When it comes to technological advances in the 21st century, agriculture is often a forgotten industry and rural areas are commonly left out.

Scientists in other parts of the world are attempting to change that by applying the Internet of Things concept to animals. A Dec. 23, 2014 Business Insider article states that this initiative is being led by Computer Science Professor Gordon Blair from Lancaster University in England, who was recently awarded a grant from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council to investigate how IoT can work in the countryside. We could soon be living a world where sheep and other farm animals are used as Wi-Fi hotspots, according to a Feb. 9 article by The Atlantic

It’s important that we consider the many uses and applications of new technologies for not only big cities, but also rural environments. Technology is here to make processes easier and the agricultural industry could benefit tremendously from having more accessible wireless connectivity.

In the impending technology, the animals would be outfitted with sensors on their collars that transmit an Internet signal and act as Wi-Fi hotspots to gather data and communicate with one another in a network. Sensors could also be placed on trees and near portions of water to observe long-term trends such as water and air pollution in the environment.

This would allow farmers to remotely monitor agricultural operations and analyze trends in their stock and plants. Predicting floods and droughts, knowing optimal times to apply pesticides and tracking changes in the animal behavior when they are in danger are just some of the potential applications of bringing IoT to farms.

These collars would even be powered by solar energy, eliminating the need for battery charging and making them lightweight for the animals to carry.

These high-tech collars have already been tested in Northern Scandinavia where nomadic residents placed these collars on the reindeer they travel with. Greg Cronin, a professor of animal welfare and behavior at the University of Sydney, explained to The Atlantic that this technology is only a few years away from becoming a reality for large farm owners across the world. This experiment has begun overseas but should be explored in the United States soon.

Many Americans are far removed from having agricultural issues but in certain areas, livestock and crops are still a means of survival. In a Feb. 10 report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that U.S farmers made a net income of $108 billion in 2014 and set a record in 2013 of $129 billion.

Technology has shifted its focus to smartphone apps but farming is still a huge industry in the U.S that needs continued innovation. Having Internet-connected animals could greatly enhance the lives of people in developing countries and add on to the current success of farmers the U.S.

Farmers should embrace the incorporation of new technology and tech innovators should try to put a greater focus on agriculture. Farming is still the backbone of our food production and deserves just as much attention as other industries.

While agriculture is no longer a top priority for many people living in cities, it’s refreshing to hear that some tech innovators are still thinking of the hardworking farmers who do the dirty work that goes unnoticed.

This all might sound like scene from a futuristic sci-fi movie but the future is now for farming innovation. We may not have flying cars yet, but Wi-Fi animals are pretty close.

Aarick Knighton is a junior information management and technology major. His column appears weekly. He can be reached at adknight@syr.edu and followed on Twitter @aarickurban.

Published on February 18, 2015 at 12:14 am