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In the UK, the average age of farmers is approaching 60, while a US study showed that just 9% of food producers are under 35 years old. This is seen across the globe due to the reality of farming: a combination of grueling work, pay factors, the lure of other industries, and restrictive migration policies can all make it very tough to get others on board.

Smart farming can help change this at both an operational and strategic level. On the ground, more automation improves safety and reduces manual work. This enables farmers to cover more ground with a smaller workforce, while simultaneously reducing operational costs. Strategically, smart farming provides a huge opportunity to reframe agriculture: to move away from the back-breaking image, and replace it with one of a sector at the forefront of innovation.

Faced with the effects of conflict, unprecedented heatwaves, and the termination of subsidies, it’s no exaggeration to describe agriculture as being in a state of perma-crisis. One of the most severe consequences of this has been cripplingly high and volatile input costs; particularly, fuel, feeds, and fertilizer.

Smart farming technology doesn’t make these problems disappear, but it can help in mitigating them. Variable rate technology (VRT) is one example of this: the ability to apply fertilizers at variable rates across a field based on real-time data on soil nutrient levels and crop health. As a result, fewer expensive resources are thrown away in over-application.

The world’s population is predicted to increase from its current 8 billion to 9.7 billion in 2050. Estimates vary, although one meta-analysis found that food demand will increase between 35 and 56% due to a combination of population growth, economic development, and urbanization. Smart farming has a crucial role to play in filling the food demand gap.

Through precision farming architecture (e.g., moisture, nutrient, and canopy sensors, drones equipped with multispectral cameras, and variable rate application equipment) there is much greater scope to optimize growing conditions in a highly targeted way to increase yields. At the same time, data analysis and modeling can help farmers identify the crop varieties best suited to the specific conditions of individual fields for maximum output.

Whether it’s a drought, pest infestation, supply chain disruption, or fuel price hikes, the quicker you can respond to an emerging problem, the greater the chances of mitigating its impact.

Smart farming technologies can provide a kind of early warning system against a wide variety of threats. Examples include the integration of advanced, localized weather forecasting tools into farm management systems, sensors that trigger alerts as soon as pest activity is detected, and systems that provide real-time data on inventory levels for core inputs (e.g., seeds and feeds), helping farmers to better anticipate shortages.

The regulatory burden faced by farmers covers a vast (and expanding) range of areas, from export documentation, workforce visas, health and safety, and traceability, to carbon reduction and climate resilience.

One thing that most smart farming initiatives have in common is data generation. Soil sensors, yield monitors, irrigation solutions, feed management systems, and similar applications produce granular data on an ongoing basis. This can help you meet specific regulations (e.g., by triggering alerts when you’re close to breaching particular water or chemical usage limits). What’s more, detailed and verifiable data logs provide clear audit trails, helping you stay compliant and demonstrate your adherence to the rules.