Not only does artificial intelligence enable the automation of farming activities, it can also help make predictions on the best time to plant, apply fertilisers and harvest, all based on historical and climate data collected from sensors. This data is converted into information that can be used for planning and monitoring, managing herds, crops and land, and help with individual management decisions for animals and plants.

The concept of indoor, vertical farming is turning agriculture as we’ve known it on its head. Unlike traditional, single-layer farming, vertically farmed crops are grown in smaller, often soil-less areas, stacked upwards in buildings in which growing conditions are carefully controlled. Vertical agriculture is also increasingly associated with urban farming, bringing food production closer to those living in the cities while reducing transportation costs and CO2 emissions.