Digital agriculture technologies grow three times faster than average as global food security challenge intensifies
- Latin America and Asia had the highest growth rates in the period 2000-2022
- Global trends in smart farming include imaging and sensing technologies, automation tools and drones and artificial intelligence (AI)
- Europe is home to 200 startups and 125 universities driving innovation in the field
Munich, 18 September 2025 – With the global population expected to exceed 10 billion by 2050, the challenge of producing enough food has never been greater. A new report from the European Patent Office’s Observatory on Patents and Technology highlights how digital technologies are helping to meet this demand sustainably, with digital agriculture patent filings rising 9.4% annually—three times the average growth across all technologies.
“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 cooperation, supported by a solid patent system and open access to knowledge platforms, we can build food systems that are both resilient and equitable.”
Digital agriculture around the world
Europe continues to lead in patenting activity for digital agriculture technologies, supported by a thriving ecosystem of 194 startups and 125 universities active in the field. The report also reveals accelerating growth across Asia and Latin America. Asia overtook North America in patent filings in 2020, while Latin America recorded an annual growth rate of 11% in the period 2000-2022.
The report places particular focus on Latin America. Based on historic production and export performance from 2010–2020, it is projected that by 2050, Latin America could supply two to three out of every five fruit and vegetables globally (World Economic Forum, 2024). It showcases advances in sustainable agricultural technologies in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Peru and Mexico. Further, the national patent offices of all five countries have contributed their analysis to the report, highlighting how innovation systems in each country are leveraging digital agriculture technologies to support food security, rural development and economic competitiveness.
Technologies driving the transformation
Crosscutting technologies such as imaging and sensing technologies are shaping the digital agriculture landscape, alongside 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, supporting real-time monitoring and predictive analytics across farming operations.
Global innovation in this field is increasingly driven by industry, with companies accounting for 88% of patent filings in digital agriculture 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).
Further information
- Full report “Digital Agriculture - Towards Sustainable Food Security”
- Technology Platform on Digital agriculture
- Deep Tech Finder (DTF)
- EPO’s Observatory on Patents and Technology
Media contacts European Patent Office
Luis Berenguer Giménez
Principal Director Communication / EPO spokesperson
EPO press desk
[email protected]
About the EPO
With 6 300 staff members, the European Patent Office (EPO) is one of the largest public service institutions in Europe. Headquartered in Munich with offices in Berlin, Brussels, The Hague and Vienna, the EPO was founded with the aim of strengthening co-operation on patents in Europe. Through the EPO's centralised patent granting procedure, inventors are able to obtain high-quality patent protection in up to 46 countries, covering a market of some 700 million people. The EPO is also the world's leading authority in patent information and patent searching.