Optimizing agricultural IoT

IoT technology is a valuable platform for tracking goods. The advancement of IoT has enabled numerous objects to connect to the internet and communicate autonomously. IoT reduces manual data entry and utilizes various sensors to gather environmental data, automating storage and processing. IoT provides crucial information, including temperature, speed, and other indicators throughout production, transmission, and supply.

IoT smart devices can collect and transmit traceability data essential for business processes. This data can be securely stored on a blockchain-based traceability system. Traceability information may include farming environment (soil, water, temperature, humidity), staff, date, time, origin, and details of drug applications, irrigation, fertilizing, and pesticides. Startups like FILAMENT have utilized blockchain technology to broadcast IoT data, such as weather information, SMA alerts, machinery protocols, and GPS positioning, to support precision agriculture and enhance transparency. Beyond agriculture, IoT integrated with blockchain frameworks can promote sustainable aquaculture practices by monitoring rearing conditions (temperature, water level, oxygen, pH) and regulating the environment through actuators (water pumps, heaters, feeders, lighting). This enables real-time tracking and control of aquaculture environments.

IoT applications support farmers throughout the agricultural process, from planting to post-harvest storage and transportation. Soil moisture, humidity, leaf moisture, solar radiation, infrared light, and rainfall sensors are commonly used in IoT-based systems. Sensors can be deployed in greenhouses, seed banks, cold rooms, agricultural machinery, transportation systems, and livestock. The collected data is processed in the cloud for monitoring and control.

While IoT devices can function without geospatial information, incorporating this data can help establish the origins of agricultural commodities and gain insights into cultivation site conditions. Geospatial data, particularly from earth observation (EO), can identify not only the origins of cash crops like oil palm but also track their spread, revealing the impact on deforestation.

IoT empowers farmers with valuable insights into crop yields, soil conditions, pest infestations, and quality, facilitating optimized production. Crop tracking capabilities enable effective monitoring of growth and recording of relevant information. The integration of blockchain with IoT for real-time physical data monitoring and HACCP-based tracing is gaining traction. This is especially crucial for maintaining the cold chain in perishable food distribution. ZetoChain, for instance, leverages IoT devices to monitor environmental conditions at every link of the cold chain.

Drones streamline farm supervision by surveying vast areas, capturing multi-spectral images, and gathering data on land conditions, irrigation needs, crop growth, pathogens, and livestock health. The agricultural industry is increasingly adopting drones as a sustainable management tool, empowering agronomists, engineers, and farmers to optimize operations through robust data analytics. Drone data facilitates precise crop monitoring, enabling accurate planning and improvements like ditch management and fertilizer optimization. GPS-based tracking of products throughout the supply chain enhances traceability, surpassing traditional methods. Precision agriculture practices, driven by drones, are gaining traction, contributing to informed decision-making and market growth, estimated to reach $43.4 billion by 2025. While drones haven't fully penetrated mainstream agriculture, they're becoming essential for precision farming, leading the way towards sustainable practices and increased profitability.

For example, DroneSeed is a prime example of how drone technology can be applied in agriculture. These unmanned aircraft can effectively spray fields, saving on costs, labor, and time when compared to traditional methods.