5 Applications of IoT in Agriculture and Food Industry

IoT in Agriculture

The Internet of Things (IoT) technology has enabled intelligent wearables, devices, and automated machines. However, the IoT has had a massive impact on agriculture. Mechanical innovations such as tractors and harvesters occurred worldwide in the late twentieth century for agricultural operations. Because of the steadily increasing demand for food, the agriculture industry relies heavily on new technological ideas. The industrial IoT in agriculture has been a driving force in increased agricultural production at a lower cost. Let’s closely look at some implementations of IoT in agriculture-related activities. 

Applications of IoT in agriculture 

Here are some uses of IoT in agricultural activities. 

1. Robotics 

Since the third industrial revolution, Internet-developed robots have come a long way. Although IoT in agricultureis unlikely to change the face of the food and beverage industry, it may offer a workaround to the problem of labor shortages.

Weeds can be detected and eliminated using aerial vehicles (UAVs). Acting precisely on demand, they could save farmers time, human resources, and spray volumes. This savings translates into healthier soil with fewer pesticides or weedicides. 

2. On-field navigation 

Machine learning, GPS, and IoT are rendering manned machine navigation obsolete. Farmers can use their smartphones to control tractors, rotavators, and other agricultural machinery. Using IoT in agriculture can help manage and detect better. As the code learns to recognize rough patches, it learns to shift gears and smooth navigation to protect the crops and the equipment. 

3. Crop harvesting automation 

Crop harvesting is frequently the plight of farmers due to late harvests. Weather, untrained personnel, or other poor farm management practices can impact such events. Harvesting robots are programmed to pick the right fruit at the right time using the wealth of information that we now have. 

Also Read: Android 13 Features and Updates: You Must Know

4. Remote sensors 

Remote sensing is another excellent use of IoT in agriculture for better management. Installing on-field sensors is another way the food industry is increasing its appetite for the Internet of Things. Sensors build to detect differences in weather, crop nutrition, soil pH, and other factors. A smartly coded crop monitoring system provides farmers with advanced information and alerts them to potential problems. 

5. Drones 

Another example of IoT in the food industry is drones. GPS, image processing, infrared cameras, and ground control systems are the self-guiding technology. Technology preferring farmers supports Drones-as-a-Service (DaaS) to predict crop yields, diagnose pest infestations, and provide field supervision. Aerobotics is one of the few food tech startups that has made its mark in the field. Hire mobile app developer for more appropriate use of drones. 

IoT in food packaging 

Now we move on to how IoT can help in food packaging. 

1. Warehouse administration 

The use of IoT in warehouse management is a well-known top IoT trend. In the food service industry, inventory tracking consumes a lot of overhead and unaccounted muscle power. Massive amounts of data require constant reconciliation and, as a result, must be accurate. Sensors serve as flawless tracking devices for warehouse inventory, with data updates in real-time in the software. Hire a mobile app developer for technical guidance. 

2. Vision picking 

AGVs and collaborative robots can only go far in retrieving deeply buried stocks in densely packed shelf lines. Think Google glass, but with a lot more information. Vision picking combines the internet of things and the food industry to assist humans in identifying the best storage zones. 

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3. Authentic labels for products 

Internet-enabled microchips can be embedded in cutting-edge food packaging, revealing the product’s authenticity when scanned. QR codes are variations on the same concept that eliminates doubts about the product’s authenticity. Customers ordering food online are more concerned than ever about the origins of its supply chain. 

4. Intelligent sensors 

IoT in agriculture has opened many doors of opportunity in many ways. Adding QR codes isn’t enough. These stock-keeping units have such advanced sensors that indicate not only the factuality of quality. But also whether the sealing has been broken, the source of its ingredients, etc. 

IoT in retail  

Here is how IoT can help in retail services. 

1. Reverse vending machines 

Reverse vending machines are in areas where recycling laws are strictly regulated. They pay people a certain amount to deposit disposable/recyclable materials such as cans and plastic bottles. Integrating IoT-enabled programs alerts retail staff to empty the machine before a line forms. Or hire a mobile app developer for more professional guidance.

Fewer queues translate into happier customers, whose lifetime effect can be seen in return customers and purchase orders. 

2. Remote controlled storage  

Refrigeration and storage are concerning issues for the food manufacturing industry. Most operations continue to rely on the same old, broken system of human-aided supervision. It ignores that the human eye is prone to making mistakes, not to mention public holidays when storage units may be understaffed.

Remote monitoring systems powered by IoT in agriculture can make a cameo appearance in filling such ubiquitous gaps.  

3. Energy management 

HVAC systems typically regulate the temperature inside supermarkets, malls, and retail chains. However, they are not intelligent and cannot change the air conditioning/central heating. A comprehensive IoT suite could regulate room temperature based on outside conditions.

It would help preserve the perishable goods that cannot withstand frequent temperature changes. Furthermore, this energy optimization would save millions of dollars in utility bills, further contributing to cost efficiency. 

 Conclusion:

The IoT will continue to expand its application territory to various industries, the most prominent of which will be food and beverage. For more consideration, consult an IoT app development company for your projects. 

Consult Mobibiz, a reputed mobile app development company in Gurgaon offering development, migration, and customization of mobile apps. They let business owners create mobile apps by opting ready-made features to offer to customers.

FAQ’s 

1. What are the IoT challenges in agriculture? 

The most significant challenges for IoT in agriculture are a lack of information, high adoption costs, security concerns, etc. 

2. How can IoT be applied in agriculture? 

Robots, drones, remote sensors, and computer imaging are used in agriculture, along with ever-improving machine learning and analytical tools. 

3. What role does IoT play in intelligent agriculture? 

Smart farming based on IoT technologies enables growers and farmers to reduce waste and increase productivity. 

Want to hire proficient IoT developers for building next-gen applications?

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