IoT and agriculture: how connectivity is transforming farming

Dr. Hugh Martin, principal lecturer in agricultural science at the Royal Agricultural University, looks at how the IoT revolution is helping usher in a new age of farming Industry 4.0 is a well-known idea. Perhaps less well-known is Agriculture 4.0. Martin identifies three previous revolutions in agriculture – dating back to the introduction of one of the original pieces of farming technology in 1730 in the form of Jethro Tull's seed drill. Broadly, these three revolutions can be defined as; the introduction of mechanisation, the use of mineral fertilisers, and the industrialisation of production processes. Now, Martin believes, connectivity and data management are set to unleash the next stage.