Digital Agriculture Market Assessment, By Technology [Peripheral Technology, Core Technology], By Type [Hardware, Software, Services], By Operation [Farming and Feeding, Marketing and Demand Generation, Monitoring and Scouting], By Offering [Financial Services, Advisory Services, Digital Procurement, Precision Agriculture and Farm Management, Quality Management and Traceability, Agri E-Commerce], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2017-2031F
Global digital agriculture market is projected to witness a CAGR of 18.62% during the forecast period 2024-2031, growing from USD 16.35 billion in 2023 to USD 64.09 billion in 2031. The industry has been growing rapidly in recent years, driven by the need for sustainable farming practices and advances in agricultural technology. For this reason, digital agriculture makes use of core and peripheral technologies to optimize agricultural processes, increase crop yields, and improve land management. This market encompasses the key segments of precision farming, smart greenhouses, livestock monitoring, and aquaculture that leverage various digital technologies for field mapping, crop monitoring, yield analysis, and livestock management. The increasing demand for food due to an ever-rising global population together with the necessity to handle natural resources more judiciously supports the adoption of digital agriculture technologies.
North America holds a significant share of the market due to early adoption of advanced technologies and high investments in digital farming solutions. Europe follows closely behind as it is seeing more government-backed initiatives supporting sustainable agricultural practices. Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific is predicted to be the fastest growing region as there is a huge agrarian base, and farmers are becoming more aware of how digital technologies can benefit.
Moreover, there are important innovations and strategic alliances in the sector through major players such as Trimble Inc., Gamaya SA, and Prospera Technologies Ltd. which are investing heavily in research and development of their products. Digital agriculture solutions are increasingly becoming essential for developing resilience and achieving food security as the global agricultural industry encounters obstacles such as climate change, loss of soil quality, and scarcity of water resources.
In February 2024, in an effort to transform digital agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa, Spacecom Ltd., the owner-operator of the AMOS satellite fleet and provider of satellite communication solutions and services, successfully launched its Satellite IoT-as-a-Service. By working with Ayecka and utilizing the capabilities of Ayecka AR-1100 satcom terminals and AMOS GEO satellites, Spacecom presents a dependable, autonomous, and sustainable off-grid solution to deliver effective IoT services to rural agricultural areas throughout Africa.
Rising Demand for Food and Agricultural Products Spur the Adoption of Digital Agriculture
The demand for food and agricultural products is one of the main factors that are driving the growth in the global digital agriculture market. Never before has there been such a need to produce more food as worldwide population is projected to rise from 8.0 billion in mid-November 2022 and reach 9.7 billion by 2050. A combination of urbanization, changing dietary patterns and increased incomes, especially in developing countries, is fueling this increased demand even further. Consequently, there is immense pressure on farmers to improve crop yield and increase productivity while minimizing resource inputs such as water, fertilizers, and pesticides. In August 2024, the revolutionary digital agricultural platform Cropwise, available to all producers and their technicians, was launched by Syngenta España, SA. By combining innovative digital solutions, this new tool gives farmers access to a comprehensive farm management system that optimizes their operations' production and profitability over the long term.
Precision agriculture, remote sensing, variable-rate technology, and other digital agriculture technologies offer methods for optimizing agronomy, reducing waste, and improving crop quality. With these technologies, farmers can make informed decisions based on data, monitor plant health, and conserve water while increasing production and profit. Furthermore, they help tackle problems, such as labor shortages or climate change, which are impediments to meeting rising global food demands in both sustainable and efficient ways.
Need for Sustainable Agricultural Practices Fuel Market Growth
The need for sustainable agricultural practices is a crucial driver of the global digital agriculture market. With the rising concerns about climate change, degradation of soil, water scarcity, and loss of biodiversity, it is high time to adopt eco-friendly and sustainable farming methods. It helps in minimizing the environmental pollution while improving fertilizer use efficiency (FUE) and increasing crop yields. Therefore, digital agriculture technologies such as precision farming, smart irrigation systems, or AI-based analytics allow farmers to make decisions on how to use input materials efficiently so that their effects on nature are reduced while improving the soil health. In February 2024, the Digital Agriculture Research and Extension Center (DAREC) was launched as the latest initiative from the University of Missouri. The center's mission is to support farmers and other agricultural producers in their transition to a sustainable future by utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and innovative digital technologies to boost agricultural profitability, sustainability, and production.
These technologies facilitate real-time crop condition monitoring, weather pattern prediction and improving resource management, which is essential for minimizing carbon footprints and conserving natural resources. Also, sustainable farming practices guarantee long term agricultural productivity leading to food security for a growing world population. Various policies and incentives at global level are designed by governments and organizations aimed at promoting sustainable practices, thereby encouraging use of digital agriculture tools.
Drones Hold a Substantial Market Share
Drones occupy a significant market share in the sector of digital agriculture and it makes them an important aspect of contemporary farming techniques. Modern-day farming techniques require these flying robots that have been integrated with new technology such as integrated sensors and imaging systems to deliver real time data concerning crop health, soil condition, and pest occurrences so that farmers can make sound decisions. Such tools are especially useful to large scale farms where traditional means of crop monitoring and management of fields may be tedious and consume most labor time. Capitalizing on the trend, in April 2024, SZ DJI Technology Co., Ltd. furthered the expansion of their well-liked Agras series by launching the Agras T50 and T25 drones. The T25 provides portability for smaller enterprises, while the T50 is designed for large-scale farming efficiency. The new and enhanced SmartFarm App works smoothly with both models to better management of aerial crop treatments.
The ability of drones to perform precision tasks, such as spraying pesticides or fertilizers with pin-point accuracy, is beneficial in reducing wastage and minimizing environmental harm thereby promoting sustainable agricultural practices. With advances in battery life, range or distance traveled, and data processing capabilities, it is expected that the role of drones in digital agriculture will grow significantly as the technology continue to evolve as an essential part of progressive farming methods.
Asia-Pacific is a Rapidly Growing Market
Digital agriculture is becoming a fast-growing market in Asia-Pacific as the region has a big agricultural base, coupled with an ever-increasing population, along with the demand for food necessitating more productive and efficient farming activities. For instance, China, India, Japan, and Australia are among countries using technologies in precision farming, smart irrigation, or drone-based crop monitoring that characterizes digital agriculture. Besides this, adoption across the region is driven by growing farmer awareness on how these digital solutions improve crop yields, lower input costs, and enhance resource management. In fact, in October 2023, a leading Indian agritech business Zuari FarmHub announced a partnership with CropX Technologies, a multinational agritech business that specializes in digital agronomic solutions. Through the use of real-time monitoring technology that provides farmers with data-driven insights for increased production and sustainability, the partnership seeks to transform farming methods in India.
To stimulate the use of digital technologies, government efforts are being complemented by investment in rural broadband infrastructure and digital literacy initiatives. Moreover, many startups and established companies that provide innovative digital solutions aim at meeting specific agricultural problems in the region, helping to drive the market growth. Hence, in the forecast period, Asia-Pacific is likely to play a major role in causing an increase in the global digital agriculture market.
Future Market Scenario (2024 – 2031F)
Agricultural processes will be transformed in the future by an influx of digital technology including AI, machine learning, IoT, and blockchain that promises precision, efficiency, and data driven decision-making.
The integration of robots with automation are expected to be experienced in the market. It means that there will be autonomous tractors, drones, and robotic harvesters that will help decrease labor shortages and reduce business expenses.
The development in satellite image analysis and remote sensing will allow farmers to receive frequent information on crop growth, diseases, and weather patterns, hence making more use of digital means.
Key Players Landscape and Outlook
The global digital agriculture market is characterized by a dynamic and competitive landscape, with numerous key players driving innovation and shaping the future of farming through the development of advanced technologies and strategic collaborations. These companies offer a diverse range of digital solutions, including precision farming tools, automated equipment, drones, sensors, and software platforms, which are increasingly adopted by farmers globally. The focus is on investing in research and development to enhance product offerings and integrate emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, IoT, and blockchain, and provide more comprehensive, user-friendly solutions to meet the evolving needs of modern agriculture. In April 2024, the SE868K5-RTK, a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver module with centimeter-level positional precision, was introduced by Telit Cinterion. Advanced Real-Time Kinematics (RTK) technology enables Telit Cinterion to offer high-precision location data for the first time in its portfolio with the SE868K5-RTK GNSS module. New high-precision use cases in industries such as robotic systems, e-mobility, precision agriculture, and drone operations are made possible by the SE868K5-RTK.
The outlook for the digital agriculture market remains strong, with growth driven by the increasing adoption of digital technologies, rising awareness of sustainable practices, and supportive government initiatives. This presents significant opportunities for companies to capitalize on market expansion and drive future growth.