Animal (livestock and aquatic) production is a crucial part of agriculture, not only because it provides food and dairy products, but it also supplies other high-quality goods, such as wool and leather. Global demand for animal products is expected to increase further due to population growth
[11], meaning that agrifood industries must optimise production practices by ensuring the welfare and safety of animals and increasing the capacity to prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat animal diseases. Considering this, there is a growing awareness that animal management can no longer be performed via traditional means and requires the adoption of new digital technologies.
Smart animal monitoring systems have been viewed with great interest in the academic community, agrifood industries, and markets. Sensor-based animal wearables, computer vision systems, and other detection devices can capture the status of animals and environment in real time, which can be analysed afterwards with the aid of AI-based mechanisms to control and predict animals’ health, welfare, production, etc. Livestock monitoring includes information related to animals’ behaviour, physiology, clinical status, and performance
[29], while in aquaculture, the desired information is more focused on water quality (water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen content, ammonia, salt, etc.)
[30][31].
2.5. Summary
The study, development, and deployment of technologies stemming from the Agriculture 4.0 paradigm has revealed a multitude of transformative advances in the agricultural sector. By leveraging data-driven insights and advanced computational techniques, ML-based technologies are poised to further revolutionise the agricultural sector, driving efficiency, sustainability, and productivity to new heights
[1].
2.5.1. Crop Management
ML techniques have demonstrated remarkable proficiency in evaluating crop quality attributes, enabling precise assessments without invasive testing. Additionally, they have revolutionised crop mapping and recognition, enhancing the accuracy of identifying specific crop varieties within agricultural landscapes. Moreover, ML-driven models exhibit exceptional capabilities in predicting crop yields by integrating diverse data sources, offering valuable insights into factors influencing the agricultural output. Additionally, ML-powered solutions have emerged as powerful tools for disease, pest, and weed detection. By leveraging satellite imagery and IoT-generated data, these models excel in accurately categorising and identifying diseases, pests, and weeds. This capability enables timely and effective interventions, minimising the impact of outbreaks on crop yield.
2.5.2. Water Management
Through the integration of advanced sensing techniques, coupled with IoT technologies, ML algorithms demonstrate exceptional proficiency in optimising water-related practices. Precision irrigation is a prominent application, where ML models suggest precise schedules based on data processed in real-time. In addition, these models excel at vigilantly monitoring water quality, ensuring that crops receive water with an optimal nutrient composition. Furthermore, ML-driven predictions of crop evapotranspiration rates offer valuable information on water requirements, facilitating a more sustainable approach to irrigation practices.
2.5.3. Soil Management
ML techniques have proven valuable in predicting soil properties, allowing farmers, researchers, and stakeholders to make informed decisions regarding soil fertility, moisture levels, and nutrient concentrations. By assimilating data from various sources, ML models provide valuable insights into the dynamic nature of soil behaviour, allowing for proactive adjustments in farming practices to ensure optimal conditions for crop growth and yield. Additionally, via the application of computer vision and remote sensing data, ML simplifies the monitoring of both crops and soil conditions by offering timely information on crop health, growth stages, and potential stressors.
2.5.4. Animal Management
The integration of ML with smart animal monitoring systems represents a significant leap forward in enhancing animal welfare and productivity. This innovative approach harnesses sensor-based wearables, computer vision systems, and other detection devices to capture real-time data on animal status and environmental conditions. ML algorithms, in tandem with these advanced technologies, enable the analysis of the captured data, providing valuable insights into animal health, behaviour, and overall wellbeing. This data can be processed and interpreted to control and predict various aspects of animal management, including health, welfare, and production.