Researchers from South Dakota State University have unveiled a groundbreaking crop monitoring system that integrates Internet of Things (IoT) technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI). The result is an easy-to-use, innovative system designed to help farmers maximize crop yields while reducing the cost of doing business. Researcher Manish Man Shrestha, pictured above, led the team in translating their knowhow into practice. They then showcased their work at the 2025 annual meeting of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, held July 13-16 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
That’s particularly true with a new crop health and environmental monitoring system, which churns out huge streams of data. Combined with GIS data, the analysis of this new data empowers farmers to make immediate, evidence-based decisions that drive productivity and efficiency within their specific farm. Combining IoT and AI technologies allows for more precise, real-time tracking and management of farming practices. This tech gives farmers predictive analytics that are the future of farming.
Data Security at the Forefront
Along with the user-friendliness of the platform, ensuring the safety of farmers’ data was a major priority for Shrestha and his team. They used leading edge security protocols such as encryption and cryptography to protect the sensitive information the system would gather.
“Our research received considerable attention, with many experts emphasizing how cybersecurity must be a core component when developing smart farming technologies,” – Manish Shrestha
The team’s strong commitment to data protection shows the increasing concerns of agricultural stakeholders about their privacy and security. In a time when farming practices are more dependent on technology than ever before, developing strong security measures should be priority number one. The system not only collects this data, but creates it as well, uploading everything to their cloud. This configuration enables convenient use without compromising on robust security requirements.
Technical Innovations and Benefits
This national, satellite-based crop monitoring system delivers improved operational efficiency in addition to promoting sustainable farming practices. The power of IoT devices lies in their ability to collect real-time data, all without requiring a human to monitor the system 24/7. It enables farmers to remotely monitor their fields, getting real-time updates on what the weather is doing, soil moisture levels, crop vitality.
According to Shrestha, the project is an example of the large steps being taken in the field of agriculture technological innovations.
“This work demonstrated that strong, future-proof security can run directly on small devices, potentially eliminating the need for large servers to protect IoT data,” – Manish Shrestha
By integrating compliance solutions directly within data management infrastructure, this capability helps lower costs on data management infrastructure while keeping sensitive information protected.
Future Implications for Agriculture
The benefits of this high-tech crop monitoring system reach past short-term cost savings and yield optimization. By harnessing advanced technologies, farmers can adopt more precise agricultural practices that contribute to sustainability.
The research team is optimistic about the future of this system in transforming traditional farming methods. And by bringing visibility to their work through a high profile industry conference, they hope to spur more innovations in smart farming technologies.
The DOI for this study is 10.13031/aim.202500564, providing readers the ability to view in-depth results and procedures.