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Sustainable Innovations in Precision Agriculture

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Agriculture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2022) | Viewed by 23133

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Dr. Alexa Lamm

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Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Interests: science communication; decision-making; policy; cognition; agriculture; water; climate change
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are faced with complicated and difficult challenges as we strive to supply and distribute enough food for an ever-expanding global population while protecting the natural environment. Transformative innovations in the agri-food sector are necessary to improve efficiency, enhance resilience, and mitigate risks across multiple levels (from individual plants to watersheds and global markets). Innovations in precision agriculture use information technology to ensure that crops and soil receive exactly what they need for health and productivity while reducing the traditional inputs needed to grow crops (land, water, fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides). The development and adoption of precision agriculture has the ability to ensure profitability, sustainability, and protection of the environment as we strive to grow more with less.

This Special Issue will highlight emerging sustainable innovations in precision agriculture. In addition, it will address the opportunities and challenges associated with the development and adoption of precision agriculture. We welcome papers on:

Evaluating the application of innovative precision agriculture technologies, including but not limited to automated systems, sensors, AI, farm bots, drones, autonomous vehicles/robots, and the resulting use of big data focusing on the integration of information technologies into the agri-food sector;
Case studies that evaluate the use of sustainable innovations in precision agriculture and their further application;
Shared planning in the development of sustainable innovations in precision agriculture, encompassing collaboration between public and private sectors, big data sharing, and policy implications/interactions with precision agriculture;
Modelling of the social and economic drivers of sustainable innovations in precision agriculture;
Identification of barriers and enablers to the adoption of sustainable innovations in precision agriculture; including an evaluation of public/private partnerships and evaluations of outreach initiatives;
Future perspectives on research advancement and outreach associated with sustainable innovations in precision agriculture.

Dr. Alexa Lamm
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

Precision agriculture
Information technology
Big data
Policy
Outreach

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 417 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Rural Broadband and Precision Agriculture: A Frame Analysis of United States Federal Policy Outreach under the Biden Administration

by Catherine E. Sanders, Kristin E. Gibson and Alexa J. Lamm

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 460; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010460 - 1 Jan 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3591

Abstract

Global food security requires sustainable and resource-efficient agricultural production. Precision agriculture may provide the tools needed to intensify agricultural production while prioritizing sustainability; however, there are barriers such as initial investments, knowledge gaps, and broadband access that may hinder adoption. Many rural areas in the United States lack the appropriate infrastructure for broadband access needed for precision agriculture, indicating government policies are needed to expand broadband access. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to develop a conceptualization of the current frames used by the Biden administration in communications related to rural broadband and precision agriculture. The methodological framework used was frame analysis. Data were initially analyzed inductively for overall gestalt and subsequently analyzed with abductive coding. Five overarching frames were identified during the data analysis process: broadband access and economic issues, garnering support for broadband expansion, urgency and equity surrounding broadband, expanding beyond the rural, and broadband infrastructure and the agricultural sector. The findings revealed broadband access associated with the Biden administration expanded beyond rural areas, recognizing that cities also face broadband access and affordability issues. There was a lack of discourse, however, surrounding rural broadband policy and precision agriculture, which may downplay its importance in agricultural sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Innovations in Precision Agriculture)

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14 pages, 855 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Twitter Discourse around the Use of Artificial Intelligence to Advance Agricultural Sustainability

by Catherine E. Sanders, Kennedy A. Mayfield-Smith and Alexa J. Lamm

Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 12033; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132112033 - 31 Oct 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3364

Abstract

This paper presents an exploration of public discourse surrounding the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture, specifically related to precision agriculture techniques. (1) Advancements in the use of AI have increased its implementation in the agricultural sector, often framed as a sustainable solution for feeding a growing global population. However, lessons learned from previous agricultural innovations indicate that new technologies may face public scrutiny and suspicion, limiting the dissemination of the innovation. Using systems thinking approaches can help to improve the development and dissemination of agricultural innovations and limit the unintended consequences of innovations within society. (2) To analyze the current discourse surrounding AI in agriculture, a content analysis was conducted on Twitter using Meltwater to select tweets with specific reach and engagement. (3) Seven themes resulted from the analysis: precision agriculture and digital technology innovation; transformation and the future of agriculture; accelerate solutions, solve challenges; data management and accessibility; transforming crop management, prioritizing adoption; and AI and sustainability. (4) The discourse on AI in agriculture on Twitter was overwhelmingly positive, failing to account for the potential drawbacks or limits of the innovation. This paper examines the limits of the current communication and outreach across environmental, economic, social, cultural, political, and behavioral contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Innovations in Precision Agriculture)

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23 pages, 6008 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Theoretical Framework for Analysing Technology Transfer Processes Using Agent-Based Modelling: A Case Study on Massive Technology Adoption (AMTEC) Program on Rice Production

by William Orjuela-Garzon, Santiago Quintero, Diana P. Giraldo, Laura Lotero and César Nieto-Londoño

Sustainability 2021, 13(20), 11143; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132011143 - 9 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2908

Abstract

The technology transfer (TT) process has been studied from different approaches to improve productivity and competitiveness in agricultural chains. However, the process is not always presented successfully due to heterogeneity and inequality in the technological capacities (TC) of the agents that are part of the transfer process, in addition to the geographical context, the interaction networks and decision rules, which are key factors to understand the TT phenomenon. In this context and as a case study, the Colombian National Federation of rice growers promoted the development and adoption of technology that increased crop competitiveness and sustainability by implementing a technology transfer program known as the Massive Technology Adoption Program (AMTEC—Adopción Masiva de Tecnología) on rice. With the AMTEC program, average production costs were reduced by 26% (USD 119 per hectare), and it increased average yields by 23% (1.27 tonnes per hectare), which shows the importance of introducing technologies in productive chains in developing countries. This research provides a better understanding of the TT processes, based on the analysis of the interaction dynamics and behaviour patterns between the agents (i.e., generators, intermediaries, or users) in the TT processes. As an analysis tool, the agent-based modelling paradigm (ABM) was proposed to study the emergence at the macro-level of behaviour patterns of a system from the interactions of semi-intelligent agents at the micro-level, using experiments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Innovations in Precision Agriculture)

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15 pages, 2690 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analyzing Precision Agriculture Adoption across the Globe: A Systematic Review of Scholarship from 1999–2020

by Chin-Ling Lee, Robert Strong and Kim E. Dooley

Sustainability 2021, 13(18), 10295; https://doi.org/10.3390/su131810295 - 15 Sep 2021

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 5409

Abstract

Precision agriculture (PA) is a holistic, sustainable, innovative systems approach that assists farmers in production management. Adopting PA could improve sustainable food security and community economic sustainability. Developing an understanding of PA adoption attributes is needed in order to assist extension practitioners to promote adoption and better understand the innovation adoption phenomena. A systematic review of literature was conducted to investigate attributes that foster PA adoption. Thirty-three publications were examined, and four themes were found among the reviewed publications. The results were interpreted using Rogers’ diffusion of innovations framework to address the research objectives. Relative advantage and compatibility were two dominant attributes needed to strengthen the adoption of PA, and the complexity attribute was rarely communicated to promote the adoption of PA. The systematic review indicated the rate of farmer’s PA adoption does not occur at the highest potential levels due to inadequate communication of PA attributes from change agents to farmers. Extension field staff need professional development in communicating the five PA adoption attributes to farmers in order to improve PA adoption and enhance local sustainable food security. Thus, authors recommend future complexity studies from agricultural extension specialists’ perspectives to comprehend demonstratable approaches to motivate farmers’ adoption of PA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Innovations in Precision Agriculture)

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13 pages, 896 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Local Food and Local Products with Geographical Indication on the Development of Tourism Gastronomy

by Hüseyin Pamukçu, Ömer Saraç, Sercan Aytuğar and Mustafa Sandıkçı

Sustainability 2021, 13(12), 6692; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126692 - 12 Jun 2021

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 6530

Abstract

Various tourism trends have appeared with developing technology. One of them is gastronomy tourism. It is necessary to determine the factors which affect the development of this type of tourism for supply determinants to be successful in marketing activities. Products registered with geographical indication are considered to be one of these elements. In this direction, the purpose of the study is to determine the effects of local food and local products registered with geographical indications on the development of gastronomy tourism. Bolu, which is one of the Turkey’s cities, was selected as implementation area. Data were collected from effective tourists, who visited Bolu, or potential tourists, who have a possibility of visiting Bolu, via questionnaire technique, and 391 questionnaires were reached. Data were solved using statistical package program. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the effect of the products registered with geographical indication. According to the research results, the most effective element on the development of gastronomy tourism is local products registered with geographical indications with an impact rate of 60%. The effect of local foods, registered with geographical indication, is 37.7%. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Innovations in Precision Agriculture)

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