Spot farming – an alternative for future plant production

Abstract

Sustainable intensification is described as the desirable goal for agricultural production to increase agricultural productivity while using less input and without adverse environmental impacts. Increasing criticism on current agricultural production systems as well as demographic changes related with labour shortages in rural areas pose major challenges to agriculture all over the world. In this context, digitalization and autonomous machinery provide new opportunities to adapt agriculture to future demands. However, it is unknown what changes are necessary for a sustainable intensification of cropping systems and how future agriculture could look like under consideration of new technologies.

Here we developed a concept for future cropping systems with focus on the requirements of crops and landscapes. In this concept, the agricultural area is classified into individual spots according to their site-specific characteristics. The resulting spot farming approach is completely managed by an autonomous robot system on the level of individual plants. High precision sowing, fertilization and pesticide application could reduce agronomic input and could increase yields. In addition, small robots contribute to soil protection. Furthermore, the spot farming approach considers landscape properties and has the potential for a higher biodiversity and more structural ele­ments as well as an increased social acceptance.

The evaluation of the concept according to agronomical, technical and economic aspects showed that the combination of modern technologies and a reorganisation of agricultural landscapes could contribute to the goal of sustainable intensification.