Agrotech is a very exciting field that offers plenty of opportunities for those who are interested in it. One can be an agro-tech enthusiast, and make a career out of it. However, the process isn’t as easy as most people would think.
There are numerous criteria that one needs to keep in mind before embarking on a path of a life-long career in this field. It is necessary to explore different fields while you are still young enough to understand them fully and not get bored after exploring them just once or twice.
What is Agrotech?
In agriculture, agrotech is a field of engineering that tries to improve the production and storage of food while using fewer inputs. It involves computer-aided planning, robotic assistance, sensor-based information, data analytics, smart devices, and the Internet of Things.
The production and storage of food allow for sustainable growth, while the reduction of inputs makes it possible to minimize costs. Therefore, agrotech can help produce more food with fewer resources.
What are the most important skills in Agrotech?
In order to be an effective agrotechnology professional, you need to have excellent programming and software development skills. There is a huge variety of fields that you can enter into the field of engineering, including the production and storage of food, robotics, and automation, data analysis and research, etc. Programming and software development are the two skills that come with a wide range of career options.
What will be most important in Agrotech in 2022?
As the field of agrotech continues to develop and mature, the most important topics to be aware of are our data analytics and research. The field of agrotech is still relatively new and developing, meaning that we can only speculate on what will be important in the future.
However, it is important to understand that advances in data analytics and research are key to the growth of the field. Agrotech professionals will be required to have skills in data analytics and research, as these two topics will be required to understand how to improve the quality of production and food storage.
Software Development and Operations
In order to be successful in this field, you need to develop software that can solve problems. However, while solving problems, one needs to think about how to write software to solve them in the first place. You will develop software for various industries, in order to manage their operations.
Operations are all about systemizing the work that needs to be done. An operations engineer designs operate and manage the production processes of a business. They may have an existing business that they wish to modernize, and in that case, they would help redesign the production process to increase efficiency and decrease costs.
Data Analysis and Research
As the name suggests, data and research are the two important aspects of this field. Data comes in various forms, such as quantitative or qualitative, structured or unstructured, and visual or auditory. The data that one handles in this field is used to develop new products or improve existing ones.
If you have good analytical skills and a solid understanding of different data modeling techniques, you can find many opportunities in this field. The other important aspect of this field is research.
You will have to conduct research studies on various topics in data science and engineering. This will help you understand the field and develop a strong research skillset.
Robotics and Automation
Robotics and automation are a must in agrotech, as it has become crucial aspect of modern farming. Agricultural robots, like the AGCO R7000, are used to replace human workers in fields. It helps increase crop yields and minimizes the risk of injury to workers.
Automation, on the other hand, refers to computer-controlled equipment such as irrigation systems, sprinklers, seeding equipment, and tractors. It helps farmers make optimal use of their equipment and resources. Agrotech professionals can specialize in various robotics and automation disciplines, such as mechatronics, electrical, software, and mechanical engineering.
Farming Equipment and Infrastructure
In order to produce the food that the world consumes, you will have to understand how to manage the production process.
So, you can check out technologies like IoT for managing the production process, data analytics for improving the quality of food, etc. In this field, you can specialize in engineering, computer science, product design, or other related fields.
Conclusion
Agrotech is a relatively new field that is growing at an exponential rate. The future of this field looks very bright, as new technologies and approaches are being implemented to make farming easier, more efficient, and more profitable. The most important thing for an agrotech professional is to stay curious about the latest technologies and challenges and to always improve and innovate.
