From nets of environmental sensors and smart irrigation
networks to AI-guided tractors and drone-mounted crop surveillance,
there is something altogether digital going on down on the
farm.
This marriage of traditional farming approaches such as direct
observation and heavy machinery, with systemic data gathering and
computational insights, is called "agri-informatics".
Whether coming from an agricultural or software background, the
marriage of these disparate worlds can be challenging. In addition
to adapting to the rugged and extreme conditions of the farmyard,
innovators will need to adapt their IP strategy to this reality.
They cannot simply rely on an approach to IP from a software,
agriculture, or mechanical background. However, every challenge
creates an opportunity, and those who successfully protect and
secure their intellectual property in the field will find
themselves in an enviable market position and an attractive
prospect for investors.
