The greatest change today is the rate of change itself. The world is accelerating and the implications of technological change will be profound. Nowhere is this more clear than in the field of farming. Below are twelve trends I expect to continue to transform the agricultural industry in the year ahead.
- Satellite Technology: On October 13, 2024, the world witnessed a feat of incredible technological sophistication when SpaceX used a giant crane to catch a returning rocket out of mid-air. (You can watch it here). Far from being a mere impressive act of corporate “show-and-tell,” the act will fuel the first trend impacting farmers and agribusiness in 2025—satellites. Since 2020, SpaceX and other companies have used rockets to launch over 2,000 satellites into space. These satellites, in turn, are quickly enabling the long-heralded advances in precision agriculture and are bringing much-needed broadband coverage to rural America. By 2030, an estimated additional 30,000 satellites will be launched into space and will help provide internet access to hundreds of millions of new people all across the globe. Many of these users will use this internet access to become more prosperous and, as their income goes up, these individuals and their families will purchase more food, meat, and protein. This growing global demand could cause exports of various commodities to spike.
- Better Weather Forecasts: In May, Microsoft released a new AI tool called Aurora. The system produces 5-day global air pollution predictions and 10-day forecasts 5000 times faster than previous forecasting systems. This translates into significantly improved short-term weather forecasts. Aurora, for example, will be able to predict severe storms and tornadoes 60 minutes in advance in 2025. This compares to today’s 15-minute warnings. These additional 45 minutes will give farmers more time to get their people, animals, and equipment to safety in the event of severe storms. Longer-term weather forecasts will also get better and many farmers and agribusinesses will leverage this information to make better and wiser planting and harvesting decisions in the year ahead.
- Biologicals: Companies and scientific researchers alike are making significant progress in the field of biologicals. Think of biologicals as nature's toolkit for agriculture–they are natural products used to help crops grow better and stay healthier (as opposed to synthetic chemical products). Chemical engineers at MIT, for instance, have recently figured out how to coat bacteria with biodegradable polymers thus making it easier for farmers to deploy microbes as fertilizers. Similarly, GuardX’s new biological provides corn farmers a way to guard against rootworm. Expect the trend of biological to grow larger in 2025.
- Regenerative Agriculture. For the past few years, Cargill, PepsiCo, General Mills, and other large food companies have been moving aggressively into regenerative agriculture. What will be unique in 2025 is that non-agriculture companies are now also moving into the space. Recently, Microsoft invested $250 million to acquire 18,500 acres in northern California to pursue regenerative agriculture; and Patagonia is racing to build out its new food division, Patagonia Provisions. The latter sources all of its products from farmers engaged in certifiable regenerative agricultural practices.
- “Forever Chemicals” (PFAS): As a futurist, my responsibility is not to tell people what they want to hear but what they need to hear. To this end, the issue of “forever chemicals” (also known as PFAS’ or polyfluoroalkyl substances) will grow in the public’s mind in 2025. In the early 1960s, the EPA unwittingly allowed PFAS’ to be mixed with sewage and then used as fertilizer. This decision resulted in an estimated 20 to 70 million acres of farmland across the United States being contaminated. The problem is so dire that a handful of farms in Michigan and Maine have already been closed down. As this issue becomes more widely known the possibility that regulators and politicians will begin demanding action may become all too real for farmers. (I wish to make it clear that farmers did not know the fertilizers approved by the EPA contained these chemicals, rather it is the EPA that is at fault. Unfortunately, it is farmers who may end up bearing the brunt of remediating the risk.)
- Short Corn: Stalks of corn tower high above tens of millions of acres of U.S. farmland. Soon, however, this high corn may be a thing of the past. Bayer currently has 30,000 acres of its “short corn” being grown on a handful of farms in the Midwest. This number could become exponentially larger as more farmers come to better understand its benefits. Short corn can not only withstand higher winds–and thus is not as susceptible to being adversely affected by powerful weather events like the 2020 “Derecho” which devastated eastern Iowa–it can also be planted at a greater density which means that yields could increase because more corn can be grown on the same amount of land.
- More Crops with New Characteristics: As weather becomes more variable in many parts of the world, farmers are seeking new ways to cope. Gene editing technology, in combination with artificial intelligence, is now stepping up to meet this growing need. Traditionally, it has taken about 10 years to develop a new crop variety, but researchers and scientists are now on the verge of reducing the breeding cycle to just a few years. Seia Bioand AgZen are just two of the many companies working in this field but some of the possibilities farmers may see in 2025 are broccoli plants that mature in 37 days (rather than 45 to 60 days), rice that is resistant to frost, and more drought-tolerant potatoes, corn, and wheat.
- Quantum computing. The state of Illinois has recently announced a plan to make the state and the greater Chicago region a world leader in quantum computing. This is yet another tangible sign that quantum technology is moving into the mainstream. The implication for farmers and agribusinesses is that the machines could help design new novel proteins. One real-world application of this is that food proteins in soymeal could be made significantly more nutritious for crop animals and people.
- Parametric Insurance: Often, it is not one technology that “changes the game.” Instead, it is the convergence of multiple technologies. To this end, satellite technology and soil sensors are now creating an ever-increasing amount of data. This data is then fed into super powerful computers where sophisticated algorithms and artificial intelligence sift through it to find previously hidden insights. These “insights” are being turned into a service known as “parametric insurance.” Unlike traditional insurance, parametric insurance works more like a bet. It has defined payouts based on predefined parameters. For example, if a farm experiences 16 inches of rainfall or if 50-mile-per-hour winds strike their fields and crops, the farmer will be entitled to a predetermined payout.[caption id="attachment_10721" align="alignright" width="300"] Airplane and biofuel tank trailer. Decarbonization concept.[/caption]
- Sustainable Aviation Fuel: In September, Delta Airlines conducted its first-ever flight using sustainable aviation fuel ( SAF). The flight flew from Minneapolis to New York City and used only 7,000 gallons of fuel produced from Camelia but it represents the start of a promising trend.In October, Montana Renewables received $1.4 billion to convert a facility to help create SAF. Farmers can expect SAF to grow considerably in 2025 and beyond.
- Map and Zap: In 2022, I wrote about Carbon Robotics and its new robotic/AI/laser platform which is capable of zapping 200,000 weeds per hour. It was–and is–an impressive piece of technology but it costs approximately $1 million–a figure beyond the means of most farmers. Recently, a company named “Map and Zap” is now seeking to step into the market and has manufactured a system that also uses AI and lasers but has the benefit of being fitted onto any tractor for a fraction of the cost.
- Resilience: Satellites, robotic technology, and artificial intelligence are all well and good until they don’t work. In June, a handful of farmers experienced this harsh reality when a solar storm rendered many autonomous tractors useless for a handful of days. The problem was not widespread and it didn’t cause massive harm but the event should serve as a wake-up call for more farmers to accept they must make their equipment and their operations more resilient to solar storms and cyber attacks by having backup plans and backup equipment.
These twelve trends, of course, are not the only trends that will affect farmers and agribusiness in 2025. Advances in agrivoltaics, indoor farming, mycorrhizal fungi, digital twins, “magic dust,” and hydrogels and smart soils can also be expected to impact the agriculture industry.
If you’re a farmer or an agri-business executive, your first responsibility is to stay abreast of these trends. The second–and more important task–is to determine which of these trends your farm, operation, or business represents the greatest opportunity for a positive ROI–and then take action!
Jack Uldrich is America’s leading farm futurist as well as a popular keynote speaker. He is the author of 14 books, including his most recent–A Smarter Farm: How Artificial Intelligence is Revolutionizing Agriculture. Readers interested in staying abreast of agriculture trends can subscribe to his free weekly newsletter, “The Friday Future 5.” Companies or organizations interested in hiring Jack to speak at their next event are encouraged to contact Rich Tiller at The Ag Speakers Network.