Digital agriculture technologies grow three times faster than average, as global food security challenge intensifies

With the global population projected to exceed 10 billion by 2050, the challenge of producing enough food while using fewer resources has never been greater. A new technology insight report and technology platform from the Observatory on Patents and Technology at the European Patent Office (EPO) highlight the potential of digital technologies to help meet this demand sustainably. The report was created in co-operation with European and Latin American national patent offices. Its findings consider information from some 270 000 patent families covering 400 000 different patent applications. Finally, the Deep Tech Finder has been updated with the profiles of over 300 startups and universities active in the field.  

Inventions in artificial intelligence (AI), sensing and automation are reshaping farming worldwide, with patent filings in digital agriculture growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.4% over the past decade—three times faster than the average across all technical fields. The report reflects a global shift towards data-driven precision farming aimed at boosting productivity and reducing environmental impact.

“Digital agriculture is advancing at an unprecedented pace, reshaping how we produce food in the face of pressing global challenges,” said EPO President António Campinos. “By aligning research and technologies with real-world needs and strengthening global co-operation, supported by a solid patent system and open access to knowledge platforms, we can build food systems that are both resilient and equitable.”

Technologies driving the transformation of agriculture

Crosscutting technologies such as imaging and sensing technologies are shaping the digital agriculture landscape, particularly in the area of plant agriculture, which saw a sevenfold increase in patents and a 13% CAGR in filings in the period from 2012 to 2022. This growth also extends to innovations that enable farmers to automate tasks like spraying and harvesting with greater precision and efficiency. Since 2018, the use of drones and AI has surged too, supporting real-time monitoring and predictive analytics across farming operations.

Industry increasingly leads digital agriculture innovation, with companies accounting for 88% of patent filings in 2022. Leading innovators include global agricultural machinery firms such as John Deere (US), CNH Industrial (Netherlands/UK), Claas (Germany), Kubota (Japan) and Amazonen-Werke (Germany).

Digital agriculture in Europe and around the world

While Europe continues to lead in patenting activity for digital agriculture technologies, the report reveals accelerating growth across Asia and Latin America. Asia overtook North America in 2020 in terms of number of international patent families, while Latin America recorded a CAGR of 10.8% in filings in the period from 2000 to 2022.

Latin America’s growing role in global food systems

The report places particular focus on Latin America, a region well-positioned to play a pivotal role in future food supply chains. Based on historic production and export performance from 2010 to 2020, it is projected that by 2050, Latin America could supply two to three out of every five fruit and vegetables globally. The national patent offices of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru and Mexico contributed to the report, which highlights advances in sustainable agricultural technologies and how the national patent systems in these countries support agricultural innovation.

Linking European startups and investors with the Deep Tech Finder

The EPO is making it easier to identify Europe’s investment-ready startups and leading universities in the field. Our free Deep Tech Finder tool has been updated to include the profiles of 194 European startups and 125 universities active in plant agriculture, artificial growth conditions, livestock management and supporting technologies.  

New EPO technology platform on digital agriculture

The EPO provides several technology platforms that make it easier for scientists and researchers to explore its Espacenet database, which is the world's largest, freely accessible single source of patent information. Its latest technology platform maps technologies in the four main areas of the report, using the expertise of patent examiners from the EPO and national patent offices to provide 47 searchable technology areas. By making this resource available, the EPO aims to increase the accessibility of patent knowledge and further drive innovation in these fields.