Tech-dense farms emerge as a new model for future agriculture
Farms across North America are becoming fewer but more technologically intensive, as farmers adopt AI, sensors, and data-driven tools to improve efficiency, resilience, and yields.
A BBC report examines the rise of so-called ‘tech-dense’ farms, where digital tools such as AI-powered sensors, satellite imagery, and farm management software are increasingly central to agricultural operations.
While the total number of farms is declining, those that remain are investing heavily in technology to stay competitive, improve precision, and reduce input costs such as pesticides and water.
Farmers interviewed describe using smart spraying systems, data analytics, and predictive software to optimise planting, monitor crop health, and respond to weather or pest risks in real time.
Agronomists suggest that these innovations could stabilise food supplies and potentially lower consumer prices, though adoption varies by age, cost, and willingness to change, highlighting a broader transition toward treating farming as a data-driven business.
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