One of the significant turning points in the history of humanity was the advent of agriculture, which led to settled life and the rise of civilizations. Developing independently in different regions worldwide, agriculture evolved with the domestication of plants and animals. It became industrialized with the industrial revolution and technological progress as a result of population increase and specialization of labor over hundreds of years.
Throughout history, civilizations have sought methods and practices to boost production to fulfill the food demands of an expanding population. Especially in the 20th century, many advancements were achieved with the help of mechanics, fertilizers, chemical products, and genetics research. Now, modern agriculture seeks answers for various issues, such as rising food demand, dwindling arable land, a decrease in the number of farmers and agricultural workers, environmental issues and water scarcity brought on by climate change and global warming, waste, and losses, and rising production costs.
Technological Solutions for Agriculture
Concurrent with the sector’s growth, agricultural activities now have a more sophisticated infrastructure than in the recent past due to sensors, machinery, and technological advancements, especially information technology. Like the widespread usage of Industry 4.0, autonomous vehicles and robots are becoming more common in smart farming. Data can be collected, analyzed, and processed based on environmental conditions by monitoring agricultural products and equipment with sensors. Genetic engineering, biologicals, formulations, seed treatments with synthetic and natural active ingredients, and practices to improve plant or soil quality boost productivity with the help of genetics research. The ecosystem evolves in every way as marketplaces and supply chains in modern agriculture are reinforced with new technologies. Marketplaces and management platforms that combine supply and demand in a digital environment by facilitating the purchase of agricultural goods and technologies for financial transactions and affairs revolutionize conventional methods of delivering agricultural products to intermediaries and end users. Thanks to all these advancements, the agricultural sector is moving away from its old structure and becoming a complicated process involving various areas such as cyber security, sustainability, and data management.
Smart farming boosts profitability in the sector by using innovative farming technologies by farmers and other stakeholders to maximize crop yields and earnings. The size of the global smart agriculture market is anticipated to reach $36,241 million by 2030, with a projected growth rate of 10.80% between 2022 and 2030. Europe is expected to become the second-largest intelligent agriculture market, with an expected market value of $9,701 million by 2030.[1]
As new technologies emerge and become widespread in agriculture, startups that provide market-driven innovations stand out and get more funding on a national and worldwide scale. Venture capital investments for startups promote the rising interest in agricultural technology. According to Pitchbook, in the last five years, $1.9 billion in the previous year alone.[2]
Agricultural Technology and Regulations
Regulations respond to technological advancements, especially regarding business relations and disputes. With the arrival of cutting-edge technologies, new business models, and supply chain developments in agricultural technology, states are compelled to revise the relevant policies, current laws, and legal approaches to technological progress in agriculture.
A sustainable ecosystem should pioneer in systematic investment in information, innovation, and incubators and aim for innovative solutions to function instead of simply existing. Agricultural policies should encourage digital innovation by providing incentives for technology adoption and investments in digital skills, for example.
Among agricultural regulations in Türkiye, the most important one is Civil Code no. 743, which went into effect in 1926, with provisions on the acquisition of real estate, obligations of the real estate owner, and inheritance of agricultural businesses. Regulations adopted over the years, in addition to the code of responsibilities and the commercial code, have established the basis of agricultural policies. Various legislative acts were enacted regarding agricultural labor law, agricultural insurance, organic farming rules, which have been on the agenda recently, intellectual and industrial property rights, and government subsidies.
As part of the preservation and commercialization of technology, genetic engineering and other scientific discoveries regarding plants and animals must be considered within the framework of industrial property rights. Moreover, in products or services that rely on data given by farmers, the question of data ownership and protection emerges. These data must be protected and handled by copyright laws. Startups, farmers, and investors should discuss an industrial property, data, and product certification issues while negotiating agreements.
Although traditional law continues to apply in agriculture, from the producer to the end user, modern agriculture, transformed by new technology, has come to encompass a variety of topics ranging from data protection to IT law. As a result, a comprehensive legal approach based on agricultural innovations is critical.
[1] https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2022/07/11/2477563/0/en/Smart-Agriculture-Market-Size-is-projected-to-reach-USD-36-24-Billion-by-2030-growing-at-a-CAGR-of-10-80-Straits-Research.html
[2] https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/resources/8-startups-are-revolutionizing-agtech/
