The future of agriculture

Agriculture is on the eve of major technological changes. We are moving towards a more efficient, smarter and more sustainable digital future. Technology like artificial intelligence, drones, and self-driving harvesting systems will all facilitate better efficiency, greater crop yields and more sustainable agricultural practices.

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What to expect

Agriculture is on the eve of major technological changes. We are moving towards a more efficient, smarter, and more sustainable digital future. Technology like artificial intelligence, drones, and self-driving harvesting systems will all facilitate better efficiency, greater crop yields, and more sustainable agricultural practices.

Breakthroughs in agriculture will encompass data analytics and predictive tools – technologies that will make decision making more efficient and can help optimise the use of seeds, water, fertiliser, and pesticides.

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Topics covered

Artificial intelligence (AI) for agriculture

Artificial intelligence (AI) for agriculture

AI, the beating heart of tomorrow, touches every business in agriculture. Self-learning systems analyse, connect, and create anything imaginable. This presents opportunities as well as threats. How do we prepare for this technological revolution that demands new skills and a proactive approach to ethics and safety?

Precision agriculture

Precision agriculture

Farming efficiency depends on our ability to predict natural conditions. To meet global food demand, we need to be able to react as quickly as possible. One way to do this is with precision agriculture, in which sensors, robotics, the IoT, satellite tech, and drones are used to gather precise data, enabling farmers to measure the performance of their crops.

DNA-engineering

DNA-engineering

Biotechnologies like DNA-engineering in agriculture enable us to amplify natural events or develop crops and animals that would otherwise be impossible. The coming years will see an increase in the number of engineered crops, providing greater food security, enhanced food quality, reduced need for herbicides and pesticides, improved crop yields, reduced costs, and resistance to crop disease and pests.

Smart livestock farming

Smart livestock farming

Health issues can significantly affect the production efficiency of livestock. Using ICT, the Internet of Things (IoT), wearables, cameras, drones, image-recognition software, as well as sound-, air-, temperature-, and weight monitoring, farmers can collect important data from their livestock. Gathering data from the facilities where livestock is housed can also help improve animal health and production efficiency.

Urban farming

Urban farming

Urban or vertical farms grow crops in 3D: rows of plants in soil or nutrient-enriched water (hydroponics) with LEDs mimicking natural light and sensors optimising growing conditions. Closed-loop systems (aquaponics) make it possible to grow fish as well as greens. Urban farming makes clever use of space and leaves ecosystems intact, and allows produce to reach tables with minimal transportation.

Sustainability

Sustainability

The overuse of pesticides and petrochemical fertilisers, deforestation, and soil and water conservation are some of today’s most pressing issues for which sustainable agriculture offers many solutions. By implementing biotechnology, indoor farming, and automating agricultural tasks like pollination, seeding, soil treatment, weeding, fertilising, and harvesting, we could largely eliminate humans from farming and reduce water, space, and pesticide usage.

Ethics

Ethics

In many ways, people are no longer separate from technology. It is, therefore, important to keep an eye on the moral side of technological developments, consider the implications for the world of tomorrow, and ensure we take important ethical considerations into account. We need to determine our boundaries and voice our opinions about how people and machines should work together.

New skills & roles

New skills & roles

New technological developments in agriculture are changing how our food is produced, which will also lead to the development of new careers. Think hydrologists – professionals who protect the environment and ensure we have access to clean water, drone technologists, precision agriculture technologists, and food scientists who create new food products and improve existing ones.

The future of leadership

The future of leadership

The future of work requires a new type of manager, who challenges the status quo and is willing to abandon entrenched ‘best practices’. There will be a move to flatter hierarchies as millennials are great team players and see traditional hierarchies as outdated. The managers of the future will offer employees opportunities to develop new skills and explore new positions.

The company of the future

The company of the future

The organisation of the future is hyper-connected. It closely monitors new developments and collaborates with start-ups, scientists, and universities. It uses smart algorithms to analyse the world and employs a flexible workforce capable of rapidly developing new education concepts. The organisation of the future requires accessible, inspiring leaders who are not afraid to veer off the beaten track.

Why choose Richard as a speaker?

Inspirerende-spreker

Inspiring Keynote Speaker

For over 10 years, Richard has been a highly sought-after speaker for renowned global organizations and is among the top international speakers. He is also the founder of the future intelligence agency, Trendforce.one

Mindset

Mindset

His passion is to inject a fresh new mindset that helps individuals and organizations understand, embrace, and explore the world of tomorrow.

Publicaties

Publications

Through his future intelligence blog, he shares new insights weekly about the future, inspiring trends, and the latest developments. There are over 2000 articles and more than 60 books and e-books available.

Performances & Media

Richard van Hooijdonk

Trendwatcher, futurist and international keynote speaker Richard van Hooijdonk takes you to an inspiring future that will dramatically change the way we live, work and do business.

As a futurist, keynotespeaker and trendwatcher, Richard van Hooijdonk is an authority on new technology. He has several Chip-implants, because he wants to physically experience the future. His inspiration sessions have been attended by over 600,000 people. Richard is a regular guest at radio and television programs.

With his international research team, he researches many trends in the field of artificial intelligence & generative AI, robotics, drones, self-driving systems, 3D & 4D printing, sensors, blockchain, quantum computing, neurotech, biotech, platforms and augmented & virtual reality. Combined with artificial intelligence, these technologies offer groundbreaking opportunities, but also lead to challenges and threats for people, organisations and governments.