Digital Agriculture Technologies Grow Three Times Faster
- Global trends in smart farming include imaging and sensing technologies, automation tools and drones and artificial intelligence (AI)
- The UK ranks 5th globally in supporting technologies, including pest control, watering and influencing weather conditions
- 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. The UK ranks 10th in the global rankings of leading applicant countries by international patent family (IPF) filings.
“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. It is worth noting that while British universities rank third behind Germany and France in terms of EPO member state universities filing EP patents in digital agriculture, none of the top filing universities when it comes to all patent applications are based in the UK. 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.
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.
In terms of specific technology fields, the UK ranks 5th in supporting technologies globally and 2nd in Europe, behind Germany. Supporting technologies refers to the use of advanced technologies and data-driven approaches. Digital advances in pest control cover GPS-guided sprayers that minimise pesticide use while maximising effectiveness, autonomous drones and land robots for targeted pesticide application as well as image recognition algorithms to detect and classify pests using drone or sensor-captured data.
The UK also ranks 8th in artificial growth condition globally, but 3rd in Europe. Artificial growth condition patents refer both to innovation in smart greenhouses and the various materials used to support plant growth, providing a stable environment for roots and supplying essential nutrients, water, and air.
Further information
- Deep Tech Finder (DTF)
Media contacts European Patent Office
Luis Berenguer Giménez
Principal Director Communication / EPO spokesperson
EPO press desk
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.
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