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Market Overview

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The global precision agriculture market witnessed significant growth in recent years, with a value of $7.89 billion in 2022, and is projected to reach $14.61 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 13.12% during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the increasing demand for higher crop yield and investments in climate-smart agriculture practices.

Precision agriculture focuses on identifying, analyzing, and responding to field variability using technologies such as GPS and sensors. These technologies assist farmers in managing their entire farm operations effectively, enhancing productivity while minimizing environmental impact through the use of information technology.

According to World Bank data, the urban population is expected to grow by 1.5 times and reach 6 billion by 2045. This exponential growth in population has led to an increased global demand for food, decreased agricultural land availability, and depletion of natural resources. Thus, there is a critical need to improve agricultural productivity through advanced crop production technologies.

Precision agriculture is a modern approach to farm management that utilizes information technology to ensure plants and soils receive precise inputs for optimal health and productivity. Its key objectives are profitability, sustainability, and environmental protection. Precision agriculture goes by various names such as satellite farming, demand farming, and site-specific crop management (SSCM). It relies on specialized equipment, software, and IT services to achieve increased agriculture production while maintaining sustainable practices.

The adoption of precision agriculture technologies offers several benefits, including increased efficiency and productivity, water conservation, cost reduction, pest detection, animal health monitoring, and improved sustainability. Furthermore, it enables farmers to better understand crucial factors like water availability, topography, orientation, vegetation, and soil types.

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and subsequent lockdown measures disrupted the global precision agriculture market. Production processes and supply chains were greatly impacted, resulting in losses for manufacturers. Factors such as labor shortages and lack of raw materials, including sensors and other components, hampered production. However, as governments gradually eased lockdown restrictions towards the end of 2020, production activities resumed.

The demand drivers for the precision agriculture market include the increasing global food demand, the need for workforce automation in agriculture, investments and support for climate-smart agriculture practices, and the necessity for input optimization in agriculture. However, the market faces challenges such as high initial investment requirements, concerns regarding data security and privacy, and a lack of awareness and IT infrastructure in developing regions.

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Market Segmentation

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The market is segmented based on various factors, including application, product type, function, farm produce, technology, and region.

Segmentation by Application
Field Monitoring
Crop Forecasting
Precision Planting
Precision Spraying
Precision Fertilization
Precision Irrigation
Farm Management
Others

Segmentation by Product Type
Hardware Systems
Software
Services

Segmentation by Function
Farm Management
Field Management
Fleet Management

Segmentation by Farm Produce
Field Crops
Permanent Crops
Others

Segmentation by Technology
Guidance Technology
Sensing Technology
Variable Rate Application Technology
Data Analytics and Intelligence
Others

Segmentation by Region
North America – U.S. and Canada
Europe – Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Denmark, and Rest-of-Europe
China
U.K.
Asia-Pacific and Japan – India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Rest-of-Asia-Pacific and Japan
Middle East & Africa – Israel, South Africa, Turkey, and Rest-of-Middle East & Africa
South America – Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Mexico, and Rest-of-South America

The precision agriculture market is projected to be dominated by precision irrigation applications in the global application segment. This is primarily due to the growing awareness of the need to use water efficiently and reduce wastage of nutrients, water, and chemicals. The demand for advanced irrigation systems combined with soil and water sensors is also expected to generate higher returns compared to traditional irrigation methods. Precision irrigation involves assessing the water requirements of crops and implementing advanced systems to promote crop health while reducing waste. By providing the appropriate amount of water at the right time and place, precision irrigation optimizes land resources and maximizes yields. Advanced irrigation systems utilize sensors to apply the optimal amount of water to different parts of the field, resulting in increased returns. Mechanized irrigation systems such as center pivots, lateral moves, and hose reel irrigation are commonly used, and their scheduling is based on data collected through sensors and drones.

Agriculture currently uses 70% of global freshwater supplies, yet approximately 66.7% of the world’s population faces severe water shortages. However, adopting software-enabled moisture sensors, accurate weather predictions, and precision irrigation technologies can reduce water consumption by 20% to 30%. Precision irrigation has the potential to increase global crop yields by at least 10% and up to 80% in certain areas, while simultaneously decreasing water usage by up to 50%. However, the upfront costs associated with implementing truly precision irrigation systems present a challenge compared to other precision agriculture technologies, as stated in the GS Publishing report.

Wireless sensor networks that collect data across farms can be connected to the cloud, where the data is analyzed and utilized to control irrigation systems. The use of such systems can result in water savings of up to 20% compared to traditional irrigation techniques.

In terms of market segments, the hardware systems segment is expected to capture the highest market share between 2022 and 2027. Hardware equipment plays a crucial role in various farming operations. Automation and control solutions, sensing and navigation solutions, as well as probes and analyzers are examples of hardware solutions used in precision agriculture. The increased demand for hardware solutions is attributed to the widespread use of yield monitors, handheld computers, mobile devices, and agricultural cameras. With the commercialization of innovative precision agriculture technologies and solutions, there is a growing need for advanced farm machinery and systems worldwide. The hardware systems of precision agriculture solutions mainly fall into three categories: automation and control systems, sensing and navigation systems, and indoor farming equipment. While tractors remain a common tool for farmers, they are not always used efficiently. Incorporating automated hardware systems can help overcome this challenge and enhance the efficiency of traditional farming equipment. Additionally, advancements in emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and 3D printing have significantly contributed to the growth of precision agriculture hardware systems in recent years.

Field management plays a significant role in the precision agriculture market, utilizing hardware such as sensors, drones, nozzles, cameras, smartphones, and performing tasks like planting, spraying, fertilizing, and irrigation. Field management software integrates sensor data and imaging input with other information to identify fields that require treatment and determine the optimal amount of water, fertilizers, and pesticides to apply. Farm management encompasses documentation, financials, warehouse management, and other data-related tasks. Predictive analytics software utilizes data to guide farmers on crop rotation, optimal planting and harvesting times, and soil management. Traditional farming practices often lack scalability, resulting in resource overuse, unpredictable crop yields, and uncontrolled waste production. However, advancements in data analytics and IoT offer promising solutions for modern agriculture, addressing the challenges of unpredictability and providing effective farming solutions. Consequently, many farmers have adopted various precision farming applications.

Field crops hold a significant market share in the global precision agriculture market due to their large-scale consumption. Permanent crops, such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts, follow closely behind. Field crops are grown on a large scale, involving processes like seeding, weeding, and harvesting. On the other hand, producing fruits and vegetables requires meticulous manual labor and individualized care. Sensors and variable rate applicators are commonly used to produce field crops, and autonomous robot tractors are particularly relevant for this type of crop since tractors play a crucial role in almost all field crop production processes. Traditional tractor-sized robots are prevalent in regions with extensive farm holdings, such as North America and Europe. Therefore, the introduction of precision agriculture techniques involving sensors, robots, and analytical data software focuses on optimizing operations on large fields and improving efficiency to maximize profits.

Guidance technology plays a vital role in the global precision agriculture market, accounting for the highest market share in 2021. This technology utilizes global positioning system (GPS) and global navigation satellite system (GNSS) technologies for navigation purposes in the agriculture industry. Sensing technology follows closely behind guidance technology. Sensing technology solutions are integrated with data analysis software to help farmers process farm information effectively. GPS and GNSS technologies allow accurate navigation by receiving signals from satellites, enabling efficient crop monitoring. These technologies offer various applications, including automated record keeping, vehicle navigation, inter-vehicle communications, and precise placement of seeds, pesticides, and fertilizers. This precision helps reduce input overlap and operator fatigue. However, challenges related to inadequate connectivity and battery life hinder the widespread adoption of these technologies. Farmers have also faced difficulties in correlating production practices and crop yields with land variability, which limits their ability to optimize soil or plant treatment strategies.

Europe and North America are the primary contributors to the global precision agriculture market, accounting for approximately 72.04% of the market share in 2021. The increasing costs of agricultural inputs, particularly fertilizers, drive the adoption of precision agriculture in these regions. In Asia-Pacific, Japan, and South America, research and development activities, as well as experimental field studies conducted by institutions and government organizations, are generating awareness about the economic benefits of precision agriculture. This, in turn, is gradually increasing its adoption in these regions. China has seen increased adoption due to the provision of technical training to farmers on advanced precision agricultural technologies. In the Middle East and Africa, the rise of startups and the demand for efficient input utilization in food production to reduce costs are driving the adoption of precision agriculture.

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Competitive Landscape

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The selection of profiled companies was conducted through the gathering of inputs from primary experts and an analysis of factors such as company coverage, product portfolio, and market penetration.

The top players in the segment are prominent manufacturers of precision agriculture technologies and providers of modern precision technologies worldwide.

Key companies profiled in this report include AGCO Corporation, CLAAS Group, CNH Industrial N.V., Deere & Company, Hexagon Agriculture, Kubota Corporation, TeeJet Technologies, The Toro Company, Topcon Corporation, Yanmar Co. Ltd., Accenture, AGRIVI, Amazon Web Services, Inc., BASF SE, Climate LLC, Granular Inc., IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, X Development LLC (Alphabet Inc.).

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Recent Industry Developments

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In September 2022, Trimble Inc. completed the acquisition of Bilberry, a France-based company specializing in selective spraying technology systems for sustainable farming. This strategic acquisition grants Trimble Inc. access to Bilberry’s cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) technology, which can accurately identify various weed species in real time across a wide range of crops.

In February 2022, Trimble Inc. introduced Virtual Farm, an interactive online platform designed to provide an immersive experience for farmers worldwide in the field of precision agriculture. With this innovative tool, users can navigate through a virtual farm environment and gain insights into common challenges encountered in their daily farming activities.

In February 2022, Deere & Company inaugurated a development facility in Austin, United States, with a primary focus on advancing software utilized in autonomous tractors. This facility aims to enhance the capabilities of tractors by leveraging cloud data and GPS signals to enable precise and specific path planning.

In June 2022, Kubota Corporation established a partnership with the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC-NSTDA) to collaborate on the development of Thailand’s KAS Crop Calendar application. Powered by KUBOTA Agri Solution, this application serves as a comprehensive rice crop calendar, offering valuable insights and guidance to farmers in Thailand.

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Key Questions Answered

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What is the projected value of the global precision agriculture market during the period of 2022-2027?

What is the anticipated future scenario and revenue generated by various solutions, including software and platform, hardware, and support services?

What is the expected future scenario and revenue generated by different technology segments, such as guidance technology, sensing technology, variable rate application technology, and data analytics and intelligence?

What is the projected future scenario and revenue generated by different applications within the precision agriculture solutions market, including precision irrigation, field monitoring, spraying, fertilization, precision planting, and data management?

Which region represents the largest market for the global precision agriculture market?

What is the projected future scenario and revenue generated by different regions and countries in the global precision agriculture market, such as North America, South America, Europe, the United Kingdom, China, Asia-Pacific and Japan, and the Middle East and Africa?

What is the competitive strength of key players in the global precision agriculture market based on their recent developments, product offerings, and regional presence?

Which consortiums and associations operate within the global precision agriculture market, and what are their roles, focus areas, and key functions in this market?

How do key precision agriculture companies fare in terms of competitive benchmarking based on market coverage and market potential?

What components form the technology ecosystem of precision agriculture solutions?