This document discusses emerging technologies and their potential applications for farming over the next 10 years. It outlines several exponentially growing technologies like AI, AR, robots and drones that could transform farming. The focus is on using the Internet of Things through cheap, ubiquitous connectivity provided by LoRaWAN to gather real-time sensor data from fields and enable intelligent control. An example is given of early IoT applications like monitoring milk vats and feed silos. The document advocates combining long-range, low-bandwidth LoRaWAN with local high-bandwidth WiFi networks and ensuring national LoRaWAN coverage to unlock the potential of real-time IoT data and controls in agriculture.

1. MOBILETECH 2017

2. From an IT perspective
What will farming look like in 10+ years?

3. MANY IT TECHNOLOGIES GROWING
EXPONENTIALLY
• Cloud, mobile, social- well established already
• Artificial Intelligence
• Augmented Reality
• Robots, drones
• Blockchains
• Voice interface
REAL-TIME DATA
ACTUATORS
Internet of Thing

4. INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT)
• Real-time data from the physical world- leading to intelligence
and control
• Connectivity is an enabler- value comes from data and what
you do with data

5. AN EARLY EXAMPLE:
MILK VAT

6. AN EARLY EXAMPLE:
FEED SILO

7. IOT CONNECTIVITY CHOICES

8. LORAWAN:
CHEAP, UBIQUITOUS CONNECTIVITY FOR
SENSORS
• Low bandwidth (dial-up speed)- no pictures or video or voice
• Maximum data payload practically 100 bytes (otherwise split
into multiple)
• Long battery life, typically 5+ years, over long distance
• Maximum 1 data transmission every 30 seconds per end point
• Bi-directional communication
• Thousands of end points per gateway

9. GATEWAYS

10. NATIONAL ROLLOUT
• 10 cities, 2 regions
• Half the population already covered
• Building out the regions to get to true
100% national coverage

11. CONVENTIONAL THINKING:
CELLULAR-LIKE

12. WHAT IF WE ADOPTED A
WIFI MODEL?
Wifi + LoRaWAN
Large bandwidth
Short distance
Small bandwidth
Long distance

13. 3 KEY POINTS
• Internet of Things promises real-time data and actuators as a
foundation
• Cheap, ubiquitous national coverage must be a goal
• Great opportunity for service providers to the primary sector

14. VIKRAM KUMAR
KotahiNet
Email: vikram@kotahi.net