Waldo Russo

The work explores how the Internet of Things (IoT) is driving the fourth agricultural revolution, enabling more efficient, sustainable, and data-driven practices to face the growing pressure on food production—in a scenario of a global population projected to reach 10.3 billion people by 2080, combined with the decline of arable land and climate change.

The document presents a comprehensive analysis of IoT applications throughout the entire agricultural chain—sowing, maintenance, harvesting, storage, and distribution—and details key technologies such as precision agriculture, weather forecasting, autonomous robotics, and blockchain integration. Its major technical contribution lies in its in-depth exploration of the six-layer architecture of agricultural IoT systems, highlighting an extensive comparison between LPWAN technologies (LoRaWAN, Sigfox, NB-IoT, Wi-SUN, Wi-Fi HaLow, DECT-2020, among others), cellular networks (4G, 5G RedCap) and, especially, Non-Terrestrial networks (NTN), including LEO satellite constellations, hybrid systems, and stratospheric HAPS platforms under 3GPP specifications (Releases 17, 18, and 19). It also addresses technical, economic, and regulatory challenges in the Brazilian context, concluding with case studies and perspectives on digital, smart, precision, and regenerative agriculture.