Farming’s rural nature has long been an obstacle to technology adoption in the sector – but more accessible communications, together with AI, are opening the door.
Agriculture is one of the UK’s key strategic industries but has not traditionally been seen as a leading user of digital technologies. However, that is starting to change thanks to increasing functionality in farm machinery, satellite connectivity, the incoming 6G hybrid communications standard and, inevitably, AI.
According to NFU Mutual’s Agri-Tech Report, around 60% of farmers were using some form of precision agriculture by 2023 – although many remained cautious about the costs of adoption. A 2024 survey by the National Farmers Union found its members wanted to see more research and results in AI, alongside measures to reduce methane emissions and enable carbon sequestration.
Agriculture’s contribution to the UK economy was £14.5bn in 2024, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The country...