Organic agriculture constitutes a holistic production management system that focuses on safeguarding the health of soils, ecosystems, and, consequently, the people. It combines traditional farming practices with scientific knowledge of ecology and modern innovations to support sustainable biological cycles. The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) states that organic culture centers on the four guiding principles of Health, Ecology, Fairness, and Care that inspire eco-friendly agriculture.
The terms organic farming and agriculture tech have picked up and for all the right reasons. Consumer awareness regarding the health and environmental benefits of organic food is on the rise. It has transformed what was once a supply-driven market into a demand-driven one. As of 2019, organic agricultural land, including in-conversion areas, accounted for 72.3 million hectares across 173 countries, according to the World of Organic Agriculture Statistics and Emerging Trends 2021.
Organic pays well too, and for this reason, producers are becoming actively aware of their production means. A recent report suggests that the global market for organic food and beverages could reach USD 849.7 billion by 2028. This is a massive opportunity for producers, processors, and distributors, offering them a better growth scenario.
Profits have already started rolling in. 2015-2020 saw a 16% CAGR for the global organic food market. Opting for eco-friendly agriculture will, therefore, not only help improve the quality of produce but also reduce the strain on our lands.
One can attain the desired results from agriculture only if a streamlined production process is being followed. And this process needs to be traceable at every step of the way.
For a crop to be certified as organic, it all comes down to the means and methods of production. To ensure farmers adhere to the rules and regulations and the produce is of the superior grade, the judicious use of agriculture tech is highly crucial.
With the correct implementation of AgTech, production investment will go down, and profitability will increase. AgTech will also make compliances throughout the supply chain hassle-free, uniform, and more accessible.
It will guarantee that the product is genuinely organic, thereby increasing the consumers’ trust in the brand. Further, with improved quality, exporting products will also become more compliant. After all, every quality standard needs to be met.
Organic agriculture is governed by several rules and regulations for all areas of production. Nearly every country has its own regulatory body that establishes a certification and accreditation system to ensure that organic products meet standard quality. Producers need to be aware of these preconditions to market their products as organic as it essentially provides evidence of eco-friendly agriculture.
This is where agriculture tech plays a key role. With Cropin offering innovative and effective solutions for end-to-end digitization, optimizing the organic supply chain now becomes a lot easier.
We, at Cropin, understand that change needs to begin at the source. To make the most out of technology throughout the supply chain, digitization starts right at the farm level.
SmartWare simplifies day-to-day operations for contract farming companies, food and beverage companies, and exporters. For every inventory item that the packhouse receives, SmartWare can capture details such as the supplier’s name, date of entry, the item’s lot/batch number, SKU (stock-keeping unit), location, and more. Each inventory item is then assigned a unique QR-code to include in a customisable label. Actions on an inventory item, including write-off, audit, and transfers to other locations, can also be recorded.
With Cropin’s products, traceability is truly farm-to-fork. They aid in quality harvest and eliminate the chances of food fraud, thus keeping food safety intact. Hence, with Cropin’s centralised platform, brands can keep an easy tab on all production and distribution activities and optimise them for better results.
Several brands have already benefitted from utilising agriculture tech for eco-friendly agriculture. With this, brands have successfully achieved standardisation of practises, opening a gateway into the global market. When clubbed with end-to-end traceability, it makes the product easily traceable besides assuring the consumer’s faith.
As people are getting drawn more towards organic products, agribusinesses will soon witness their CAGR rising even further. Agriculture tech will speed up the revenue cycle and increase resource efficiency, thereby generating a higher ROI.