How can blockchain technology improve smart agriculture?

Human beings figured out ways to meet their basic needs and survive during uncertain times. Ancient people used simple tools and basic farming techniques thousands of years ago, setting the stage for modern farming. But as more people came along, better methods were needed to grow enough food for everyone. So, farming improved, leading to the advanced and efficient crop-growing systems we know today.

However, it will always be easier to explain to someone how to plant a tomato seed, than to unveil all the details surrounding the conditions in which it can thrive and the maintenance it would require. There has to be great effort, if you want to do it in the proper manner and harvest the entire crop. In order to fulfil all the mentioned demands every agronomist has to have in-depth knowledge, experience and the latest data regarding the state of their produce and all the factors, which could pre-determine future farming strategies.

That’s why technology has found its ways of being implemented into the agribusiness by providing better decision making and resource management models, which would best suit a certain farmer’s needs. And although it is still early days for AgTech to be acknowledged and used by the majority of agronomists, these high-tech advances have managed to propose what seems to be a better future for the agribusiness. Those who have the financial means to integrate such assistance in their work process, are more than satisfied with the outcome. 

But before judging whether AgTech is a reasonable solution for upgrading farming processes or not, one should have a better understanding of the way these new products and services work and how their application can improve both administrative duties and planting operations.

What is AgTech?

AgTech is considered to be every piece of software and hardware, which is especially used for optimizing all procedures regarding the agribusiness. The contemporary version of this technology encompasses the following ag operations:

• sensing moisture and temperature levels;
• automated watering management;
• soil maintenance;
• pest-control;
• forecasting weather conditions;
• growth monitoring;
• asset tracking;
• contract management and risk assessment.

In order all of these important procedures to be properly conducted, there has to be a reliable data-driven network, which would create the required environment for implementing the needed technology, which would include:

• IoT devices;
• Drones;
• GPS tools;
• Robotics and sensors;

The mentioned hardware entities are all created to be connected in a network with computers and therefore work in unison with them, so that the collected information is successfully stored and managed for further exploitation. 

AgTech start-ups preach that the application of this specialized technology will not only improve the quality and quantity of production but it will also lay ground for effective agricultural practices, which would save the soil, which in many parts of the world has completely lost it’s usual characteristics and therefore many acres of land has turned into a desert. The constant tillage of the soil and the over-use of pesticides has made many agronomists reconsider their approaches to crop production, which is why they’ll need modern techniques for more sustainable food growth.

Smart agriculture is dependent on technology and therefore Internet data, if it were to be actively used in one’s working process. But whenever we think of the endless fields of crops, it’s hard to imagine that any AgTech devices can be installed all over the given land and also properly connected to the Internet, which is the most significant part of making use of this type of special technology. It must be almost impossible and extremely expensive for traditional Internet providers to commit to offering such services. With that being said, there are now other ways for improving the Wi-Fi coverage in any area of the world, all thanks to the blockchain based project – Helium, which plays an integral role in developing any kinds of AgTech tools.

What is Helium – the people’s network?

Helium is a blockchain based network, which is intended for enabling Wi-Fi coverage even in the most deserted places on the globe. This becomes reality with the help of special IoT devices which are set to operate as Wi-Fi extenders and therefore the more of these devices work, the wider the coverage will be. The best part is that everyone is free to purchase such a device and take part in the network and of course, all participants get rewarded with Helium’s native token – HNT. This cryptocurrency tie-in makes it possible for people to profit off of the gadgets they have invested in. 

It is important to note that the amount of crypto a participant receives depends on the amount of traffic their hot spot generates. Thanks to the Proof of coverage consensus mechanism Helium uses, IoT device owners can only get HNT after it has been proven that they have indeed taken part in the network and therefore created at least some data traffic.

Although many regular people can benefit from Helium’s purpose, it has been a booming success for start-ups and businesses of all types and sizes to implement the platform’s services for improving their performance. That’s why it’s called The people’s network, because everyone can take advantage of it and make use of the great internet coverage, regardless of the location or the socio-economic factors concerning any individual or organization.

If you want to learn more about Helium and the way it works, you can read our in-depth article about What is Helium and how does it work

How does Helium crypto power AgTech?

The people’s network is no stranger to working with all types of tech-driven businesses, that’s why the platform has managed to fill its professional portfolio with different companies, which are keen on the decentralized nature of this Web3 project. 

As it has been made clear, Helium’s main purpose is to establish reliable wireless networks, which can be used for both personal and commercial needs, which is why there’s no restrictions as to how you can take advantage of that service. People who work in tech, too, have the goal to incorporate modern software products and hardware tools to improve the work in any humanitarian or commercial field, this is why there has been an increasing demand for tech-based optimization solutions for production and supply issues.

The Helium network is able to help AgTech companies through:

• Providing and sustaining the largest wireless infrastructure in the world.
• Having an open-source platform, on which others can use smart devices, without dealing with vendor lock in.
• Supplying anyone with affordable LoRaWan devices.
• Reducing connectivity expenses.

That way the end-consumer of AgTech products can easily take advantage of the following conveniences:

• Monitoring the condition of the soil and growth of the crop from greater distances, through the sensor system which is connected to Helium’s network 
• Predicting the future state of the farming environment and therefore preventing losses.
• Receiving real-time information about equipment deliveries.
• Managing professional relationships with clients.