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Smart Crop Mobility Market Size
The global smart crop mobility market was valued at USD 4.3 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 13.6% between 2024 and 2032. The agricultural sector is experiencing significant labor shortages, particularly in developed countries where younger generations are moving away from farming. This trend is driving the adoption of advanced crop mobility solutions, such as autonomous tractors and robotic harvesters. Farmers are increasingly turning to automation to maintain productivity and ensure timely crop management.
For instance, The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projected a 2% decline in agricultural employment in the U.S. from 2023 to 2033. Despite this downturn, the industry has seen an average of 116,400 job openings annually, primarily driven by workforce exits and transitions to other professions. These smart mobility solutions offer continuous operation, precise task execution, and reduced dependency on manual labor, making them an effective response to workforce challenges in agriculture.
| Report Attributes | Details |
|---|---|
| Base Year: | 2023 |
| Market Size in 2023: | USD 4.3 Billion |
| Forecast Period: | 2024 - 2032 |
| Forecast Period 2024 - 2032 CAGR: | 13.6% |
| 2032 Value Projection: | USD 13.2 Billion |
| Historical Data for: | 2021 - 2023 |
| No. of Pages: | 200 |
| Tables, Charts & Figures: | 180 |
| Segments covered: | Product, Application, Farm Size, End User |
| Growth Drivers: |
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| Pitfalls & Challenges: |
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Precision agriculture techniques require exact positioning and movement for optimal crop management. Smart crop mobility solutions enable precise field navigation, accurate input applications (fertilizers, pesticides), and targeted harvesting. These technologies integrate GPS, sensors, and AI to achieve centimeter-level accuracy in field operations. The growing need for resource optimization and maximizing yield per acre is driving the adoption of these precise and consistent smart mobility solutions.
Smart Crop Mobility Market Trends
5G networks are revolutionizing smart crop mobility solutions by enabling faster and more reliable communication among field devices. This high-speed connectivity supports real-time data transfer, enhances coordination among autonomous vehicles, and improves remote monitoring capabilities. Additionally, satellite-based 5G technology facilitates edge computing, allowing local data processing and quicker decision-making. As 5G coverage expands in rural areas, more advanced applications in smart crop mobility leverage this improved connectivity. For instance, GSMA reports that AT&T and Verizon's 5G rollouts in the C-band have significantly enhanced mobile network experience for 5G users through 2022. From Q4 2021 to Q2 2023, average 5G download speeds increased by 36.4% in urban areas and 59.2% in rural areas. Consequently, the U.S. rural-urban gap in 5G download speeds narrowed from 35.1% in Q4 2021 to 24.3% in Q2 2023.
Implementing smart crop mobility solutions requires substantial initial capital investment, including autonomous vehicles, sensors, and GPS systems. Many small and medium-sized farmers find it challenging to justify these expenses despite long-term benefits. This cost barrier is particularly significant in developing countries with limited access to capital. Additionally, maintenance and upgrade costs for these technologies can be considerable, creating ongoing financial pressure for adopters.
Smart Crop Mobility Market Analysis
Based on product, the market is segmented into autonomous tractors, robotic harvesters, drones/UAVs, mobile robots, and others. In 2023, the autonomous tractors segment accounted for over 30% of the market share. Autonomous tractors are revolutionizing precision agriculture by providing accuracy in farming operations. For instance, in June 2024, The CNH brand partnered with Bluewhite to distribute, manufacture, and integrate Bluewhite's autonomous technology into New Holland tractors in North America. This strategic alliance enables New Holland dealers to sell, distribute, and service Bluewhite's aftermarket kits for existing tractors, with plans for future expansion.
The companies are also exploring factory-installed solutions. Equipped with advanced GPS and RTK systems, these tractors achieve sub-inch precision in navigation and tasks. This level of accuracy optimizes the use of seeds, fertilizers, and water, reducing waste and environmental impact. They can handle complex patterns and maintain consistent row spacing, even on difficult terrain. Integration with precision agriculture software enables detailed field mapping and the creation of optimized operation plans based on soil conditions, crop types, and yield history.
Based on the application, the smart crop mobility market is divided into field crops, orchards and vineyards, greenhouse operations, specialty crops, and others. The field crops segment is expected to exceed USD 4 billion by 2032 due to several key factors. Next-generation irrigation systems now utilize mobility and intelligence to optimize water usage in field crops. These mobile systems autonomously adjust positions and spray patterns based on real-time soil moisture data and weather forecasts. By integrating soil sensors, weather stations, and AI, they precisely determine watering needs for different field sections. Advanced systems can also detect and address equipment malfunctions or blockages. This innovation is vital in water-scarce regions, significantly reducing water consumption while enhancing crop yields.
Connected farm vehicle fleets are transforming field crop operations. Modern machinery equipped with telematics enables real-time monitoring of equipment location, performance, and maintenance. This connectivity allows for optimized fleet deployment, predictive maintenance, and automated documentation of field operations. Fleet management platforms can synchronize multiple vehicles, such as coordinating harvesters with transport vehicles. Additionally, blockchain technology is being implemented for transparent documentation of farming operations, increasingly important for compliance and certification.
The U.S. is considered the dominating region in the North American market and accounted for over 85% market share in 2023. The U.S. agricultural sector is shifting towards Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) models. Farmers now prefer subscription-based services over purchasing expensive smart farming equipment. This trend benefits small and medium-sized farms lacking capital for large investments. RaaS providers manage maintenance, upgrades, and technical support, allowing farmers to focus on core operations. This model drives innovation as providers enhances offerings to stay competitive, accelerating advancements in agricultural robotics technology.
Europe is transitioning to electric agricultural vehicles due to strict emissions regulations and sustainability goals. Germany and the Netherlands lead this shift, offering incentives for farmers to adopt electric tractors and equipment. These vehicles reduce carbon emissions, lower operating costs, and operate more quietly. Manufacturers are developing high-capacity batteries for agricultural use, addressing concerns about operating time and power output. The expansion of rural charging infrastructure and the integration of renewable energy sources on farms support this trend.
The Asia Pacific region is developing small-scale smart agricultural equipment for smallholder farmers. Japan and South Korea are leading in creating compact, intelligent machinery for the region's smaller, irregularly shaped fields. These affordable, easy-to-operate machines feature advanced sensors and AI capabilities. This trend addresses labor shortages in rural areas and enables farmers to utilize precision agriculture technologies without large-scale equipment.
Smart Crop Mobility Market Share
CNH Industrial, AGCO Corporation, and Raven Industries collectively held a substantial market share of over 15% in the smart crop mobility industry in 2023. CNH, through its Case IH and New Holland Agriculture brands, has significantly invested in precision agriculture technologies. Their products leverage IoT, GPS, and data analytics to enhance crop management, soil quality, and resource utilization. CNH's digital solutions include AGXTEND for precision farming and PLM Connect for remote farming operations access via mobile and web interfaces. These platforms enable farmers to control machinery, optimize fieldwork, and improve decision-making through data insights.
AGCO's strategy focuses on the Fuse Technologies platform, which integrates precision agriculture tools to optimize planting, crop protection, and harvesting. Fuse's open architecture system allows compatibility with other platforms and equipment, offering greater flexibility. AGCO's AgCommand system supports real-time monitoring of equipment performance and field operations. Their investment in cloud-based technologies ensures seamless data exchange and analysis.
Raven has developed autonomous driving systems for farming machinery with OmniDrive and AutoCart technologies, automating equipment operations to reduce labor costs and increase efficiency. Raven’s Hawkeye 2 Nozzle Control System ensures precise chemical application, reducing waste and optimizing resource use. These technologies are crucial for increasing yield and minimizing environmental impact.
Smart Crop Mobility Market Companies
Major players operating in the smart crop mobility industry are:
- Ag Leader Technology
- AGCO
- AgEagle Aerial Systems
- Biz4Intellia
- Blue River Technology
- CNH Industrial
- Deere & Company
- Raven Industries
- Syngenta
- Yara
Smart Crop Mobility Industry News
- In April 2024, DJI launched the Agras T50 and T25 drones globally, expanding their Agras series. The T50 targets large-scale farming efficiency, while the T25 offers portability for smaller operations. Both models integrate with the enhanced SmartFarm app, optimizing aerial crop management.
- In February 2024, New Holland and Raven introduced Raven Cart Automation, a system that synchronizes combine and grain cart movements for seamless combining and unloading. This innovation supports New Holland's commitment to autonomous farming. Raven Cart Automation functions as a driver-assist technology, allowing combined operators to control the grain cart's positioning and speed during the filling process.
The smart crop mobility market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates & forecasts in terms of revenue ($ Mn/Bn) from 2021 to 2032, for the following segments:
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Market, By Product
- Autonomous tractors
- Robotic harvesters
- Drones/UAVs
- Mobile robots
- Others
Market, By Application
- Field crops
- Grains and cereals
- Row crops
- Orchards and vineyards
- Greenhouse operations
- Specialty crops
- Others
Market, By Farm Size
- Small farms
- Medium farms
- Large farms
Market, By End User
- Farmers
- Agricultural cooperatives
- Government agencies
- Research institutions
- Agribusiness companies
The above information is provided for the following regions and countries:
- North America
- U.S.
- Canada
- Europe
- UK
- Germany
- France
- Italy
- Spain
- Russia
- Nordics
- Asia Pacific
- China
- India
- Japan
- South Korea
- ANZ
- Southeast Asia
- Latin America
- Brazil
- Mexico
- Argentina
- MEA
- UAE
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa
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