Sustainable agriculture, often referred to as sustainable farming or agroecology, is an approach to farming that aims to meet the current and future needs for food and other agricultural products while minimizing negative environmental, social, and economic impacts. This method seeks to balance three core aspects: environmental stewardship, economic viability, and social equity. Sustainable agriculture is becoming increasingly important in India, as the country faces challenges such as ensuring food and nutrition security, addressing climate change, and promoting the sustainable use of resources like water, energy, and land.

Various emerging agricultural trends are making a shift towards skilled cultivating and a highly productive use of time and assets, while also lessening crop misfortunes. Agriculture experts tend to work with investors, farmers and innovators to initially test and then implement advancements that will provide more food for the rising population. It is important to observe that at a time when companies are merely struggling to find and implement effective solutions, sustainable and regenerative agriculture is a sure path to significant social and environmental impact.

According to TechSci Research Report “Precision Agriculture Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028 Segmented By Technology (Guidance Systems, Remote Sensing and Variable Rate Technologies), By Component (Software and Hardware), By Application (Yield Monitoring, Field Mapping and Others), By Region and Competition,” Global Precision Agriculture Market has valued at USD 9.34 Billion in 2022 and is anticipated to project impressive growth in the forecast period with a CAGR of 10.11% through 2028. Precision agriculture, also known as site-specific crop management (SSCM), is an approach to farm management that enables farmers to increase food production in a cost-effective manner. It encompasses various technologies, including global positioning system (GPS), geographical information system (GIS), remote sensing (RS), and variable rate technology (VRT).

Precision Agriculture: A Systematic Approach to Sustainable Agriculture

Precision agriculture relates with a farming management concept based on observing and responding to inter- and intra-field variability in crops. It is a farming method that uses a systems’ approach to match the kind and quantity of inputs to the actual demands of the crop in small parts of a farm field. Although the idea is not new, the concept of precision agriculture may now be implemented in a real-world production scenario thanks to newly developed technologies. Precision farming is characterized by a higher level of management than traditional agriculture, where rather than treating entire fields as a single entity, management is tailored to specific sections within fields. The global precision agriculture market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 10.11% through 2028. Various methods can be integrated with precision farming, Soil Mapping, IoT, Drip Irrigation being among some of them.

Soil Mapping

Using sensors, GPS, and GIS, this method maps and measures the soil’s physical and chemical characteristics, such as texture, organic matter, pH, nutrients, etc. This helps farmers choose the best crops and varieties for each soil type, and apply the right inputs based on the soil variability.

Site-Specific Crop Management

This method splits the field into smaller sections, based on the differences in soil and crop conditions, and uses VRT, yield monitoring, soil mapping, etc. to manage each section individually. This can improve the efficiency of inputs, enhance crop consistency, and increase profits.

Yield Monitoring and Mapping

Using sensors, GPS, and GIS, this method gathers and examines data on the yield and quality of crops throughout the field. This helps farmers find out the factors that influence crop performance, such as soil type, weather, pests, diseases, etc. and modify their management practices accordingly.

Variable Rate Technology

This method lets farmers vary the amounts of inputs (such as seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, water, etc.) that they apply to different parts of the field, depending on the specific requirements and features of each area. This can lower costs, boost yields, and preserve the environment.

Considering the abundant possibilities existing in this regard, numerous Agritech startups have and are developing solutions to boost profitability, while optimizing input applications. For instance, Data Farming, an Australian startup, works on delivering digital solutions for precision agriculture through pay-per-use cloud service. To the benefit, its cloud platform supports satellite images, soil mapping, auto-zone, and more to offer farmers with actionable insights. Another example can be of DJI, a leading drone and action-cam manufacturer. The company offers Phantom 4RTK, a dedicated solution for precision agriculture capable of capturing centimeter-level accurate data for mapping and surveying. Agras MG-1 is another offering by DJI, capable of spraying liquid pesticides, fertilizers, and herbicides.

Identifying & Customizing Decisions with Field Mapping for Agriculture

Modern agriculture has been revolutionized by the latest technological innovations. These innovations enable better monitoring and management practices through automation and real-time data analysis, resulting in higher crop production and quality. Moreover, technological advancements have enhanced the precision of fertilization and soil management, leading to improved sustainability and environmental protection. With modern technology such as sensors and Geographic Information System (GIS) being available to farmers, more and more people are gaining the ability to implement field mapping to continue their operations, with better efficiency.

Field mapping first combines telematics data from sensors, in the form of images from satellite and then matches them with the map to help agribusinesses achieve their goals, within the desired location. Here are certain applications where this method is exactly Made-To-Measure.

Insect And Pest Control

Scouting large fields for pest infestations is inefficient and significantly time-consuming. Instead, deep learning algorithms and satellite data can help identify unhealthy areas that need attention. Crop Monitoring can detect various risks, such as weeds and crop diseases, using vegetation indices collected from the field. The index map can show low vegetation in a small area, which could indicate a parasite or a disease, making the  scout not having to check the large field anymore. They can inspect the selected location and quickly send photos of the threat types and the tasks they completed using crop monitoring technologies.

Livestock Monitoring

Field mapping can help farmers track and monitor their livestock by informing them with the location of the connected entities of that agri-environment. It comprises of animals, fences, waterpipes, gateways, etc. Such type of field mapping also assists farmers to plan and implement their breeding and vaccination, along with genetic and health status of their animals. It also helps farmers to comply with environmental and regulatory standards.

3 Popular Real-Life Applications

SoilOptix: It is a field mapping service that helps farmers to understand and map different types of information. It also includes data regarding soil health and nutrition, slopes, water, and irrigation systems.

Land id: It is a field mapping application that helps farmers understand and map different types of information, including data regarding soil health and nutrition, enabling farmers to employ variety of different practices to maximize land usage.

Fieldmargin: It is a popular farm mapping app for farmers in from more than 170 countries. It allows farmers to quickly create maps of their fields, create crop records, and assign tasks to workers, and much more.

Digital Information Sharing: Key To Sustainable Agriculture

With the aim of saving time and money, digital information sharing allows farmers to exchange helpful facts and information. Farmers get the access to communicate with advisors and other professionals in order to make more profits and get relevant insights. It is basically a process of exchanging data, information, interpretation, and knowledge among different stakeholders in the agriculture sector, using digital technologies and services. Digital information sharing can aid in sustainable agriculture practices in various ways.

Digital information sharing help significantly in addressing labor shortages, in instances of larger yield and land potential. The main area where it proves to be specifically useful is in bridging the gap between farmers and land scientists, gaining relevant insights into what is needed and what needs to be eliminated.

By optimizing their inputs, monitoring their crops, managing their risks, and accessing new opportunities, farmers can increase their productivity, efficiency, and profitability. By conserving resources, minimizing waste, enhancing soil health, and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, farmers can lower their environmental impact.

By communicating, collaborating, and learning from other farmers, extension workers, researchers, and policy makers, farmers can improve their social and cultural well-being.

While these innovative tools tend to offer benefits such as lower costs and improved yield, they also require substantial upfront investments and farmers must also equip themselves new skills and knowledge to operate them.

Use Cases And Initiatives Under Digital Agriculture:

In September 2021, Mr. Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Minister of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, declared the initiation of Digital Agriculture Mission 2021-2025. It aims to support and accelerate projects based on new technologies like, AI, block chain, remote sensing, and GIS technology and use of drones and robots.

In the same year, ITC also proposed to create a personalized service named “Site Specific Crop Advisory” to turn conventional crop level generic advice into personalized site-specific crop advisory for farmers using digital technologies. This proposal was aimed for implementation in identified villages of Sehore and Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh and support Wheat crop operations.

Piloting Sustainable Agriculture Through Sustainable Farming Pilots

Sustainable agriculture pilots refer to small-scale projects or initiatives that aim to test and implement sustainable farming practices. These pilots typically focus on finding innovative and environmentally friendly methods of food production that minimize negative impacts on the environment, conserve natural resources, and promote long-term agricultural sustainability. They often involve experimenting with techniques such as organic farming, agroforestry, permaculture, precision agriculture, and the use of renewable energy sources.

Assessing Feasibility: These pilots evaluate the practicality and viability of implementing sustainable practices on a larger scale, considering factors such as cost, resource availability, and compatibility with local conditions.

Data Collection: They collect and analyze data on the performance and outcomes of sustainable farming techniques, including crop yields, soil health, water usage, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. This data helps inform decision-making and provides evidence for the benefits of sustainable agriculture.

Network and Partnerships: These pilots often collaborate with farmers, researchers, government agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders to share knowledge, exchange experiences, and foster collaboration in advancing sustainable agriculture.

Use Case Scenarios and Examples:

Sustainable Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Project was implemented by NITI Aayog and the Ministry of Agriculture, in collaboration with Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU) and the World Economic Forum (WEF). The project aims to scale up SAPSs across states, namely (Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Punjab) and 18 districts.

The Digital Agriculture - The Future Of Indian Agriculture initiative, launched by McKinsey & Company and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology initiative aims to accelerate the adoption of digital technologies in the agriculture sector, such as mobile apps, internet, satellite, drones, sensors, artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain, cloud computing, and e-commerce.

The Farmers in India cut their carbon footprint with trees and solar power project, led by the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture (CSA), a non-governmental organization based in Hyderabad. The project aims to promote agroforestry and renewable energy as ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance farm incomes. The project supports farmers to plant trees that provide fodder, fuel, and income, and to install solar panels that power irrigation pumps and generate surplus electricity. The project covers 15,000 farmers and 30,000 hectares of land in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Exploring Climate-Smart Agriculture: Adapting, Mitigating, and Ensuring Security

Climate-smart agriculture is a subset of sustainable agriculture that adapts various sustainable practices to the specific climate conditions of a given farming community. Climate-smart and hermetic solutions help farmers cope with and mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on their crops and livelihoods. By adopting these solutions and new technologies in their post-harvest activities, farmers can shift from their conventional methods to a more sustainable and climate-resilient post-harvest process and enjoy long-term benefits.

How Chronology Follows?

Adaptation:

CSA aims to make agricultural systems more resilient to the effects of climate change. This involves applying practices that enable crops, livestock, and farming systems to endure extreme weather events, shifts in rainfall patterns, and variations in temperature. Examples of adaptation measures include using crop varieties that can tolerate drought, enhancing water management, implementing systems that combine trees and crops, and adopting techniques that conserve soil and water.

Mitigation:

CSA aims to lower greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural activities. Agriculture is a major source of global emissions, mainly through the emission of methane from livestock and nitrous oxide from fertilizers and manure. Mitigation measures in CSA include enhancing nutrient management, adopting precision agriculture techniques to reduce fertilizer use, implementing practices that combine trees and crops, and encouraging renewable energy use in farming operations.

Food Security and Productivity:

CSA strives to improve food security by boosting agricultural productivity and ensuring sustainable food production systems. This involves increasing crop yields, diversifying farming systems, promoting sustainable intensification, and cutting post-harvest losses. By boosting productivity, CSA helps to satisfy the growing global demand for food while avoiding the expansion of agricultural land into natural ecosystems.

Overall, climate-smart agriculture aims to create a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector that can adapt to climate change, reduce its environmental footprint, and contribute to global food security. By integrating adaptation, mitigation, and productivity goals, CSA offers a holistic approach to address the complex challenges posed by climate change in agriculture.

According to TechSci Research Report “Regenerative Agriculture Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Competition, Opportunities and Forecast, 2017-2027, Segmented By Practice (Holistic Planned Grazing, Agroforestry, Pasture Cropping, Silvopasture, Agroecology, Aquaculture, Others), By Application (Biodiversity, Nutrient Cycling, Carbon Sequestration, Others), By Region” Regenerative agriculture market is stood at USD7750.25 million in 2021 and is projected to accomplish an extraordinary growth by 14.41% in the forecast period. The market growth can be attributed to the growing awareness pertaining to the importance of soil health management. Additionally, growing awareness related to climate change and soil conservation among the population worldwide is expected to support the market growth in the coming years.

Summing Up

In conclusion, the top trends in sustainable agriculture reflect a growing recognition of the need to transform our food systems to be more environmentally friendly, resilient, and socially responsible. Precision agriculture, Field Mapping, Digital Information Sharing, Sustainable Farming Pilots, Climate-Smart Agriculture are all driving the shift towards more sustainable practices. These trends emphasize the importance of soil health, biodiversity conservation, resource efficiency, and climate change mitigation. They promote practices that minimize the use of synthetic inputs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve water, and protect natural ecosystems.

In conclusion, the top trends in sustainable agriculture offer promising solutions to the challenges we face in feeding a growing global population while preserving our planet's resources. By embracing these trends, we can create a more resilient, environmentally friendly, and socially equitable food system that meets the needs of both present and future generations. It is through the collective efforts of farmers, policymakers, researchers, and consumers that we can shape a sustainable future for agriculture and ensure a healthy and prosperous planet for all.