Agriculture has long been the cornerstone of Asia, feeding 60 percent of the global population and supplying raw materials to major industries. With the sector projected to grow by up to 3.28 percent in the fiscal year 2025, the driving force behind this expansion is the rapid advancement of agricultural technology, or agritech, across the continent.
The agritech revolution in Asia is reshaping traditional farming, making it more advanced, cost-effective, and sustainable. This transformation is driven by several factors, including population growth, food security concerns, urbanization, government policies, innovation, investment, and sustainability goals. Technological advancements are enabling precision farming, helping meet the demands of a growing population while promoting sustainable practices.
Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, known as the Father of the Green Revolution, once emphasized that agriculture is the backbone of livelihood security for nearly 700 million people in India alone. He stressed the importance of building food security on homegrown food, a sentiment that resonates across Asia as agritech continues to evolve.
Traditional agriculture in Asia has historically relied on labor-intensive and time-consuming methods, struggling to keep pace with the challenges posed by climate change and increasing food demands. To address these issues, governments and private companies have turned to innovation and policy reforms, introducing technologies such as AI, blockchain, automation, and smart farming. These advancements are making agriculture more reliable and sustainable, while also supporting small-scale farmers.
Several key trends are shaping the future of agritech in Asia. Farm automation, for instance, is reducing manual labor and optimizing water use through intelligent sensors, thereby lowering energy consumption. Blockchain technology is being integrated into agricultural supply chains to enhance food safety and quality, ensuring fair wages and environmental sustainability. A notable example is Singapore’s DiMuto, which uses blockchain to provide end-to-end traceability for fresh produce exports, reducing food loss and meeting international standards.
Vertical farming is another innovation gaining traction, particularly in urban areas where space is limited. This method allows farmers to maximize their land use efficiently. Singapore’s Sustenir Agriculture has successfully implemented vertical farming combined with AI monitoring, producing high-nutrient greens using 90 percent less water than traditional methods.
Smart farming, powered by AI, data analytics, and IoT, is enabling real-time monitoring of crops, helping farmers detect deficiencies, diseases, and pest infestations early. This reduces the need for chemical interventions, promoting more sustainable farming practices. Drones are also playing a crucial role in modern agriculture, providing real-time updates on crop health and automating tasks such as seeding and precision spraying. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has integrated drones and other technologies into rice farming in India and the Philippines, enhancing sustainability and efficiency. Similarly, Thailand’s EasyRice uses AI to predict rice quality with 95 percent accuracy, benefiting over 20,000 farmers and processors.
The future of agriculture in Asia is poised for significant growth, with agritech expected to reach USD 23.16 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 19 percent, according to research by Mark & Spark Solutions. Emerging technologies such as robotics and cloud computing are likely to further revolutionize the sector, creating a more sustainable and efficient food supply chain.
As Debbie Stabenow, an American politician, noted, agriculture today is vastly different from its traditional form, with farmers now using GPS and internet-based systems to monitor irrigation. This shift underscores the transformative impact of agritech on farming practices across Asia.