The world stands at the precipice of a significant agricultural transformation, driven by the pressing need to feed a burgeoning global population. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that by 2050, we will need 70% more food to sustain almost 10 billion people. This challenge has sparked a collective call to action among environmentalists, agricultural scientists, economists, and policy analysts, who argue that advanced agricultural technology, particularly autonomy, may hold the key to achieving this goal.
Ryan Abel, principal software architect at CNH Industrial, envisions autonomy as an evolution of current agricultural practices. “It’s going to allow us to get more efficient in our processes while improving agronomic output to better feed the world,” he says. The potential benefits are vast: higher-quality produce, reduced reliance on conventional pesticides and herbicides, and a more sustainable approach to farming. However, realizing this vision requires unprecedented collaboration within the global agricultural industry, known for its competitiveness and sprawling nature.
The agricultural sector presents a relatively safe and controlled environment for the development of autonomous technology, compared to the unpredictable public roadways. Farmers also have the unique advantage of being able to retrofit their existing machinery, a luxury not readily available to on-road vehicle owners. The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2027, autonomous agriculture will be a $95 billion market, driven by the need to feed a growing population while reducing emissions, pesticides, and water use.
Autonomous farming promises to revolutionize the industry by increasing efficiency, improving crop quality, and providing accurate data to inform better decision-making. It also aims to prevent losses from pests and diseases, conserve resources, increase yields, and promote sustainable agriculture, all of which contribute to global food security. “Removing the operator by way of autonomy ultimately allows us to think on a much broader scale and ask, ‘How can we do agriculture better?’” Abel posits.
The transition to autonomy also signifies a shift in the design and safety considerations of agricultural equipment. With the removal of the human operator, manufacturers can focus on making processes more efficient and effective. Alexander Grever, team lead of software development at KRONE, believes that this shift will lead to a complete redesign of implements and machinery. “Machines and implements look like they do now because there is a human operator in the loop, and removing them gives us the opportunity to really rethink the process and design differently as a whole,” he says.
The Agricultural Industry Electronics Foundation (AEF) is at the forefront of this transformation, working to identify and remove technical barriers to interoperability among autonomous agricultural products. In 2024, the AEF announced the Autonomy in Ag (AUT) project team, co-led by Abel and Grever. The team is defining an interoperability roadmap and creating the necessary architecture for autonomous agricultural products.
Interoperability is crucial in this new era of agriculture. It allows farmers to mix and match equipment from different brands, tailoring their setups to their specific needs. This flexibility fosters competition, driving better technology and pricing. “Everybody wants more choice, and the more choice you have to use with your equipment, the more you can tailor the equipment that you have to your unique needs,” Abel says.
The march towards autonomous agriculture is not just about replacing human labor; it’s about rethinking and improving agricultural processes to meet the demands of a growing population. As Grever puts it, “Changes can sound negative. But basically, it is primarily about supporting farmers and making their daily work easier, and ultimately helping to ensure that we are prepared for the growth of our global population.” The future of agriculture is autonomous, and it’s a future that we are steadily marching towards.