Agriculture is undergoing a fourth revolution triggered by information and communication technology. Autonomous, robotic vehicles have been developed for farming purposes. Decision-tree models are available now that allow farmers to differentiate between plant diseases. Virtual fence technologies allow cattle herd management based on remote-sensing signals and sensors or actuators attached to the livestock. Such profound changes in practice come not only with opportunities but also big challenges. Advocates and skeptics of technology need to engage in an open dialogue on the future development of farming in the digital era. The future of farming could be termed “smart farming”. The trend holds for farming not only in developed countries but also in developing countries.
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