Social Sustainability

Precision Agriculture

Meaning statusEstablishedSource recordDirect source requestedWhy these are different

Definition

Precision agriculture is a farming management approach that observes, measures and responds to variability within and between fields, using GPS guidance, remote sensing, soil and crop sensors, drones and variable-rate application equipment. The aim is to apply the right input in the right amount at the right place and time, raising efficiency and reducing waste.

References

Source organisationSupporting reference

This reference provides supporting context for how “Precision Agriculture” is defined and used.

www.fao.orgBulk import source

Source imported for editorial provenance.

Overview

How it is used

The term spans equipment markets, digital farm platforms and sustainable intensification policy; it increasingly merges with AI-driven decision support and autonomous machinery.

Why it matters

Input efficiency is central to sustainable intensification — producing more with less environmental load — and precision agriculture is its main technological expression.