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As climate change ravages our harvests and threatens the world’s food security, technology in agriculture — or agritech — is becoming more important than ever. The urgency of the situation has research firms estimating that agritech’s market size Will tripleBy 2025
Agritech provides farmers with a variety of applications that maximize crop yield, even in harsh weather conditions. Aquaculture is one example of such an application., which we’ve discussed as facilitating the more efficient use of water as it becomes scarcer due to climate change.
The drone is another innovation. The drone was initially designed for agriculture and military use, but its versatility is helping farmers in every stage of the production cycle. Here’s how.
Precision farming
Farmers can use drones for data science to maximize their harvests. Drones have precise GPS technology and on-board sensors that allow for full and immediate view of the field. This input, together with other methods like soil samplingThis software helps to map fields and determine the best place to plant a certain amount of a crop at a given moment. These seeds can be planted by drones in equal precision and evenness. Farmers are able to use their resources more efficiently and can reap maximum yields despite unpredictable factors like the weather.
Crop management
Drones can provide increased visibility that can be used to address a wide range of agricultural needs. This is due to high-definition. Drone camerasThey come in a variety of resolutions and can be enhanced by a variety sensors. Spectral imaging technology allows drones immediately to spot yellowed plants. Air sampling sensors can also detect airborne pathogens such as Fusarium graminearumCrops like wheat and corn can be damaged by a variety of climatic events. Farmers can then address their concerns as they occur, saving their crops against damage from sudden climatic events.
Enhanced irrigation
Thanks to thermal and Laser-mapping sensorsDrones can be used by farmers to determine where a field is drying out faster, where water tends towards pooling, the direction that water flows over the soil, and where trees and plants prevent erosion. They can also help identify areas where irrigation equipment might be susceptible to leaks. These information can be used to help determine efficient irrigation strategies, which will prevent water waste, which is especially important during times of extreme drought. Farmers can even use drones for evenly watering plants and fertilizer spraying them. Some manufacturers allow farmers to coordinate multiple drones in a larger area. Additionally, they are working on technologies to prevent drift. This is when the spray liquid misses its target due to wind.
Mechanical pollination
Bees’ pollination of crops contributes a whopping $15 billionUS economy. But bee populations are declining rapidly due to rising temperatures. Drones can be used as an alternative crop pollinator. The same machines that harvest nuts use to extract pollen from the trees or flower buds, and then they are used to extract the pollen. The pollen is then purified to prevent disease spread before being distributed by drones. This doubles as a time-saving measure that allows bee populations to recover and does not negatively impact food security.
With the climate crisis well underway, it’s clear that we need to lean on our technological knowledge to pull us through. The use of drones exemplifies how we can make production more effective without compromising on sustainability — and how we can begin with agriculture, an industry that sustains us all.
