· 5 min read
The future of agriculture is climate-smart
As climate change threatens global food security, agriculture is undergoing a quiet revolution. From AI-powered tractors to methane-reducing livestock feed, climate-smart agriculture is no longer a concept - it’s a global imperative. These innovations are transforming how we grow food, reduce emissions, and ensure long-term resilience in farming.
This guide explores the top technologies and companies at the forefront of this movement. Whether you’re a farmer seeking sustainable practices, an investor eyeing green growth, or a policymaker shaping climate strategies, here are the tools and innovations shaping the future of food.
Precision agriculture: smarter, leaner, greener
Precision agriculture uses data and technology to enhance productivity while reducing environmental harm. By deploying connected tools and real-time insights, farmers can maximise yields, cut waste, and preserve natural resources.
Key technologies
• Drones & satellite imaging: Monitor crop health and soil variability to guide irrigation and fertiliser application
• IoT sensors: Capture real-time field data on soil moisture, temperature, and nutrients
• AI & machine learning: Translate complex data into clear, adaptive decisions for every square metre of land
Companies to watch
• John Deere: Offers GPS-guided tractors and AI-powered platforms to help farmers boost productivity while reducing inputs
• CropX: Combines soil sensors with predictive analytics to fine-tune irrigation and fertilisation
• Taranis: Applies AI and aerial imagery to detect early signs of crop stress, disease, or pests
Example impact
John Deere’s precision agriculture tools have enabled farmers in the Midwest to cut fertiliser usage by 20% while increasing yields—demonstrating how data-driven farming can align environmental and economic benefits.
Embracing sustainable farming practices
Beyond yield, agriculture must now regenerate. Sustainable methods such as agroforestry, vertical farming, and regenerative soil management are proving vital in reversing land degradation and supporting biodiversity.
Key technologies
• Regenerative agriculture: Boosts soil carbon and microbial health while increasing drought resilience
• Agroforestry: Adds trees to farms, improving water cycles, biodiversity, and carbon capture
• Vertical farming: Optimises water and space usage, enabling high-yield, low-impact food production in urban spaces
Companies to watch
• Indigo Agriculture: Promotes regenerative practices and pays farmers through verified carbon credits
• AppHarvest: Runs tech-enabled indoor farms that use 90% less water and deliver pesticide-free produce
• Land Life Company: Restores degraded landscapes with scalable reforestation and agroforestry projects
Example impact
AppHarvest’s Kentucky facility grows fresh produce year-round using 90% less water and zero chemical pesticides - drastically reducing land and transport footprints.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture
Agriculture contributes over 20% of global emissions. But new tools can reverse this trajectory - capturing carbon, minimising methane, and turning waste into energy.
Key technologies
• Anaerobic digestion: Converts animal and crop waste into clean biogas, replacing fossil fuels
• Nitrogen management: Uses real-time analytics to reduce nitrous oxide emissions from over-fertilisation
• Livestock feed additives: Cut methane from cattle digestion, addressing one of farming’s most potent emissions sources
Companies to watch
• Brightmark: Builds biogas plants that transform manure into renewable natural gas
• Yara International: Pioneers precision fertiliser tools that help farmers apply just the right amount, cutting emissions and improving yields
• DSM: Offers feed solutions that reduce methane emissions from livestock by up to 30%
Example impact
Yara’s N-Sensor technology helped European cereal farmers reduce nitrous oxide emissions by 40%, while boosting nitrogen-use efficiency and crop productivity.
Leveraging data & analytics for climate resilience
In an era of climate extremes, data is one of agriculture’s most powerful tools. Platforms that integrate climate modelling, traceability, and farm management empower smarter, more adaptive decisions across the food system.
Key technologies
• Farm management software: Centralises field and market data for real-time decision support
• Climate modelling: Forecasts future scenarios to help farmers mitigate climate risks
• Supply chain traceability: Tracks sustainability metrics from farm to fork, increasing transparency and accountability
Companies to watch
• Granular: Offers robust farm management platforms that integrate yield data, costs, and crop planning
• The Climate Corporation: Supports farmers with climate risk modelling to prepare for extreme weather
• IBM Food Trust: Leverages blockchain for traceability, connecting farmers with ethical, informed consumers
Example impact
IBM’s blockchain solution ensures transparency in the agricultural supply chain, helping farmers track the sustainability of their crops and build trust with consumers and retailers.
A final word: Why climate-smart agriculture needs you
Agriculture is being reimagined - not just as a source of emissions, but as a driver of climate solutions. The tools are here, the companies are scaling, and the science is sound.
What we need now is action.
For farmers, that means adopting and experimenting with these innovations. For investors, it’s about directing capital to companies with measurable impact. For policymakers, the task is to create enabling environments that make climate-smart agriculture the new norm.
It is time to shine a light on the technologies and leaders making this future possible. Explore these companies and more through illuminem's Data Hub™, and help us accelerate the transition to sustainable, climate-smart food systems.
The future of farming is already in the field. Are you ready to harvest it?
illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting the thoughts and opinions of leading Sustainability & Energy writers, their opinions do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.
