We are witnessing a revolutionary wave of technology adoption in agriculture, with an array of emerging innovations that hold immense promise for the future of farming. What was once a nascent concept, IoT, has now evolved into a mainstream agricultural powerhouse, driving unprecedented advancements in the industry. At its heart, IoT in agriculture is about harnessing the power of the internet to seamlessly control and optimize farming operations.

Imagine every time you glance at your smartwatch to track calories or ask Alexa or Siri to calculate the value of pi, you’re tapping into the transformative world of IoT. These ‘smart’ devices, capable of transferring data over a network, are reshaping our everyday lives. One of the pioneering instances of a network-connected device was a 1982 Coke vending machine at Carnegie Mellon University, which could report whether the drinks were cold or if any were available. This early innovation paved the way for the sophisticated IoT technologies we now leverage in agriculture.

Today, IoT empowers farmers with real-time data and intelligent control, ensuring optimal resource use and enhanced productivity. At Aras Aviculture Inc. , we are at the forefront of this agricultural revolution, committed to transforming farms with cutting-edge IoT solutions that drive efficiency, sustainability, and growth.

The term “Internet of Things” was coined in 1999 by Kevin Ashton, co-founder and executive director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Auto-ID Laboratory, during a presentation at Procter and Gamble (P&G) where he served as Brand Manager. Ashton introduced the concept to highlight the potential of radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags in managing the supply chain, allowing for easier monitoring of the location and stock levels of items.

Building on the RFID innovation, LG Electronics launched the Internet Digital DIOS refrigerator in 2000, one of the first internet-connected home appliances. This refrigerator could track the types and quantities of stored food items by scanning their RFID tags. Despite its innovative features, the Internet Digital DIOS refrigerator didn’t achieve commercial success due to its high cost, but it set the stage for future internet-managed household appliances.

According to the Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG), while the term “Internet of Things” was coined in 1999, the concept truly took off between 2008 and 2009 when the number of connected “things or objects” surpassed the number of people. With the proliferation of smartphones, tablets, and other smart devices, the number of internet-connected devices reached 12.5 billion in 2010, while the global human population was 6.8 billion. This marked the first time in history that there were more connected devices than people, with an average of 1.84 devices per person, signifying the dawn of the Internet of Things era.

As the demand for poultry and agricultural products rises, leveraging advanced technologies to enhance production efficiency and reduce environmental impact is crucial. Aras Aviculture Inc. addresses this need by offering tailored consultancy and intelligent management system solutions based on the Internet of Things (IoT) for the poultry and agricultural sectors.

1. What is IoT?

IoT is the abbreviated form of the Internet of Things. IoT is a broad terminology given to every object that can relay information when connected to the network. The term Internet of Things was coined in 1999 by Kevin Ashton, co-founder and Executive Director of the MIT Auto-ID Laboratory while he was giving a presentation at Procter and Gamble (P&G) as their Brand Manager. He wanted to introduce RFID tags to manage the supply chain so that the location and stock at the hand of each item coming out of it can be more easily monitored.

2. What is the role of IoT in agriculture?

Agriculture through precision agriculture implements IoT through the use of robots, drones, sensors, and computer imaging integrated with analytical tools for getting insights and monitoring the farms. Placement of physical equipment on farms monitors and records data, which is then used to get valuable insights.

3. What are the key differences between Saas and agriculture IoT?