Advancing sustainable agriculture in Europe is possible, but to do so, technology uptake needs to rapidly increase and digital farming has be further developed.
Advanced technologies and innovative sensing along with improved information technologies have provided the potential for transformations in agricultural. The practices development of modern digital advances require an understanding of traditional agricultural methods and processes, which need to be revisited as the drive to greater sustainability increases.
Mobile technology already plays a big role in the controlling and monitoring of crop irrigation systems. With the right equipment, it is easy for a farmer to control his irrigation systems just from a phone, tablet or computer, instead of visiting each field. Moisture sensors on the other hand are able to relay information about the moisture levels present in the ground at certain depths in the soil. This flexibility allows for more precise use and control of water and other inputs like fertiliser that are usually applied by irrigation pivots.
Farming is expected to be revolutionised in the coming years including the use of self-driving tractors or robots that perform many of the time-consuming tasks that are currently being done by people. The main advantage of smaller and lighter machinery is that they reduce soil erosion while enhancing soil compactness. This highly increases yields per acre of a farm.