their crops using drones equipped with advanced multispectral cameras. By collecting and analyzing data from these images, farmers can gain valuable insights into the health and condition of their crops.

The multispectral cameras used by Gamaya's drones are capable of capturing images in a range of wavelengths, allowing them to detect early signs of plant stress and disease that might not be visible to the human eye. By providing this data to farmers in real-time, they can quickly identify and address potential issues before they become more severe, helping to protect their crops and improve yields.

One of the most significant benefits of Gamaya's technology is that it allows farmers to target their use of fertilizers and pesticides more effectively. By analyzing the images captured by drones, farmers can determine which areas of their fields require additional nutrients or treatment, reducing waste and minimizing the environmental impact of their operations.

Gamaya's technology is also designed to be easy to use and integrate into existing farming workflows. The drones are lightweight and portable, allowing them to be quickly deployed to different areas of a farm as needed. The data collected by drones can be easily accessed through a cloud-based platform, allowing farmers to make informed decisions about their operations from anywhere.

Conclusion

Smart farming has the potential to revolutionize agriculture by making it more efficient, sustainable, and profitable. Big data and IoT are two technologies that play a crucial role in smart farming. By using these technologies, farmers can optimize their use of resources and improve their yields. The case studies from Europe demonstrate how these technologies have the potential to transform agriculture and help farmers to meet the growing demand for food in the coming years.

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