Applications of IoT for achieving sustainability in agricultural sector: A comprehensive review

The influence mechanism analysis on the farmers' intention to adopt Internet of Things based on UTAUT-TOE model

Internet of Things (IoT) technologies are widely recognized as one of the most important infrastructures for economic development and technological innovation. By analyzing the influencing factors of vegetable farmers' intention to adopt agricultural IoT, it helps to formulate effective IoT promotion policies and accelerate the realization of agricultural modernization. Based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) and the Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) theory, this study constructed for the first time a mechanism model of the influence of vegetable farmers' intention to adopt IoT, expanding the scope of current research on agricultural IoT and revealing the intrinsic influence mechanism of farmers' adoption of IoT technologies. In this study, 357 quantitative data were obtained by a questionnaire survey, and structural equation modeling was used to test the direct and indirect effects of each factor on vegetable farmers' intention to adopt IoT. The results show that almost all variables in TOE have significant direct impacts on the intention, while no variables in UTAUT have significant direct impacts. Among variables in TOE, government support and complexity are the two most important elements influencing the intention. Although the interactions among variables in TOE and UTAUT are also found, the indirect effects of variables are non-significant. Therefore, it is proposed to reduce the complexity of operation and use of IoT technologies; improve rural information infrastructure and compatibility of IoT platforms and devices; and governments should increase subsidies, and incentives to promote the use of IoT in agriculture and agricultural practices.

Smart Sensors and Smart Data for Precision Agriculture: A Review

Precision agriculture, driven by the convergence of smart sensors and advanced technologies, has emerged as a transformative force in modern farming practices. The present review synthesizes insights from a multitude of research papers, exploring the dynamic landscape of precision agriculture. The main focus is on the integration of smart sensors, coupled with technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). This analysis is set in the context of optimizing crop management, using resources wisely, and promoting sustainability in the agricultural sector. This review aims to provide an in-depth understanding of emerging trends and key developments in the field of precision agriculture. By highlighting the benefits of integrating smart sensors and innovative technologies, it aspires to enlighten farming practitioners, researchers, and policymakers on best practices, current challenges, and prospects. It aims to foster a transition towards more sustainable, efficient, and intelligent farming practices while encouraging the continued adoption and adaptation of new technologies.

Opportunities and risks of internet of things (IoT) technologies for circular business models: A literature review

In recent years, circular business models (CBM) have become an inevitable requirement to foster improvements in environmental performance. However, the current literature rarely discusses the link between Internet of Things (IoT) and CBM. This paper first identifies four IoT capabilities including monitoring, tracking, optimization and design evolution for improving CBM performance based on the ReSOLVE framework. In a second step, a systematic literature review using the PRISMA approach analyzes how these capabilities contribute to 6 R and CBM through the CBM-6R and CBM-IoT cross-section heatmaps and relationship frameworks, followed by assessing the quantitative impacts of IoT on potential energy saving in CBM. Finally, challenges are analyzed for the realization of IoT-enabled CBM. The results show that the assessments of Loop and Optimize business models dominate current studies. IoT plays a significant role in these business models respectively through tracking, monitoring and optimization capabilities. While (quantitative) case studies for Virtualize, Exchange and Regenerate CBM are substantially needed. IoT holds the potential to reduce energy consumption by around 20-30% for referenced applications in the literature. However, the IoT hardware, software and protocol energy consumption, interoperability, security and financial investment might become main obstacles for the wider use of IoT in CBM.

Synergies and trade-offs in drought resilience within a multi-level UK food supply chain

Weather extremes are the biggest challenge for supply chains worldwide, with food supply chains particularly exposed due to agriculture's sensitivity to weather conditions. Whilst attention has been paid to farm-level impacts from, and adaptation to, weather extremes, there remains a need to better understand how different actors along the supply chain suffer, react and adapt to these natural hazards and how their resilience-building strategies affect other actors' and the whole system's resilience. Taking the UK potato supply chain as a case study, this paper analyses the synergies and trade-offs in drought resilience in a multi-level food supply chain. Data from an online survey (87) and interviews with key informants (27) representing potato supply-chain actors (growers, packers, processors, retailers) were used to analyse drought risk perceptions, impacts and coping strategies, long-term resilience measures and further actions to build system resilience. Results suggest that the potato supply chain has increased its resilience to weather extremes due to retailers and packers having a wider geographical spread of supply, an increasing reliance on forward contracts and favouring growers with water security. However, a conceptual framework of resilience-building strategies adopted by supply chain actors shows that these measures are largely designed to reduce their own risk without considering implications for other parts of the chain and the system as a whole. A more integrated approach to promote drought resilience in complex food supply chains that enables improved vertical collaboration and trust between actors is therefore needed.

Double transplantation as a climate resilient and sustainable resource management strategy for rice production in eastern Uttar Pradesh, north India

-Enhancing the productivity of rainfed crops, especially rice, while coping with climate adversities and saving critical natural resources is essential for ensuring the food and nutrition security of a growing population. With this context, the present study was undertaken to validate promising farm innovation and adaptation practices used by small-medium landholding farmers for rice cultivation in eastern Uttar Pradesh (UP), north India, as well as to examine the sustainability of innovative practices for large-scale adoption. For this, a 3-year study comprising extensive field surveys and experiments was undertaken to compare single transplantation (ST) and double transplantation (DT) in rice along with organic addition (farm-yard manure, FYM) on crop growth, yield, climate resilience, soil quality, and overall sustainability i.e., social (women involvements and labour productivity), environmental (water productivity and nutrient use efficiency), and economic (benefit:cost ratio) dimensions of sustainability. Field experiments were conducted in triplicate using two local rice varieties (MotiNP-360 and Sampurna Kaveri) in two agroclimatic zones, namely the middle Gangetic plains and the Vindhyan zone, in the Mirzapur district of eastern Uttar Pradesh. The DT practices of rice with and without farm yard manure (FYM) (replacing at a dose of 25% NPK) were evaluated over conventional methods of rice cultivation (i.e., ST, as control) and analysis was done periodically. The DT practice improved growth (p < 0.05), percent fertile tiller and grain (p < 0.05), and rice yield (15-20% higher than ST), while also improving soil quality, yield indices, water and labour productivity, and the benefit-cost ratio. The DT practice also resulted in early maturity (10-15 days earlier than ST), created more labour days for women, decreased lodging and pest/disease incidence, as well as a subsequent reduction in the use of synthetic chemical pesticides and associated environmental costs. Importantly, the residual effects of FYM application significantly improved (p < 0.05) the grain yield in subsequent years of cropping. Optimizing DT cultivation practices, preferably with FYM input for various agro-climatic regions, is essential for large-scale sustainable rice production under changing climatic conditions.

A comprehensive and systematic literature review on the employee attendance management systems based on cloud computing

Attendance is critical to the success of any business or industry. As a result, most businesses and institutions require a system to track staff attendance. On the other hand, cloud computing technology is being utilized in the human resource management sector. It may be an excellent option for processing and storing large amounts of data and improving management effectiveness to a desirable level. Hence, this paper examines cloud infrastructures for employee attendance management in which the articles are categorized into three groups. The results show that cloud infrastructure has a significant and positive impact on the management of employee attendance systems. Also, the results reveal that the radio frequency identification authentication protocol protects the privacy of tags and readers against database memory. When references operate properly, they help the people concerned and society by making workplaces more efficient and safer.

The Antecedents of Willingness to Adopt and Pay for the IoT in the Agricultural Industry: An Application of the UTAUT 2 Theory

This paper aims to examine the factors influencing the willingness of Bangladeshi farmers to adopt and pay for the Internet of Things (IoT) in the agricultural sector by applying the theoretical framework of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT 2). To this end, the study employed a quantitative research methodology and obtained data from 345 farmers from the northern districts of Bangladesh. Using a cross-sectional survey design and convenience sampling method, a study of premium fruit growers was undertaken to assess IoT use in agriculture, and the primary survey data were analyzed using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach via AMOS 26. The study confirmed that effort expectancy, performance expectancy, facilitating condition, hedonic motivation, government support, price value, personal innovativeness, and trust influence the willingness of Bangladeshi farmers to adopt the IoT. Additionally, predictors such as trust and willingness to adopt were observed to influence the willingness to pay for the IoT, while the construct ‘performance expectancy’ produced no effect. The study also revealed that the willingness to adopt moderates the association between performance expectancy, price value, and willingness to pay for the IoT. This research has novel implications because it investigates the behavior of rural customers with respect to innovation adoption, which in this case is the IoT in agriculture. It outlines precise reasons for the willing adoption of the IoT in agriculture, which will, in turn, assist marketers of IoT technology in the design of appropriate marketing strategies to increase acceptance in rural areas. Using the proposed model that incorporates farmers’ willingness to pay, this empirical study takes the first step in examining whether farmers in a developing economy such as Bangladesh will adopt and pay for the IoT.

Internet of Things Approaches for Monitoring and Control of Smart Greenhouses in Industry 4.0

In recent decades, climate change and a shortage of resources have brought about the need for technology in agriculture. Farmers have been forced to use information and innovation in communication in order to enhance production efficiency and crop resilience. Systems engineering and information infrastructure based on the Internet of Things (IoT) are the main novel approaches that have generated growing interest. In agriculture, IoT solutions according to the challenges for Industry 4.0 can be applied to greenhouses. Greenhouses are protected environments in which best plant growth can be achieved. IoT for smart greenhouses relates to sensors, devices, and information and communication infrastructure for real-time monitoring and data collection and processing, in order to efficiently control indoor parameters such as exposure to light, ventilation, humidity, temperature, and carbon dioxide level. This paper presents the current state of the art in the IoT-based applications to smart greenhouses, underlining benefits and opportunities of this technology in the agriculture environment.

Facilitating big-data management in modern business and organizations using cloud computing: a comprehensive study

Modern digital life has produced big data in modern businesses and organizations. To derive information for decision-making from these enormous data sets, a lot of work is required at several levels. The storage, transmission, processing, mining, and serving of big data create problems for digital domains. Despite several efforts to implement big data in businesses, basic issues with big data remain (particularly big-data management (BDM)). Cloud computing, for example, provides companies with well-suited, cost-effective, and consistent on-demand services for big data and analytics. This paper introduces the modern systems for organizational BDM. This article analyzes the latest research to manage organization-generated data using cloud computing. The findings revealed several benefits in integrating big data and cloud computing, the most notable of which is increased company efficiency and improved international trade. This study also highlighted some hazards in the sophisticated computing environment. Cloud computing has the potential to improve corporate management and accountants' jobs significantly. This article's major contribution is to discuss the demands, advantages, and problems of using big data and cloud computing in contemporary businesses and institutions.

Carotenoid Production from Microalgae: Biosynthesis, Salinity Responses and Novel Biotechnologies

Microalgae are excellent biological factories for high-value products and contain biofunctional carotenoids. Carotenoids are a group of natural pigments with high value in social production and human health. They have been widely used in food additives, pharmaceutics and cosmetics. Astaxanthin, β-carotene and lutein are currently the three carotenoids with the largest market share. Meanwhile, other less studied pigments, such as fucoxanthin and zeaxanthin, also exist in microalgae and have great biofunctional potentials. Since carotenoid accumulation is related to environments and cultivation of microalgae in seawater is a difficult biotechnological problem, the contributions of salt stress on carotenoid accumulation in microalgae need to be revealed for large-scale production. This review comprehensively summarizes the carotenoid biosynthesis and salinity responses of microalgae. Applications of salt stress to induce carotenoid accumulation, potentials of the Internet of Things in microalgae cultivation and future aspects for seawater cultivation are also discussed. As the global market share of carotenoids is still ascending, large-scale, economical and intelligent biotechnologies for carotenoid production play vital roles in the future microalgal economy.