Digitizing Agriculture with Intelligent Mobile Platforms
Tavant created a suite of mobile applications that digitized agribusiness workflows, enhanced decision-making, and transformed user experience across the agricultural value chain.
Tavant Introduces AI Agents to Enhance Agri and Food Industry Operations
SANTA CLARA, Calif — March 11, 2025 — Tavant, a leading AI-driven technology solutions and services provider, today announced the launch of AI Agent accelerators developed for the Agriculture and Food value chain. Built using Microsoft Copilot Studio, these agents have the potential to enable transformative impact across farm productivity, logistics and supply chain, sales, regulatory compliance and agri-lending. The first two AI agents, Sales Assistant and Virtual Agronomist, tackle key challenges in farm management by leveraging AI to automate processes and provide real-time insights. These solutions reduce manual workloads, improve transparency, and enhance decision-making for growers. Sales Assistant enables growers to place orders for seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, or nutrients via email, chat, or messaging with their preferred agri-retailer or dealer, eliminating the need for marketplaces or online order management systems. Farm co-ops and agri-retailers can then process these orders seamlessly with AI-driven automation, ensuring faster fulfillment, reduced manual effort, and real-time tracking. Virtual Agronomist acts as a 24/7 AI-powered agronomist, providing farmers with on-demand advice for crop-related queries. By leveraging AI-driven insights, it enhances decision-making, improves efficiency, and ensures farmers have instant access to expert guidance whenever they need it. “Tavant has been driving AI-led innovation across the entire agricultural value chain – helping some of the world’s largest agribusinesses optimize operations, improve decision-making, and enhance sustainability,” said Vikas Khosla, President, Hitech Business at Tavant. “With deep expertise spanning farm operations to food supply chains and a global understanding of agriculture, we give our clients a distinct advantage in an evolving industry. Our AI-driven solutions, powered by Microsoft Copilot Studio, empower agribusinesses to stay at the forefront of innovation -boosting efficiency, reducing costs, and making smarter, faster decisions in an increasingly complex landscape.” “AI has the potential to fundamentally transform the agricultural industry, and Tavant is well positioned to bring this transformation to life,” said Pepijn Richter, General Manager retail, consumer goods, and agriculture at Microsoft. “With deep expertise in AI and a strong understanding of the agriculture domain, Tavant utilizes Microsoft Copilot Studio to build agentic solutions that streamline operations, enhance decision-making, and drive real impact for growers worldwide.” As Tavant expands its AI Agents Accelerator Library, enterprises can look forward to more intelligent, efficient, and sustainable solutions that enhance productivity, profitability, and long-term resilience across the value chain. Contacts Simran Tayal Tavant Public Relations +1-866-9-TAVANT [email protected]
Empowering Farmers: The Realm of Agritech Mobile Applications
Technology has become central to ushering in a new era of efficiency and sustainability in the evolving agricultural landscape. One of the key players in this transformation is the development of mobile applications tailored specifically for the Agritech industry. These applications are not just changing how farmers work; they are also cultivating a revolution. Mobile technology has seamlessly integrated into agriculture, offering solutions to longstanding challenges such as soil degradation, resource scarcity, pollution, and water consumption. With the global adoption of smartphones and tablets, farmers now gain real-time access to critical information and can efficiently manage tasks that were once paper-based. From inventory management to monitoring crop yields and financial records, operations can be conducted remotely, significantly boosting efficiency. Moreover, enhanced communication through apps and messaging platforms ensures seamless connectivity with employees, customers, and suppliers, improving productivity and responsiveness, especially in critical situations. Mobile technology has also revolutionized decision-making processes by equipping farmers with real-time data and analytical tools to make informed choices around planting, harvesting, and marketing strategies. Socially, mobile technology nurtures a supportive farming community through platforms like social media, facilitating knowledge sharing and resource accessibility among peers, particularly in rural areas. This blog explores mobile applications’ pivotal role in modern agriculture and highlights how Tavant leverages technical expertise to develop advanced solutions tailored to agricultural needs. Mobile Applications: Transforming Agricultural Practices Mobile apps have piloted a new generation of efficiency and innovation in agriculture, offering farmers instant access to vital information and tools. Key benefits include: Real-Time Information Access: Farmers can access up-to-date weather forecasts, market prices, and agricultural news, empowering informed decision-making in crop management, irrigation scheduling, pest control, and optimal timing for market sales. Precision Farming in Your Pocket: Gone are the days of manual guesswork in agriculture. With the development of mobile applications, farmers can now quickly implement precision farming techniques. These apps leverage GPS technology, sensors, and data analytics to give farmers insights into soil health, weather patterns, and crop conditions. Utilizing this information, farmers can now make informed decisions about planting, irrigation, and harvesting, leading to optimal resource utilization and increased yields. Crop Monitoring from Anywhere: Agritech mobile apps empower farmers to monitor their crops closely, even when they are miles away from the fields. By integrating drones and satellite imaging, these applications offer real-time visualizations of crop health, enabling early detection of diseases, pests, or nutrient deficiencies. This proactive approach allows farmers to take timely corrective measures, minimizing crop loss and ensuring a healthier harvest. Financial Farming: Managing finances is a crucial aspect of agriculture, and mobile applications are making this task more accessible and efficient. From budgeting and expense tracking to accessing microloans and insurance, farmers can handle their financial affairs conveniently through these apps, improving financial literacy and enhancing the overall economic sustainability of their farming operations. Agricultural Extension Services: Mobile apps offer access to expert advice, training modules, and best practices, enhancing farming techniques, productivity, and sustainability through knowledge-sharing platforms. Cultivating Connectivity: Agriculture has traditionally been a solitary endeavor, with farmers toiling away in their fields. However, Agritech mobile applications foster connectivity among farmers, researchers, suppliers, and consumers. These apps serve as virtual marketplaces, allowing farmers to connect with buyers, negotiate prices, and streamline the supply chain. Real-time communication ensures improved collaboration, transparency, and trust among stakeholders. Enhancing Mobile Applications: Technical Expertise at Tavant Oue, committed to excellence, has helped Tavant develop mobile applications that exceed client expectations. Our solutions integrate advanced features to enhance user experience and application performance, including: Biometric Authentication: Ensure security with fingerprint or facial recognition and allow only authorized access to sensitive information. Pre-Caching of Data: Optimize performance by anticipating user needs and pre-loading relevant data to ensure smooth operation in low-connectivity environments. Responsive Design: Create interfaces that adapt seamlessly across devices to prioritize usability and accessibility for diverse user preferences. State-of-the-Art Notification System: Deliver real-time updates and announcements directly to users to enhance engagement and user connectivity. Firebase-Powered Analytics: Leverage Firebase for comprehensive analytics on app usage, interactions, and performance metrics to enable informed decisions and continuous improvement. Sharing of Reports and Downloadable Content: Facilitate easy sharing of reports, images, PDFs, and Excel files to streamline collaboration and productivity among stakeholders. OpenID Standard for Authentication: Implement robust authentication and authorization protocols to ensure secure access and compliance with industry standards. Developing Mobile Applications for Agriculture: Tavant’s Approach Tavant’s approach to developing mobile applications is rooted in improving collaboration and expertise: Requirement Gathering: Work closely with agriculture experts to define features such as weather forecasting, crop monitoring, market integration, and educational resources. Design and Prototyping: Visualize app functionalities and UI design through wireframing and prototyping, emphasizing intuitive navigation and offline capabilities. Technology Stack Selection: Choose optimal technologies like Flutter or React Native for scalability and performance across diverse devices and network conditions. Development and Testing: Iteratively implement features with rigorous testing to ensure bug-free functionality, data security, and optimal performance. Deployment and Maintenance: Launch apps on major platforms and continuously update them based on user feedback, technological advancements, and evolving agricultural practices. Conclusion Mobile applications are pivotal in advancing agriculture by equipping farmers with essential productivity, profitability, and sustainability tools. At Tavant, our integration of advanced technologies and agricultural expertise ensures tailored solutions that empower farmers to navigate challenges effectively and thrive in a dynamic digital landscape. As mobile technology rapidly evolves, so does our commitment to innovation, driving transformative change in the agriculture sector worldwide.
Digital Agriculture: opportunities and challenges in the oil palm industry
Introduction: Digital Agriculture, as the name suggests, incorporates technology and data-driven approaches to improve farming practices and helps make informed decisions. Some applications include crop health monitoring, customized inputs (water, fertilizers, etc., to specific areas of the farm based on soil and weather data), yield prediction, labor management, etc. The journey from traditional to digital agriculture continues to advance and address the market demands of the growing population. Let’s discuss one of the use cases where Tavant helped a client step toward their digital journey in the oil palm industry. The oil palm industry plays a significant role in the global agricultural landscape with the extensive use of palm oil in many food products, personal care items, biofuels, etc. Indonesia and Malaysia are the top producers, contributing to ~85% of the world’s palm oil production, with a significant amount of its agricultural land dedicated to oil palm cultivation. Opportunities: The use case focuses on the precise counting of Fresh Fruit Bunches (FFB) from the plantation by leveraging AI technology that offers the following benefits to the farmers and stakeholders to make data-driven decisions. Yield Estimation – Enable the team to understand the yield increase or decrease over time and analyze the factors affecting the same. Harvest Planning – Plan harvesting operations more effectively (Time and frequency), thus preventing the harvesting of overripe or underripe bunches. Resource Allocation – Use the available resources such as equipment, labor, and storage facilities efficiently. Supply Chain Management – Provide accurate information to processors, traders, and distributors to improve logistics and market planning. Quality Control – Identify the exact number of FFBs (fresh fruit bunches) based on grades to minimize the likelihood of mixing different grades. Challenges: This section will highlight the challenges faced during various implementation phases and an end-to-end demo of the proposed solution. Data Collection: Data Collection is crucial in any use case, as the data’s quality and integrity determine the solution’s efficiency. Major challenges include, Identifying the best way to capture data (Image/Video). Orientation and distance of the camera from the object. Devices used for data capture, such as drones and handheld devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.), have their associated pros and cons. Drones can capture high-resolution data and images from different angles, but the number of flights and time taken is high due to battery limitations. On-ground conditions are also a factor, making it imperative to identify drone models that can suitably fly under canopies and between trees for better data capture. Handheld (HH) – The quality of the image (Resolution, Zoom Level, Brightness, etc.) will vary greatly depending on the device model; if the tree’s height is too high, it won’t be feasible to use HH devices. A workforce that is skilled in data collection techniques is imperative. Technical infrastructure that collects and transmits data in real-time is also crucial. Weather conditions can affect the quality of data collection activities. Data Labelling: Data labelling plays a significant role in model performance. It is essential to have discussions with domain experts to, Understand and define annotation guidelines to maintain consistency. It is highly subjective, as the interpretation of images will vary across annotators. It is time-consuming and iterative based on the datasets/results evaluation volume. Complex annotations, such as images containing occlusions, overlapping bunches, flowers, bunches from BG trees, etc., should be considered. Having a class imbalance can affect the results. It requires identifying the right tool for annotation activity while considering data security. Implementation: Various factors can make implementation challenging, such as: Computational Requirements – The size of the datasets depends on the need for GPU-based instances with high memory and storage capacity. Preprocessing – Categorizing the better-quality image for training (without blur, too dark, out of focus, etc.) requires multiple techniques to be tried out, and identifying the best options to apply across the images can prove challenging. Model Architecture – Identifying the best architecture that suits the dataset is done through multiple experiments. Others – Accurately identifying the rare instances (due to class imbalance) and segmenting smaller or crowded objects due to limited pixel information will be challenging. Post-Processing – Prediction results might have False Positives (FP) (E.g., Flowers getting detected as fruit bunches, etc.) and need a post-processing script to evaluate the results and generate metrics in the required format. Manually checking each image for FP identification is time-consuming and cumbersome and must be automated. Solution Overview: The solutions proposed to these challenges include: Instance Segmentation model – To Detect and Segment FFB’s Multi-Object Tracking (Required if the input is Video) – To track the bunches of interest and get precise FFB Count Color Analyzer – To categorize the color proportions from the segment per business needs. Tech Stack: Instance Segmentation model – SWIN Transformer from Microsoft Research (State of the Art Model) Multi-Object Tracking (Required if the input is Video) – ByteTrack or StrongSORT (State of the Art Model) Color Analyzer – Traditional Computer Vision techniques Conclusion: Even though there are a lot of challenges in the digital agriculture journey, farmers are optimizing practices by incorporating the power of technology and data-driven decisions, leading to a more sustainable future for agriculture.
Build your content through Kentico in the Agtech space
Tavant, as a premier provider of Kentico-based solutions, understands the agriculture industry’s unique needs. Our expertise in developing tailored Content Management Systems (CMS) caters specifically to retailers, brokers, agencies, farmers, growers, and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector. With Kentico as a digital platform, you will receive future-proof tools with stable and secure solutions that help you meet your digital goals at a rapid pace. Our comprehensive SEO website development services optimize your online presence to improve search engine ranking and engage with the right target audience. With our deep understanding and expertise in the Agtech landscape, we can create a website highlighting your products and services that educates and engages visitors. Key Features of our Kentico-based Agtech Website Development: Customized Content Management System: Build a user-friendly and scalable CMS, tailor-made to address the specific challenges faced by Agtech retailers, brokers, agencies, farmers, and growers, allowing you to efficiently manage your website content, product catalogs, blog posts, articles, events, videos, podcasts, social media graphics, online courses, and much more. Mobile Responsive Design: With the increasing dominance of mobile devices, ensure website optimization for seamless viewing and interaction across various screen sizes. Guarantee the best user experience for your visitors, regardless of their device. E-commerce Integration: Our team can seamlessly integrate e-commerce capabilities into your website and enable you to sell agriculture products, seeds, and fertilizers effectively, manage orders, process payments, and track inventory. Empower your customers to purchase directly from your site, making it a convenient platform to access your offerings. Not only this, but you can also tailor and automate your checkout and payment processes to meet your customer needs. With integrated marketing automation techniques, you can boost your retailers’ revenue by nurturing cart abandoners or reminding customers to re-order their seasonal agriculture products. Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Online visibility can be crucial to success. Our SEO experts optimize your website structure, meta tags, keywords, and content to generate organic traffic and better your rankings on search engines, ensuring potential customers quickly discover your website. Engaging Content Creation: Our skilled writers create captivating and informative content to communicate your brand’s story and value proposition effectively. Through engaging blog posts, articles, and other media, we help you captivate and educate your audience while establishing thought leadership in the Agtech domain. Centralizing Your Digital Assets: Our team confidently helps you manage digital assets using Kentico, including your digital assets, images, videos, PDFs, and presentations in a single, unified place. The fully integrated Kentico’s Media Library helps you avoid the hassle of working with files and reduces workflow redundancies. They allow you to upload files of diverse types, formats, and sizes, along with their metadata, across various digital touchpoints in just a few clicks, reducing delivery times, speeding up work, and eliminating inconsistencies. Multilingual Content: We understand the importance of establishing your global brand. A robust online presence of multilingual website content is essential in today’s interconnected world. Kentico helps you translate your website into multiple languages that cater to customers’ needs and help grow your businesses in new markets. Kentico allows you to easily manage websites in English and many languages, including Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, and Eastern European. Managing Multiple Websites: With Kentico, you can work on multiple digital experiences under one umbrella. It provides you with a multisite management platform from a single login interface, allowing you to easily share content, objects, data, users, roles, and more across any number of managed websites that increases your productivity and deliver advanced scenarios, thereby sparing you from the hassle of accessing multiple applications with different login usernames and passwords. In the Cloud or On-Premises Presence: With Kentico, you can quickly deploy your websites in the cloud or on-premises to a Platform-as-a-Service cloud environment, an Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), or even a hybrid of the two! Regardless of where you go, you can retrieve the same website possibilities and seamless expansions from on-premises to the cloud when needed. Data Analytics and Reporting: We provide comprehensive analytics and reporting capabilities that track the performance of your website, e-commerce sales, user behavior, and marketing campaigns. This data-driven approach empowers your decision-making and optimizes your online strategies to drive growth. At Tavant, we have a proven record of successfully providing Kentico-based Agtech solutions. Our commitment to delivering high-quality websites is shaped by extensive industry knowledge, which helps us provide tailored solutions to meet your unique requirements. Partner with us for your Kentico Agtech content management system and SEO website development needs and experience the power of a professionally developed digital presence that drives results. Contact us today to get started.
World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit 2024
Introducing the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit Overview With the upcoming London Agri-Tech event on the horizon, it seems timely and relevant to reflect on the recent US event and its key highlights. As we gear up for another round of insightful discussions and innovative showcases, understanding the advancements and learnings from the US event will provide valuable context and momentum. This recap will not only set the stage for the London event but also help us build on the progress made in the industry so far, ensuring we stay ahead in the rapidly evolving Agri-Tech landscape. The World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit isn’t just any conference; it’s a vibrant gathering that takes place twice a year, knitting together a tapestry of over 2,500 leaders and decision-makers across a broad spectrum of sectors, including food production, equipment manufacturing, farming, IT, and the investment community. At the heart of this two-day event is a shared passion for pioneering a future in agriculture that is both sustainable and innovative. Attendees have the unique opportunity to engage with global industry advisors, sparking conversations that transcend the ordinary. It’s a space where ideas bloom, solutions emerge, and new business ventures take root, all within the rich and diverse agricultural ecosystem. Importance The event is dedicated to helping agribusinesses advance and invest in technologies that build a more robust and resilient agri-food supply chain. Their sustainability-led focus encourages harnessing nature-based solutions that meet climate commitments and successfully commercializing technologies like AI, automation, biological inputs, and more. The event serves as the frontline to uncover innovations and investments propelling new value creation among leading businesses within the agricultural sector. Their commitment to agricultural success also expands towards start-ups, with their start-up arena designed for founders to ignite inspiration, foster knowledge exchange, and facilitate critical partnerships for future business prosperity. Key themes This year’s theme focused on innovation in food security, digitization, data agility, finance, Gen AI-powered agriculture, and sustainability. Day 1 highlights Day one kicked off with breakfast and opening remarks and swiftly transitioned toward our first speaker session, “Navigating Incentives for Decarbonization in Agriculture.” Thirteen speaker sessions, fourteen breakout sessions, and six start-up pitches ensured a dynamic day one for the attendees at the World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit. A notable highlight was Tavant’s speaker session with representative Vineet Durani, who shared their insights on “Advancing Real-Time Decision Agriculture: Data Integration, Equipment & Future Business Models.” The session conveyed strategies for developing real-time decision agriculture through equipment and data integration, contributing to an agribusiness’s efficiency, sustainability, and ROI. It also sheds light on the possible business models that enable agribusinesses to measure carbon emissions and capitalize on emerging carbon markets while aligning with their sustainability goals. Day 2 highlights Day two began with an early morning discussion and networking session featuring inspiring women leaders in the Agtech industry. A key difference between day one and day two was the roundtable sessions. While day one showcased more speakers and breakout sessions, day two boasted seven roundtable sessions with thirty-five different topics to ensure a lively afternoon filled with information and learning. Ten speaker sessions, three start-up pitches, and eight breakout sessions ensured the attendees always had something at hand, if not attending meetings or exhibition booths. Both days featured a wide range of exhibition booths in large hallways showcasing the latest technologies in Agtech, allowing attendees to stop by if anything caught their eye. Emerging trends in Agritech With some of the biggest names and leading agribusinesses sponsoring this event, you could find emerging trends and technologies in Agtech showcased in almost every corner. This year’s event significantly focused on data-integrated agriculture and some of the latest AI technologies used to improve profitability and efficiency, with Gen AI taking center stage. A notable highlight was Tavant’s “MyFarm” application demo at booth #47. It integrates AI with ADMA and enables farmers to gain critical field insights such as NDVI maps, carbon heat maps, nitrogen heat maps, and more to facilitate farm management and precision farming. You could also ask the application questions and receive answers and suggestions personalized to your farms through their generative AI, “The Agri Advisor”! Networking and Collaboration Opportunities With over 2500 attendees gathering for the two-day networking event, it’s impossible not to meet anybody, even if you tried! In addition, the attendees were provided access to an event networking application that allowed attendees to view exhibitor and attendee profiles. ‘Virtual Booths’ were set up on the application three weeks before the event, allowing attendees to glimpse what’s in store and set up meetings in advance if anything caught their attention. The application also allowed attendees to take virtual meetings in advance or book meeting slots such as 1-on-1 discussion rooms at dedicated tables and lounges at the event. The event also facilitated roundtable discussions, breakout sessions, and several networking breaks to promote networking further. These networking opportunities played a vital role in maximizing the time of all attendees at the event. The two days felt as if only a moment, from roundtable discussions, speaker sessions, and exhibits to meetings, start-up pitches, and breakout sessions, it was almost impossible to cover everything. Overall, the event was a huge success, as expected! Missed us at the event? Don’t worry! Over the years, the Tavant name has become synonymous with technologies such as farm management systems, grower advisory solutions, computer vision, and Gen AI. With the event’s theme aligning with sustainability and AI in agriculture, it’s safe to say we will see more of Tavant in the years to come.
From Dirt to Data: How Precision Farming is Changing Agriculture Forever
Today’s agriculture has long evolved past manual labor and traditional farming. The journey to increased efficiency and productivity has led to exponential technological growth within the agricultural ecosystem. One of the most significant changes in recent years has been the rise of precision farming, also known as precision agriculture. This data-driven approach to crop management has revolutionized how we grow and produce food, making it more sustainable, precise, and profitable. The blog explores how precision farming is changing the face of agriculture and why it is here to stay. The Dawn of a New Era in Farming: Understanding Precision Agriculture: Imagine a world where farmers can monitor the health of their crops, detect nutrient deficiencies, and even predict weather patterns with precision. Precision agriculture breathes life into this very concept, turning it into reality. Technology transforms how we grow food, ushering us into the new farming era. Precision agriculture optimizes crop production by combining cutting-edge technologies like drones, sensors, and data analytics. These technologies allow farmers to collect real-time data on soil conditions, moisture levels, and pest infestations. This information enables them to make informed decisions, improve resource allocation, and minimize waste. But precision agriculture is not just about efficiency. It also has a significant environmental impact. By using precise amounts of fertilizers, water, and pesticides, farmers can reduce their carbon footprint and protect ecosystems. The dawn of precision agriculture marks a shift towards a more sustainable and profitable future for farming. It is an exciting time to be a farmer as technology revolutionizes how we feed the world. The Digitalization of Crop Management: How Data Plays Its Part The digital age has made data an invaluable resource in modern agriculture. Precision farming has paved the way for the digitalization of crop management, harnessing data’s power to revolutionize how farmers approach their work. Farmers can now utilize advanced technologies to gather real-time crop data, including soil conditions, moisture levels, and pest infestations. This vast amounts of information allow them to make data-driven decisions, optimizing resource allocation and minimizing waste. The digitalization of crop management is not just about collecting data; it’s about using that data to drive actionable insights and improve agricultural practices. By leveraging technology and data analytics, farmers can identify patterns and trends, allowing them to make informed choices about irrigation, fertilization, and pest control. This level of precision and accuracy enhances productivity and promotes sustainability by minimizing resource usage and reducing environmental impact. In short, the digitalization of crop management is transforming agriculture by giving farmers the power of data. This data enables them to make more informed decisions, increase efficiency, and ultimately contribute to a more sustainable and profitable future for farming. Real-Life Impacts of Precision Farming on Modern Agriculture Precision farming has profoundly impacted modern agriculture, bringing numerous real-life benefits, including increased crop yield and quality. One critical impact is that farmers can optimize irrigation, fertilization, and pest control with precise monitoring and data-driven decision-making, resulting in healthier and more abundant crops. It allows for increased food production with fewer resources, helping farmers address the global challenge of feeding a growing population. Precision farming has also made agriculture more sustainable. Using sensors and data analytics, farmers can identify areas of their fields requiring less water or fertilizer, thereby minimizing waste and reducing the environmental impact. Additionally, precision agriculture allows for targeted pest management and promotes biodiversity by reducing the need for harmful pesticides. Another significant impact of precision farming is improved farm management and financial stability. By having access to real-time data on crop conditions, farmers can proactively address issues and prevent losses, thereby saving money and assuring a stable income. Precision farming is revolutionizing modern agriculture by improving crop yield, sustainability, and farm profitability. It is a game-changer that will continue to shape the future of agriculture. Future Predictions: What’s Next for Data-driven Agriculture? The future of data-driven agriculture holds even more exciting possibilities for farmers and the industry. The continuous advancement of data analytics and technology ensures precision farming will become even more precise and efficient in the coming years. Here are a few predictions for what’s next: Artificial Intelligence Integration: As AI technology evolves, we can expect to see it integrated into precision farming systems. AI algorithms can analyze large datasets, identify patterns, and make autonomous decisions, further optimizing crop management. Internet of Things (IoT) Expansion: IoT devices, such as sensors and drones, will likely expand, allowing farmers to collect even more detailed and real-time data. IoT devices will provide a more comprehensive understanding of crop conditions and enable proactive decision-making. Predictive Analytics for Climate and Pest Control: Farmers can accurately predict climate patterns and pest outbreaks by leveraging historical and real-time data. Predictive analytics enables a more proactive approach, reducing the reliance on pesticides and mitigating potential crop losses. Integration with Robotics: The integration of robotics into precision farming will continue to increase. Robots can now handle tasks such as planting, harvesting, and weed control with precision and efficiency, reducing the need for manual labor. Blockchain Implementation: Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize the agricultural industry by optimizing the supply chain and ensuring transparency and traceability. Blockchain can enhance consumer trust and enable farmers to get fair product prices. The future of data-driven agriculture is exceedingly promising. As technology evolves, we can expect precision farming to become even more precise, sustainable, and profitable. Farmers will have access to more advanced tools and analytics, enabling informed decision-making that will further optimize crop management and contribute to a more sustainable future. It is an exciting time to be a part of the agriculture industry as we witness the continued transformation of farming through data-driven innovation.
Digging Deep: Revitalizing Agriculture Through Regenerative Soil Health
Regenerative Agriculture is a form of farming and grazing practice that helps rebuild soil organic matter and restore degraded soil biodiversity. Explore the benefits of soil health, its indicators, methods of revitalization, and more to find out how these practices help result in carbon drawdown, improve the water cycle, and reverse climate change.
AI in Agriculture: Key Trends
In the vast expanse of agriculture, where every seed planted carries the weight of feeding a growing global population, the infusion of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has sparked a revolution. As we stand at the cusp of a new era, the future of AI in agriculture technology promises to redefine how we cultivate, monitor, and sustain our crops. This blog delves into the exciting prospects that lie ahead as AI takes center stage in agriculture. Precision Farming 2.0 AI is poised to take precision farming to higher levels as technology evolves. Advanced sensors, drones, and satellite imaging fueled by machine learning algorithms will provide farmers with unparalleled insights into their fields. These technologies will assess soil health and crop conditions and offer predictive analytics for more efficient resource management. Autonomous Farming Systems Picture a farm where tractors navigate the fields autonomously, sowing seeds with precision, and harvesters discerning the perfect moment to reap the rewards. AI-driven autonomous farming systems are on the horizon, minimizing labor costs, optimizing workflows, and increasing efficiency. The result? Increased productivity and reduced environmental impact. AI in Crop Breeding and Genetic Enhancement The marriage of AI and genetic science holds immense promise for crop improvement. Analyze vast genomic datasets, accelerating the identification of desirable crop traits through machine learning algorithms. Genetic enhancement expedites the development of hardier, more resilient varieties and facilitates the creation of crops tailored to specific environmental conditions. Climate-Smart Agriculture AI is becoming a significant tool in adjusting to the climate changes impacting agriculture practices. Smart irrigation systems, informed by real-time weather data and soil moisture sensors, will optimize water usage. AI algorithms will help farmers anticipate and mitigate the impacts of climate-related challenges, ensuring sustainable and resilient farming practices. Computer Vision Computer vision is redefining agricultural practices by enabling detailed monitoring of crop health, precise weed detection, and automated fruit picking through high-resolution imaging and AI analytics. This technology facilitates early pest detection and disease diagnosis, ensuring timely intervention. By analyzing plant growth patterns and detecting anomalies, computer vision systems optimize irrigation and fertilization, significantly increasing efficiency and yield while reducing resource waste. Generative AI Generative AI is revolutionizing agriculture by simulating environmental impacts on crop yields, creating virtual models for optimal farm designs, and accelerating crop breeding processes. It assists in developing climate-resilient crop varieties by predicting the outcomes of genetic modifications, thereby reducing trial and error. Additionally, Generative AI can optimize planting strategies and predict future food demands, ensuring food security and sustainability in agricultural practices. The future of AI in agriculture is not just a vision; it is a roadmap to a more sustainable, efficient, and resilient global food system. As we embrace the potential of AI in agriculture, it is imperative to navigate the ethical landscape carefully. Responsible AI deployment involves addressing algorithmic bias, data privacy, and the impact on rural communities. Finding the right balance between ethical consideration and technological advancement is crucial for a sustainable and inclusive agricultural future. As we plant the seeds of change, we’re poised to reap a harvest of unprecedented productivity, sustainability, and abundance. While we cultivate tomorrow’s fields, the symphony of artificial intelligence orchestrates them.
Tavant Agtech solutions
Tavant’s innovative and intelligent AgTech solutions enable future-ready farms for the entire agricultural sector.
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Setting up a Mulesoft Center of Enablement, for a leading conglomerate, to enable modernizing and building APIs at a lightning speed.
GIS Technology: Enabling Pinpoint Precision
Unraveling the complexities of modern agriculture, it’s crucial to understand the recurring expenditures that the farming community shoulders each season. At the heart of these are the procurement of seeds and fertilizers, key expenses that can make or break a harvest. Traditional farming techniques rely heavily on manual methods, increasing the expenses braced. Its efficiency and productivity directly result from the skilled labor acquired to run a farm. This results in a best-case scenario that revolves around the farmer’s skill in uniformly applying fertilizers, pesticides, planting seeds, and more. It does not account for variability within the same field. The soil compositions, microenvironments, and microflora often differ even if they are in the same vicinity and are factors that cause this variability. This landscape diversity inevitably necessitates tailored approaches in terms of both the type and quantity of farming inputs, adding yet another layer of complexity to this age-old occupation. So how does precision farming account for this variability? GIS technology, metrological inputs, and custom software are all leveraged by precision farming to boost production by accounting for temporal and spatial variability, assisting farmers in making automated decisions to lower expenses and inputs while maximizing profit. The system cumulates multiple input points like weather data, soil data, tissue sample results, and more to create different types of prescription(s) for the fields. These inputs are fed automatically to the planter, which can apply the product using GIS technology. These systems can also display historical crop data and yields through their sensors located throughout the field. The Role of GIS Technology in Precision Agriculture Best case scenario: these seeds are planted uniformly across the field. Variability in the soil composition and growing conditions produces variability in yield outputs from various field zones. Applying fertilizer uniformly also has the same effect. Historically farmers have studied yield maps of their fields to create management plans based on historical yield data. GIS technology ensures optimal productivity from the soil by inspecting every square unit in detail. Based on soil data, weather data, and in-season satellite imagery monitoring of plant growth, GIS technology allows a farmer to focus on the best-yielding areas within the field, ensuring optimum use of resources and helping in averaging the yield from all variability zones. The reverse is also possible, with farmers minimizing resource allocation in low-yielding zones and saving on seed and fertilizer costs. GIS Technology use cases: Satellite images or NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) images: Users can see satellite images of their field showing how a crop is performing and take action accordingly Drone (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) images: Drone images are another way of checking crop health. Users can fly drones and see high-resolution field images during the growing season Rx maps(prescription map also called variable rate prescription): Using drone and satellite imagery, users create variable rate prescriptions, similar to how a doctor would prescribe medicine, except this is for the soil, with the focus being maximized yield. Boundary management through GIS tools: User can manage their farm/field and boundary using any GIS tool (e.g., a custom tool built using open layers). Users can then draw boundaries using the GIS tool or import limitations from other devices to map out their fields perfectly. Scouting: Technology partners like Tavant can build custom applications that help take pictures of the crops and maintain notes. Enabled with predictive AI algorithms, it can detect potential diseases. Tissue sampling: The user can take tissue samples during the growing season and make result-based informed decisions. Water management: The user can place sensors in the field to turn on sprinklers based on moisture presence. Benefits of GIS/Geo Spatial Technologies in Precision Agriculture: They help locate precise positions on a field, allowing for mapping creation. E.g., farmers can draw their fields geospatially on any map (such as Google Maps). There are open sources like Open layers, which provide Java Script libraries to display map data from different sources without requiring code change on the change of map provider. GIS tools/technologies help fetch satellite images from various satellite providers, intersect based on field boundary, display maps (such as NDVI), and more as a layer on the field. Users can see in-season images corresponding to their fields remotely. Depending on the requirements, private and Govt satellites (e.g., Landsat in US and Sentinel in Europe) are used to access these images of specific resolutions. Users can fly drones with high-resolution cameras over the field and get in-season images to take appropriate actions (E.g., a particular field area may need pesticides or any other special treatment). Going to every site to identify the insects/disease could be tedious. Identification is resolved by looking at high-resolution pictures provided by these satellites and identifying potential diseases. Custom apps are built with disease identification as the objective by feeding the image to machine learning models to determine the cause. Users can also use drones to spray fertilizers remotely with precision and efficiency. Not all areas within a field are the same, and different areas/zones may need additional treatment/seeds. E.g., we could put high population seeds in more fertile areas and other seeds in less productive areas. GIS tools (requiring custom implementation) allow users to divide fields into multiple zones/areas and write a prescription map for the entire field. Users can assign different seeds/products to various locations. This prescription map goes as input (through USB or cloud – in case the planter/combine has internet) to the GPS-enabled planter, and it automatically applies the product (along with the prescribed quantity) as per the prescription. Farmers can sit in an auto steering planter and physically see the planter driving independently and applying different seeds in different areas accurately. Users can also see the real-time output on the monitor, which applies to applications like liquid/solid fertilizer during the season. This data transfer from the planter cloud system to the precision ag application that farmers may use can also be automated. Farmers can plan to take tissue samples from different areas of the field (based on
Precision Agriculture: Technology to Improve Farming in Digital Era (Part 2)
The evolution of precision agriculture technology You may have heard of precise agriculture, but do you understand what it entails and how it transforms modern agriculture? Precise agriculture, also known as precision agriculture or precision farming, is an innovative approach to farming that utilizes advanced technology to optimize agricultural production. It collects and analyzes data to make smarter, more efficient, and environmentally friendly decisions in managing crops and livestock. In the past, farmers had to make decisions about planting, cultivating, and harvesting crops based on their intuition and experience. However, with the advent of precise agriculture, farmers can now make well-informed decisions based on data analysis, leading to better crop yields, reduced environmental impact, and increased profitability. Precise agriculture is a game-changer for sustainable farming practices, enabling farmers to use resources efficiently while minimizing their environmental impact. By embracing precise agriculture, farmers can contribute to global efforts to combat climate change, reduce the use of harmful chemicals, and promote biodiversity. Continuing the previous blog (Precision Agriculture: Technology to Improve Farming in Digital Era), we now dive into the applications of Precision Agriculture and how it continues to revolutionize the Agriculture Industry. Applications of Precision Agriculture: 1. Micro Irrigation: Micro-irrigation systems allow growers to effectively plan irrigation by identifying areas with high and low soil moisture. Precision agriculture irrigation makes it possible to carry out variable rate irrigation to vary the water supply volume for different field parts. This level of control can significantly improve irrigation efficiency and result in significant water savings. One of the indexes used in Crop Monitoring is NDMI. The index shows the crop water stress level in the selected field. Growers can now quickly identify areas of the field that need additional watering, regions of flooding, or areas with excessive moisture. 2. Site-Specific Crop Management (SSCM): SCCM relies on observing, measuring, and responding to inter or intra-field crop variability. It is a modern farming technique used to make production more efficient. SCCM is a form of precision agriculture where decisions on resource application and agronomic practices closely match crop requirements as they vary within a farm or field. SSCM consists of five fundamental components: Spatial referencing Measurement and monitoring of crop, soil, and environmental attributes Attribute mapping Decision Support System (DDS) Differential Action In SSCM, growers take large fields and then divide them into small patches so that no misapplication of products occurs. Growers who use SSCM practices use weather data, humidity, soil temperature, growth, and other factors for crop rotation. They also manage the irrigation rates so no salts accumulate on the soil surface. Some growers employ cutting-edge technology like GPS, computer-controlled tractors, and harvesters. They also use modern practices such as aerial imagery, soil sample collection, soil type, potential yield, and more to divide huge fields into tiny units to reduce waste and boost production. Sensors are also installed throughout the field to detect the slightest changes in the plant or soil. Upon noticing these changes, sensors relay the information to the centers. Centers collect data from farms and fields, process it in real time, and assist growers in making decisions about planting, fertilizing, watering, and harvesting. The sensors detect changes, and the irrigation system operates to deliver the exact amount of water required to the location where it is needed. Growers can increase production while simultaneously conserving soil by using SSCM methods. It ensures food security by enabling us to produce larger yields from the same field. 3. Soil Mapping in Precision Agriculture: Precision Agriculture is only possible with quality ground mapping. With its help, growers evaluate the soil properties, its chemical composition, the presence of the nutrient, and more. Soil mapping practice has existed for a long time, but modern technologies provide even more detailed information, making the new generation of digital maps more efficient. For obtaining data, growers use several types of precision agriculture sensors: Optical sensors that interpret data based on the coefficient of light reflection from the ground Electrochemical sensors that analyze the soil’s electrical characteristics, such as the potassium’s presence Mechanical sensors in contact with the earth determine the types and density of the elements contained in it. 4. Internet of Things (IoT) in Precision Agriculture: The Internet of Things is considered a paradigm shift in the advancement of the smart agriculture field that has enabled the development of smart wearables and connected devices, as well as automated machines and driverless vehicles on fields. IoT has enormous potential in the agriculture industry. Sensors on equipment and materials enable the Internet of Things to simplify and streamline agricultural resource collection, inspection, and distribution. When combined with image recognition technology, field sensors allow growers to monitor their crops from any location. Real-time information is sent to growers by these sensors, allowing them to make crop adjustments accordingly. This system has given growers more control over the field, with dedicated data sensors, remote control, and an IoT platform. With IoT-based precision agriculture, growers can control all the critical information: from air temperature to soil conditions. As a result, growers benefit from IoT sensors deployed in the field, which results in higher food production with less waste-which is the need of every industry today. Moreover, technology solves the problem of manually researching large farms and fields by collecting data independently. The introduction of robotics in agriculture is the shifting norm. Agricultural robotics helps improve productivity, resulting in higher and faster yields. Spraying and weeding robots are helping reduce agrochemical use. Experimentation with laser and camera guidance for weed identification and removal without human intervention has also begun. These robots can use this information as guidance to move between rows of crops independently, so fewer people are needed behind the wheel. 5. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: AI in precision agriculture has redefined farming. It has introduced new intelligent tools for managing agricultural production. AI has been utilized in predictive analytics, allowing growers to make better decisions. The essential concept of AI in agriculture is flexibility, rapid performance, accuracy, and cost viability. Artificial
Tavant and Bayer Enter into an Innovative AgriTech Partnership to Transform Sustainable Farming Practices
SANTA CLARA, Calif. SANTA CLARA, Calif., – Tavant, Silicon Valley’s leading digital products and solutions company, today announced a strategic partnership with Bayer, a global leader in agriculture solutions, to introduce innovative AgriTech solutions that will empower organizations to drive innovation and growers to optimize crop yields, reduce expenses, and minimize their environmental footprint. The partnership comes at a crucial time when growers face mounting pressure to increase productivity while confronting many challenges beyond their control, such as unpredictable weather events and unstable commodity markets. By leveraging the latest technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT) analytics, Bayer’s ready-to-use data models, and Tavant’s technical and specialized expertise in the Agri industry, this partnership aims to empower the organizations to drive innovation and manage the farming challenges. With a focus on enhancing transparency and promoting sustainability throughout the food supply chain, this collaboration is set to transform the agricultural industry. “Innovation in digital agriculture is critical for achieving sustainable farming practices and ensuring adequate food supply. Data is often fragmented and challenging to access throughout the supply chain and developing digital solutions from scratch can be costly, but we are arriving at a very exciting moment in modern agriculture,” said Ines Kapphan, VP of Data & Cloud Solutions, Climate and Digital Farming, Bayer’s Crop Science Division. “Our work with Tavant provides innovators with readymade capabilities, so they can join Bayer and many other impactful companies in solving some of the world’s biggest challenges in agriculture.” “Tavant is a strong proponent of innovation and digitalization in achieving sustainable yields and disrupting the farm to fork value chain. Over the past two decades, Tavant has invested significantly in developing sustainable and efficient farming practices. As a strategic system integrator for Bayer, Tavant is committed to helping growers achieve more with less and providing them with the tools and knowledge necessary to grow crops sustainably while enhancing their profitability,” said Vikas Khosla, Chief Revenue Officer, Hitech, Tavant. “By developing pioneering solutions for transforming the way food is produced, distributed, and consumed, Tavant is poised to drive the agriculture industry forward and provide growers with the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly evolving market,” continued Khosla. Find Tavant Technologies on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Precision Agriculture: Technology to Improve Farming in Digital Era (Part 1 of 2)
Precision agriculture is a farming methodology that analyzes temporal and geographical variability to increase agricultural production sustainability. Precision agriculture employs cutting-edge technology such as satellite images and field mapping to aid in yield optimization, crop management, and crop quality and profitability. Precision agriculture differs from conventional agriculture in that it manages fields by watching, measuring, and reacting to inter and intra-field variability in crops rather than as a unified block. The goal is to define a decision support system for whole farm management with the intent to optimize returns while conserving resources, thus contributing to the development of sustainable agriculture, allowing it to solve both economic and ecological problems while ensuring profitability and environmental protection. Importance Of Precision Agriculture Precision Agriculture enables farmers to make better use of crop inputs such as fertilizers, herbicides, tillage, and irrigation water. It greatly enhances crop efficiency and reduces financial costs while increasing output. Growers usually are aware that their fields have variable yields across their landscape. These variations can be traced to farm management practices, soil properties and environmental characteristics. Soil characteristics that affect yields include texture, structure, moisture, nutrient status, organic matter, and landscape position. However, Environmental factors include weather, insects, weeds, and diseases. For a grower, it was difficult to treat the site specifically based on land variability and soil characteristics. Without technology and information, growers couldn’t easily implement strategies to enhance their production. However, with the advancement of precision agriculture and technology, growers can now make strategic decisions based on the information available, allowing them to maximize crop yield, reduce production-related expenses, and continue to be good stewards of environmental resources. As a result, Precision Agriculture can automate and simplify data gathering and processing. It advises growers, allowing them to make management decisions quickly and efficiently, and to implement them in small areas within large fields. Precision Agricultural Technologies and Methods: Precision Agriculture’s various technological features make use of real-time data and software analytics, as well as hardware and software comprised of ground, aerial, and satellite equipments. 1. Variable Rate Technology (VRT): This technology enables growers to apply fertilizer, pesticides, seeds, and other farm inputs at various rates over a field based on their needs, without having to manually change rate settings on equipment or make several passes over an area. VRT is used to address spatial variability between paddocks or zones. VRT is classified into two categories.: Map-based: a map of application rates is produced for the field prior to the farm operation. Real-time control: decisions about what rates to apply in different locations are made using information gathered during farm operation. This requires sensors to detect necessary information ‘on-the-go’ and is usually designed for a specific job such as herbicide application in fields. 2. Digital Mapping Technology: The maps are used to capture the geographical and topographical features of a field in the form of virtual images. GPS and satellite remote sensing equipment are used for this, which creates maps that display all the field nuances and harvest states. 3. Weather Modeling: In this, weather sensors are used to gather detailed information on local climate factors, which in turn, model the probability of future disease and pest development on any field. 4. Guidance Technology: This utilizes a satellite-based positioning system to help automatically guide agricultural machines and equipment. 5. Drone Technology: Drone technology is used to take aerial images and videography of fields. Watch this space for Part two of this blog on Applications of Precision Agriculture.
PanAmerican Seed Leverages Tavant’s Artificial Intelligence Expertise to Optimize its Seed Production Process
SANTA CLARA, CA (JULY 14, 2021) Data-driven predictive analytics will empower a sustainable tomorrow. Tavant, a digital products and solutions company, today announced it has partnered with PanAmerican Seed, which is a part of Ball Horticultural Company, a leader in all facets of horticulture. The partnership will help Ball Horticultural company create its master data lake platform architecture and further allow them to reduce overall seed production costs. Tavant’s innovative solution, powered by advanced analytics, machine learning, and Microsoft Azure data services, will enable Ball Horticultural Company with real-time actionable insights to address supply and demand needs for developing, producing, and distributing commercial seeds and flowers for thousands of ornamental crops. Tavant will combine machine learning techniques with Ball Horticultural Company’s century-long experience and science of seed germination to predict and improve the overall pod outcome. Tavant’s master data lake architecture will be a centralized repository that will allow Ball Horticultural Company to store all its unstructured and structured data at scale. The machine learning-based models and advanced analytics with rich dashboards and visualization will enable better decision-making for the business. “We have been exploring ways to predict the demand and supply of its F1 hybrid and open-pollinated seeds. Our goal is to cost optimize the labor-intensive specialty crop agriculture business,” said Gus Tassara, Global Director of PanAmerican Seed. “By leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, we expect swift decision making, continue to be reliable, and stay ahead in the industry.” “We are excited to partner with Tavant and leverage their deep engineering expertise and knowledge of the agriculture technology domain. This collaboration will help us fast forward our business and serve our customers better,” added Tassara. “Tavant’s partnership with Ball Horticultural Company brings our Agtech and machine learning capabilities into their ecosystem. Our goal is to optimize the yield and maximize their return on investment,” said Vikas Khosla, Executive Vice President of Tavant. “Our strong partnership and joint technology research focus with Microsoft will enable Ball Horticultural Company to improve productivity with data-driven decision-making.” “This is the decade of connectivity fueled agriculture. Microsoft is committed to open agriculture platforms that enable customers like PanAmerican Seed to grow more with less while protecting the Planet. Together with Tavant, we intend to bring the benefits of machine learning to sustainable farming.” said John Workman, Data and AI Solutions Specialist, Microsoft. About Ball Horticultural Company Ball Horticultural Company and its global family of breeders, research and development teams, suppliers, and distribution companies has a strong presence on six continents in 20 countries. Launched by George J. Ball in 1905 as a wholesale cut flower operation, our company has grown to color the world and transform garden dreams into reality. Our plants and products are making history in the world of gardening. Among these are award-winning flowers, vegetables, perennials, roses and shrubs recognized worldwide for their performance and consumer appeal. www.ballhort.com Find Tavant on LinkedIn and Twitter. Media Contact: Jennifer Rodriguez Firecracker PR [email protected] (888) 317-4687 ext. 702
Tavant and Truterra Deepen Strategic Partnership for Connected Agtech Platform
SANTA CLARA, Calif., February 9, 2021 Tavant, a leading digital products and solutions company, today announced a strategic alliance with Truterra, LLC (formerly Land O’Lakes SUSTAIN) to help expand sustainability management practices while increasing on-farm profitability. Tavant will support Truterra on the next evolution of its Agtech platform, called Truterra™ Insights Engine, which will include both integrations with Microsoft FarmBeats and soil analytics for advanced agronomic insights. The Truterra Insights Engine leverages technical capabilities and agronomic expertise from trusted agronomic and conservation sources to boost the value of a stewardship across the supply chain. It seamlessly integrates satellite and sensor-derived data and AI-based modeling and analytics techniques. “America’s farmers face an increasing number of obstacles that are beyond their control, including extreme weather events and volatile commodity markets,” said Jason Weller, Vice President of Truterra. “By leveraging AI, sensors, IoT analytics, and the Azure platform, we expect to help farmers better manage for these risks while taking take transparency and accountability across the food supply chain to the next.” Added Weller, “We are thrilled to work with Tavant as they never fail to deliver higher levels of efficiency while ensuring a positive customer experience at every level. This collaboration will help us to accelerate the pace of our digital transformation initiatives.” “Data-driven agriculture and predictive analytics provide timely and granular decision-making. However, powerful data modeling in agriculture requires combining high-quality data from sensors with extensively available data from weather and satellite sources to increase the scale and accuracy of predictions. Our continued partnership with Truterra is a giant leap towards ensuring that farmers receive these insights in the flawless customer experience that has become the Tavant standard,” said Vikas Khosla, Executive Vice President, Tavant. “We are happy to support Truterra’ s vision in these digital transformation initiatives in the global agriculture industry. Together, we intend to bring the benefits of data & analytics to farming.” added Khosla. About Truterra, LLC Truterra (formerly Land O’Lakes SUSTAIN) is a leading stewardship solutions provider, advancing and connecting sustainability efforts throughout the food system with scale – from farmers to ag retailers to partners like food companies. Truterra positions farmers for success by providing them tools and resources to establish stewardship baseline and track progress on every field they farm. The Truterra™ network brings together the best in agricultural technology and on-farm business management to drive sustainability across the food system, feeding people, safeguarding the planet and supporting farmer livelihoods. Truterra was launched in 2016 by Land O’Lakes, Inc., a member-owned cooperative that spans the spectrum from agricultural production to consumer foods. Find Tavant on LinkedIn and Twitter.
Decoding 5 Key Digital Technologies Reshaping the Agriculture Industry
According to a 2015 report from the McKinsey Global Institute, agriculture is the least digitized industry; far behind healthcare, hospitality, and construction. Conquering agricultural challenges need to break through the weakest link of the food chain by using technology, with digitization as a keystone. In recent years, technology in agriculture, which is also termed as AgTech has drastically changed the agriculture industry. The digital agribusiness is undeniably real, and it’s here to stay. Digital will play a vital role in the agricultural value chain by providing targeted information, data-driven decisions, and recommendations, access to sustainable practices and finance opportunities. How do we do it? Organizations must adapt to survive and thrive People in the industry—farmers, food producers—must embrace the digital transformation trends in agriculture. By leveraging digital technology as a sustainable and scalable resource, organizations can take agriculture to new heights, keeping farm to fork in our future. The overall food production needs to double in a relatively short duration, to support the growing world population. Digitization in the agribusiness sector significantly increases the ability to feed the rapidly growing world population sustainably. Aware but unsure Research shows 90% of CEOs strongly believe that the digital economy will have a significant impact on the agriculture industry; however less than 15% are funding and executing on the plan. It’s fortunate that digitization is helping to connect agricultural concerns across the globe. But what does the future of farming look like? A few significant AgTech trends that are shaping the agriculture industry currently: Artificial Intelligence and robots Agriculture is slowly becoming digital and AI in agriculture is emerging in three major categories, (i) Agricultural robotics (ii) Soil and crop monitoring (iii) Predictive analytics. AI is bringing a revolution to the agriculture sector. Farmers are using AI technologies for sowing seeds using drones, soil mapping, and commodity pricing. Robots will soon be automating many farming processes and take over tasks such as weeding, fertilizing, seeding, or pruning plants. AI helps bring down the operational costs in farms, by reducing dependence on manual labor and allows agronomic expertise to make data-driven decisions. Use of robotics helps in reducing the use of harmful chemicals and contributes towards eco-friendly practices. Soil and crop monitoring by robotics helps in early identification of pest or disease attack and helps contain the damage and treatment costs. Blockchain Blockchain technology will also be a focus in the coming days. It is possible to have real-time monitoring of supply chain leveraging blockchain, and there will be more transparency in agricultural transactions. It is vital for both farmers as wells as consumers: it allows farmers to negotiate better prices throughout the supply chain while enabling consumers to have confidence in the knowledge of precisely from where the produce they buy comes. It is an essential aspect when considering the growing lack of trust in the sourcing of produce sold in markets. Analytics The agriculture sector is innately complex with a wide variety of crops, geographic environments, and climates. This industry has always been loaded with data but scattered across various channels; however, this is changing, and organizations have started unleashing the power of data and analytics. Organizations are now working with farmers to enable them to use data to better plan seeding, management, and harvesting. By making use of sophisticated computer algorithms to evaluate decades of the crop as well as weather data, these days farmers can easily predict crop yields with surprising accuracy, before planting a single seed. Internet of Things The Internet of Things (IoT) is allowing data-driven intelligent agriculture. Intelligent farming using the Internet of Things will enable farmers to reduce waste and enhance productivity significantly, ranging from the amount of fertilizer utilized to the number of journeys the farm vehicles have made. IoT can help in gathering real-time analytical data and take faster commercial decisions. Sensors Recent estimates indicate that in 2025 the global market value of agricultural sensors will reach 288.3 million dollars – a vast increase from its value in 2016 at 99.3 million. Farmers are increasingly using sensors and soil sampling to gather data, and this data gets stored in the farm management system that allows for better processing and analysis. Using sensors to collect data about crops – water requirements, humidity, soil temperature, etc. – is on the rise. Sensors in the field measure soil and weather conditions such as humidity, temperature, and livestock data, while sensors on farming equipment give real-time insight into yield and quality parameters. Agribusiness leaders are learning how to leverage these technologies to: • Increase farming efficiency • Enhance customer experience • Create transparent and sustainable food supply chains • Implement new, sustainable business models • Manage market and price volatility • Engage with the right partners in business networks Connect businesses to the world of agriculture, and the world of agriculture to your business Digital technologies and analytics are transforming agriculture, making a farm’s field operations more insight-driven and efficient. Digital-based farm services are helping to improve business performance and boost yield. Tavant has combined digital technologies such as the Internet of Things with AI capabilities, analytics and its in-depth industry knowledge to help farmers increase their productivity and profitability. • A global digital agriculture company increased the productivity of growers and turned data into actionable insights leveraging Tavant’s AgriTech solution. • One of America’s premier agribusiness and food companies improved processes, boosted their yield, increased profitability, and enhanced customer experience by using Tavant’s AgriTech solution. Want to learn more? You are just a step away. We would be glad to arrange a meeting with you. E-mail us at [email protected] for more information.