Agriculture Technology Trends 2026: Farming Innovations Worth $148 Billion To Explore

Globally, McKinsey’s Global Farmer Insights 2024 shows that tech adoption in outdoor farming continues to grow, though gradually, with a three-percentage-point increase since 2022. This steady rise signals a strategic shift toward automation and intelligence-driven farming. Companies like Cargill Inc. and Bayer AG are already investing heavily in sensor networks, drone fleets, and AI-driven analytics to modernize field operations.

Additionally, DJI reports that agricultural drones generated $515 million in value in the U.S. alone in 2023. When combined with predictive analytics and machine learning, these systems can reduce crop monitoring costs by up to 85% and cut pesticide use by nearly 50% through precision spraying. A recent USDA report further confirms a sharp rise in their adoption over the past decade.

As urbanization, climate pressures, and regulatory incentives accelerate ag-tech adoption, those who can harness this data to drive predictive, sustainable innovation will define the next era of smart farming.

This report details the five most notable technology trends in agriculture and identifies the key innovators pushing boundaries.

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1. Advanced Drones and UAVs in Agrotech

As of 2022, drones occupied about 11% of the total agriculture market, valued at $4.1 billion. This drone market share will grow to approximately $18.22 billion by 2030. Several companies and government organizations use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to address labor shortages and to use chemical products more efficiently. 

Why are Drones becoming a trend?

Owing to the increasing adoption of precision agriculture, supported by local governments and communities, various innovations in drone applications are growing rapidly across regions such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America.

Top Innovators Developing Drones for Agriculture

Initiatives from LSU AgCenter & World Governments

• The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA) has partnered with LSU AgCenter to provide training on various aspects of drone technology, including how to use them, write code for autonomous drone operation, and employ multiple sensors and software. LSU AgCenter has also received an $800,000 grant for this program. 
• China has outpaced every other country in the adoption of UAVs in agriculture. Their native drone companies, such as XAG, now have over 42,000 drones, covering over 1.2 million daily flights.
• India may soon witness an agriculture drone revolution as the Indian government has provided subsidies to train farmers and increase the adoption of UAVs and drones to improve agricultural productivity. IFFCO plans to buy 2,500 drones to be distributed among 5,000 ruralpreneurs to boost precision agriculture in India. 

Green Plus’s Multipurpose Drone for Precision Agriculture

Green Plus has developed a patented precision agriculture drone. It resembles a transport drone equipped with imaging sensors but has an AI system to control the setup. The device captures real-time field images to gather data on crop status, pest presence, fertilizer needs, and seed distribution. The device can perform multiple functions simultaneously or independently, as required.

New heavy‑lift drones enable broader spray coverage

Larger drones like the DJI Agras series can spray up to 40 L/min with four sprinklers, with a maximum payload of 100 L for spraying and 150 L for spreading. Their flow and payload capacities are a step up from prior generations (e.g., T40 ~12 L/min). They also offer droplets of varying sizes on demand.

These drones offer faster coverage with fewer cycles for spraying, spreading, and lifting. Their improved obstacle‑sensing enhances safety while ensuring the work gets done efficiently. 

In addition, on February 27, 2025, DJI introduced Dock 3 as its first vehicle‑mountable dock for 24/7 remote operations. It’s a mobile “drone‑in‑a‑box” service. Mobile docking like this reduces deployment time and enables rolling patrols across large estates without on‑site pilots at each block. It makes drone services available to more farmers and agricultural areas. 

But DJI isn’t the only drone-maker in this business.

A competitor, XAG P100 Pro, claims to offer better consistency at high flow rates and features replaceable modular components that enhance uptime and ease of service. These feature a 50 L smart tank with a total payload capacity of 50 kg. Compared to its predecessor, the P100, this drone doubles the spray flow (12 to 22 L/min), catching up with DJI’s high‑flow options while using different pumping hardware. Both of these are highly promising, commercially successful solutions for wide-spray systems.

Acquisitions and collaborations among agricultural drone companies

• Agribotix LLC is helping farmers use low-cost agricultural drones, data, and analytics to boost crop production and reduce costs. The company has partnered with MMC, an industrial drone manufacturer, to provide more advanced agriculture drone solutions equipped with cameras and analytics for higher-end farming needs.
• Big entities, like John Deere, have formed strategic alliances with drone development companies to enhance precision agriculture technologies. Through their collaborator program, Deere has collaborated with Precision AI to develop artificial intelligence-powered agricultural drones for plant-level herbicide applications. 
• Terra Drone has acquired Avirtech to expand its precision agriculture reach.  Avirtech specializes in pesticide spraying and mapping services using drones and artificial intelligence (AI) and has reduced operating costs by 30% in Indonesia and Malaysia.

The growing interest of large companies and the continuous development of drone technology for data collection and precision agriculture indicate that drones will remain a trending topic in the agriculture sector.

Our analysts found many of these inventions through Slate, an advanced research tool. It’s like ChatGPT, but tailored for patents and research papers. With a single query about agricultural technology inventions, it creates interactive heatmaps like this.

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2. Using Predictive AI for intelligent forecasting

Artificial intelligence (AI) in agrotech will reach a market size of $4.65 billion by 2030, driven by predictive analytics, machine learning, and computer vision applications. Tech industry leaders, like Microsoft, actively contribute to this trend through initiatives such as Project FarmVibes, which aims to optimize farming through drone-based data capture.

Why is Predictive AI becoming a Trend in Agrotech?

Predictive AI can be immensely helpful to farmers, enabling them to understand crop health, use fertilizer effectively, identify pests & crop diseases, and recommend solutions that address the issue without unintended consequences for the soil or yield. These systems are trained to analyze and compare diverse datasets to identify patterns and predict future outcomes.

Predictive models will soon significantly improve the efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability of agricultural production. Prominent players such as John Deere, Bayer, NTT DOCOMO INC, and CNH are keen on developing predictive assistance to carry out agricultural tasks.

The ultimate aim is to maximize production and optimize agricultural practices.

Top Companies & Institutions Inducting Predictive AI into Agriculture

John Deere

• John Deere has recently filed more than 20 patents for predictive maps to improve the efficiency of agricultural tasks, such as predicting yield quality or machine drive tracks in a field. 
• One of Deere’s patented technologies, the cotton harvesting system, can be controlled using a predictive map to adjust travel speed and avoid plugging. The system optimizes the harvesting process by accounting for its impact on the soil. Combined with its predictive mapping feature, this system can ultimately manage and deliver a higher-quality cotton harvest.
• It comprises in-situ sensors coupled with machine learning algorithms to detect the yield capability of a specific geographic location by collecting data such as prior irrigation, soil moisture, soil type, etc. 

Bayer

• One of Bayer’s subsidiaries, The Climate Corporation, is helping connect smallholder farmers in rural India with crop protection through predictive AI. Their mobile app, Farmrise™, delivers daily agronomic insights, location-specific to Indian farmers, to support crop protection practices.
• Bayer has also recently filed a patent application to safeguard an invention for developing a device capable of predicting the residual amount of plant-protecting agents in parts intended for human and animal consumption. 

Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences

Recently, the US Department of Agriculture awarded a $500,000 grant to a team of researchers at Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences to develop national-level predictive models to understand how changes in soil texture and structure influence water availability for crops. These findings indicate that prediction models will soon be integral to the agricultural sector.

Acquisitions and Collaborations among Predictive AI Companies in Agrotech

Taranis, an Israeli precision agriculture intelligence platform, harnesses advanced computer vision, data science, and deep learning algorithms for effective field monitoring. 

In 2021, Taranis and Albo Climate announced a partnership to simplify the verification of carbon sequestration in farmland. By leveraging satellite-based remote sensing to reduce verification costs for Soil Organic Carbon (SOC), this collaboration aims to help agricultural retailers expand carbon programs and assist farmers in quickly entering carbon credit markets.

In 2022, Taranis announced its extended partnership with Drone Nerds and DJI. This collaboration combined the latest drone tech, operational efficiencies, and AI to offer precise insights for ag retailers, co-ops, and farmers.

Recommended Report: 10 Most Significant Food Tech Innovation Trends

3. Farm robots for precision farming and harvesting

Credit: Harvest Automation

According to McKinsey, fewer than 5% of farmers across Asia, North America, Europe, and South America were using agricultural robots in 2022. The market size for this field was approximately $7 billion. However, the same market will reach roughly $24 billion by 2030, with North America accounting for a significant share.

By leveraging advanced technologies such as GPS, sensors, and artificial intelligence, these robots can precisely execute agricultural processes, including planting, irrigation, and pesticide application. Companies like Harvest Automation Inc. have developed material-handling robots that work alongside humans in nurseries, greenhouses, and other settings.

Why are robots becoming a trend in agriculture?

Robotic technologies have been extensively used in weed management, crop harvesting, soil analysis, and livestock monitoring. Companies like the Australian-born RIPPA have created fully autonomous robots that can eliminate weeds using mechanical tools or herbicides, covering 5 acres per day on solar power. 

EcoRobotix, a Swiss robotic weed-management company, has received significant recognition and financial support from the Swiss government for its ultra-high-precision agricultural technology. Their technology distinctly identifies crops and weeds in real time and delivers appropriate crop care —fertilizer or herbicide —without manual labor or extensive human intervention.

Innovations in Farm Robots from Governments and Companies

UKRI

• The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, UK, and UKRI have committed $13.2 million in 2022 to support agricultural and horticultural automation and robotics. 
• This initiative seeks to enhance productivity, decrease labor requirements, and promote sustainable farming practices. Prominent companies such as Deere combined the efficiency of predictive mapping and automatic controls to automate various agricultural processes. 

Carbon Robotics

• Carbon Robotics has launched LaserWeeder, an innovative device that uses artificial intelligence to enable the robot to instantly identify and eliminate weeds while in motion using thermal energy. The company has also filed two patents, one for laser weed eradication and the other for object detection. 
• Carbon Robotics’ patented lighting system enables the LaserWeeder to operate day or night, in all weather conditions, with millimeter-accuracy. They applied for multiple patents from 2016 to 2020, signifying continuous growth and strong backing.

Other Patents held by Carbon Robotics

Patent Number	Title
US20180126553A1	System and calibration, registration, and training methods
USD892885S1	Robotic arm segment
US20170066139A1	Reconfigurable robotic system and methods

AGCO 

• AGCO, a prominent player in the agricultural machinery industry, has invested in Apex.AI and JCA Industries to advance automated farming.  This strategic alliance enabled AGCO to utilize Apex.OS to create a software stack for Xaver, expanding its real-time autonomous capabilities. 
• A fleet of cloud-connected Fendt Xaver robots is managed via an app, offering up-to-the-minute data from each unit, including location, status, and diagnostics.
• Acquisition of JCA Industries to enhance its engineering and software development capacities, expediting the progress of highly automated and autonomous machinery. 

“JCA is one of the most advanced developers of autonomous machine technologies for off-road OEMs, and this acquisition will accelerate AGCO’s delivery of machine automation and autonomous systems that improve farmer productivity.”

Eric Hansotia, Chairman, President, and CEO of AGCO 

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Terada Seisakusho

National Agriculture and Food Research Organization and Terada Seisakusho have also collaborated to develop an automated weeding machine for the tea garden.

Monash University

Credit: Monash

• Monash University has developed a robotic fruit-picking apparatus and method for efficient and accurate fruit harvesting. The vision system identifies ripe fruit, plans a picking sequence, and helps avoid collisions. The robotic arm extends the suction element to grasp the fruit securely, then switches to a passive mode, allowing the fruit to move freely. 
• After picking, the system can retract the suction element and release the fruit into a storage container. This innovative technology streamlines fruit harvesting by automating the process and ensuring the delicate handling of the produce.
• A fruit-harvesting robot named MARS (Monash Apple Retrieving System), developed by Associate Professor Chao Chen and a Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering team, has won Victorian Project of the Year at the 2023 Engineers Australia Excellence Awards.

Autonomous berry‑harvesting robots are optimizing open‑field commercial picking.

Companies like Harvest CROO have launched autonomous strawberry‑harvesting robots designed for open‑field picking. Their B8 model reported a 200x leap in vision processing with the latest NVIDIA chips, enabling real‑time fruit detection and gentle, selective picking. Unlike earlier prototypes limited to demos, these robots achieve human‑level precision with improved operational consistency.

Tortuga AgTech has also made similar harvesting robots to automate strawberry and table‑grape picking and related tasks. Their models can reportedly reduce harvest expenses by up to 50% while maintaining quality, and they operate across indoor and outdoor farms. These robots can harvest crops, treat them with UV-C light, and gather data about the plants.

On March 24, 2025, Oishii acquired Tortuga’s key IP, assets, and team, citing 150 production robots and a target of 50% lower harvest costs. This acquisition signals near‑term scaling and integration into high‑throughput vertical farms, which can harden the tech and cut per‑unit costs.

Unsupervised weeding robots powered by the sun

Aigen Element is a fully solar‑powered autonomous weeding robot deployed as multi‑unit “crews.” A five‑robot crew covers about 200 acres per season in real farms while operating all day on solar with a battery backup across rough row‑crop terrain.

Unlike tractor‑towed or tethered laser systems, these robots run continuously on sunlight, so scalability comes from adding units rather than up‑sizing a single machine. 

On April 22, 2025, Aigen announced its Generation‑2 Element platform with 50% more power, 4× AI compute, and stereo depth perception. Updated based on 10,000+ hours of real-world farm experience, these robots can now work in cotton, soy, and sugar beet fields with improved weed-detection accuracy. Releases like these suggest continuous improvement and scope for greater capabilities in the future for these robot-crew systems.

Similar to this, the Solinftec Solix Sprayer is another solar‑powered scouting and spot‑spray robot for broadacre fields. The robot lowers chemical spend and improves timing by living in the field, while a new Indiana plant targets up to 800 units per year to support scale. 

Field programs report up to 95% reductions in herbicide, and the platform also supports insect electroshock trapping and continuous agronomic mapping. Unlike tractor-spot sprayers that pass infrequently, Solix scouts continuously and treats emerging weeds and insects early, reducing re‑infestations and rescues. 
Solinftec had announced the Solix Sprayer robot would be commercially available in the US in 2024. The company has been expanding its US operations and showcasing Solix robotics at events through 2025.

Acquisitions in Farm Robot Companies

• John Deere acquired Bear Flag Robotics for $250 million. Bear Flag’s technology enables a machine to operate autonomously in a field.
• Additionally, John Deere acquired SparkAI, a New York-based startup that helps robotic systems resolve edge cases in real time. SparkAI will provide contextual cues to enable John Deere’s autonomous tractor to make more accurate maneuvers.

4. IoT Solutions for Farm Monitoring

The global agriculture IoT market is projected to reach $84.5 billion by 2031. IoT connects sensors and devices to farming equipment, enabling real-time monitoring and control of soil moisture, weather conditions, and crop health. 

A study found that IoT-enabled agriculture reduced water use by 70–80%. This example shows that a data-driven approach helps farmers make informed decisions, optimize resource usage, and increase crop yields, improving agricultural productivity and sustainability. 

Why are IoT and field monitoring systems becoming a trend in agrotech?

IoT and field monitoring systems are becoming increasingly popular in agrotech because they improve crop yields, reduce water usage, enhance pest and disease control, optimize labor, and enable better decision-making. As IoT technology becomes more affordable, its adoption in agriculture is expected to expand in the coming years.

Companies and organizations leading the trend

• The Hungarian government is at the forefront of IoT solutions and field monitoring initiatives in developing economies. They launched Hungary’s First Field Monitoring Laboratory, leveraging Libelium’s IoT technology. This groundbreaking laboratory has been established to assist farmers in making informed decisions for their field monitoring.
• CNH Industrial has completed the acquisition of Augmenta following a two-year collaboration to expedite the advancement of its pioneering Sense & Act technology. Their focus is on automating agricultural tasks using IoT and artificial intelligence, with data processed instantly within the system. 
• Dhiway and CultYvate have partnered to combine Dhiway’s state-of-the-art CORD blockchain technology with CultYvate’s IoT data. By harnessing CORD’s advanced features, the integrated solution will enhance the reliability and traceability of agricultural data, ultimately increasing efficiency and productivity.
• Bayer has partnered with Microsoft to develop cloud-based data tools and data science solutions for the food and agriculture industry. 

• Lumen Technologies has received a $1.2 billion contract from the USDA for network services. The aim is to provide an all-inclusive, wide-area data transport service, ensuring secure remote access, contact center, and cloud connectivity solutions to all USDA sites. 
• These advancements will empower USDA to proficiently oversee essential farming, food and nutrition, forestry, and rural economic development services. 

Innovations in IoT applications for agriculture

• CenturyLink has developed an IoT-based irrigation system for managing water distribution in a specific area using a network of microwells, sensors, and a computing system. 
• The method uses sensors to measure soil weather, light, and water to determine how much water the plants need and plan watering. This water distribution plan is mapped to small wells in specific regions with instructions for precise irrigation. 
• These wells have pumps and integrated irrigation systems that can communicate wirelessly with the computing system using IoT. They can also be designed to use solar power and have lights or screens to show information. This helps save water and grow crops more efficiently. 

Partnerships and Acquisitions in IoT Companies for Agriculture

• In July 2021, John Deere and Ericson, Brazil, partnered to provide mobile IoT solutions in the agricultural sector. The agreement includes equipping John Deere’s factories with 5G equipment to support the implementation of an IoT-based digital transformation strategy. By November 2020, John Deere had obtained 5G licenses in five counties in Iowa and Illinois. This was part of the FCC auction for the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) 3.5 GHz spectrum.
• In August 2021, John Deere acquired Bear Flag Robotics for $250 million for its autonomous driving technology. Deere started working with Bear Flag in 2019. Since then, Bear Flag has successfully deployed its autonomous solution on a limited number of farms in the US.
• Ace Global Business Acquisition Limited, a special purpose acquisition company, entered into a merger agreement with LE Worldwide Limited for $150 million, recognizing its growth potential in greenhouse farming solutions. LE’s main products are consumer and commercial LED lighting solutions that integrate with various IoT and smart city projects. It is a key component provider of data-enabled greenhouse farming solutions. 

5. Regenerative agriculture is the next big thing.

The regenerative agriculture (RA) market size will reach an estimated $16.8 billion by 2027.  It’s a farming method that uses natural processes to enhance soil health, improve nutrient cycling, restore landscape function, and produce food and fiber while preserving or increasing farm profitability. Practitioners use tactics that integrate biological and ecological processes to increase production and restore landscape functionality.

Why do we need Regenerative Agriculture?

Regenerative agriculture presents a holistic solution to climate change, benefiting farmers, the environment, and consumers. Customized adoption of practices such as conservation tillage and cover crops can significantly increase farmers’ income and resilience to extreme weather. 

By restoring degraded farmland and improving soil health, regenerative methods prevent deforestation and grassland conversion, contributing to environmental conservation. These practices also enhance biodiversity by creating habitat for various species. Optimizing inputs and reducing chemical usage promote sustainable farming. 

Governments Endorse Regenerative Agriculture

• Government entities have been interested in regenerative farming practices and have various initiatives to promote their adoption. For instance, in British Columbia, regenerative agriculture is officially endorsed as a climate-mitigation strategy, backed by initiatives such as the Agritech Concierge Program. 
• The United States’ USDA offers programs such as SARE and CSP, while Europe has launched initiatives such as CAP and the Green Deal to encourage regenerative agriculture. Australia similarly supports it through initiatives like the Sustainable Agriculture National Research Program.

Companies and organizations leading the trend

• Big players such as PepsiCo’s Positive Agriculture strategy aim to apply regenerative farming practices across its seven million-acre footprint, emphasizing sustainability and improving livelihoods.
• Yara, a Norwegian chemical company, focuses on decarbonizing operations to produce fossil-fuel-free ammonia and on championing regenerative agriculture as vital to a sustainable food future. 
• Alongside predictive AI, Bayer has embraced innovative approaches in regenerative agriculture, including carbon farming, cover crops, hybrid wheat, biological substitutes for traditional chemical fertilizers and supplements, and digital farming tools.

Breakthrough innovations in regenerative agriculture

• KULA Bio has come up with new ideas for regenerative agriculture. They’ve developed a patented special growth substance for microorganisms that promotes nitrogen fixation. This medium incorporates a compound nutrient source, soluble salts, buffers, carbon sources, and metal sources, strategically balanced to optimize the growth of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms while ensuring their viability. 
• Furthermore, KULA Bio’s invention introduces a unique approach by using a compound nutrient source with lower solubility than its constituent salts, thereby preventing microbial toxicity. This curated formulation includes key elements like ammonium, magnesium, and phosphate, with specific concentrations tailored to support microbial growth. 
• In addition, introducing a carbon source, metal carbonate, and trace metals enhances the medium’s efficacy. This invention holds immense promise for sustainable agriculture and environmental health, serving as a foundation for biofertilizers that can significantly improve crop yields and soil fertility.

Partnerships in the Regenerative Agriculture Space

• Bosch and BASF formed a joint venture, Bosch BASF Smart Farming (BBSF) GmbH, to sell smart farming technologies worldwide. Their Smart Spraying solution offers real-time weed identification and management day and night. 
• Unilever, AXA, and Tikehau Capital combined their industry expertise and formed a regenerative agriculture transition venture. They invested €120 million in BioBest, a Brazilian pest- and disease-control company developing crop-enhancement solutions.

“With the backing of Tikehau Capital’s private equity regenerative agriculture strategy, in conjunction with the strategic partnership with AXA and Unilever, Biobest is poised to expedite its expansion efforts, making a substantial contribution to agriculture while fortifying our preeminent position in sustainable crop management.” 

– Jean-Marc Vandoorne, CEO of Biobest

Future Outlook of Agricultural Technologies

Agrotech is on the fast track to mainstream adoption worldwide. Several new government initiatives are coming up to support this field. One example is Agriculture Breakthrough, a commitment agreed upon by 45 world leaders at COP26. This agreement is to accelerate the transition to sustainable and resilient agriculture systems, focusing on reducing emissions, enhancing adaptation, and improving livelihoods.

The trends discussed above—artificial intelligence, drones, specialized farming robots, and IoT integrations—aim to enable cultivators to meet the fast-rising food requirements of the world’s population for the foreseeable future.

Keeping up with these advancements and the respective innovators active in the space will better position you to identify vital opportunities for growth and collaboration. Use the form below to get expert consultation on your queries.