LBS (Location Based Services) in Agriculture : User Cases and Business Model

I discovered the LBS concept during a professional experience outside agritech sector. At the time I had to explore the feasibility of a solution based on LBS technology to better support access to protection services for children on the move on migration routes.

I explored on several LBS solutions that were all magnificent in the technical and thematic approach to the protection of children on the move. However, but which did not answer all the questions of protection specialists and mobility issues, especially when it comes to children. Although happy that technology cannot do everything.

I found the solutions explored quite innovative in their approach to information management by making information available whose starting point was the geographical position of the user according to the requested request.

By questioning the business model of LBS in the field of development and humanitarianism, I assumed from the outset that the business model could be sources of questioning for a massive adoption of this technology in the contexts of developing countries.

However with time I wanted to experiment the subject in Agritech. I start with this article on possible use cases and their business model.

Let's start by defining LBS to avoid confusion with Geographic Information Systems. Certainly the LBS draws a lot from the register but it is more than a GIS in the classic sense of the term

LBS definition

A location-based service (LBS) is a software service for mobile device applications that requires knowledge about where the mobile device is geographically located. The application collects geodata, which is data gathered in real time using one or more location tracking technologies. Location-based services integrate data from various resources, including Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, cellular tower pings and short-range positioning beacons, to provide services based on the user's geographical location.

For location-based services to operate, the following four basic components are required:

·????? an application that uses location-based services;

·????? a positioning mechanism to collect geodata;

·????? a mobile network to transmit or receive data; and

·????? analytics software running on a remote server to compute and deliver relevant data to the user based on geographic location.

User Cases in Ag

Location-based services (LBS) have a wide range of potential applications in agriculture. Some of the most common user cases include:

• Farm planning and management:?LBS can be used to create detailed maps of farms and fields, which can then be used to plan crop rotations, irrigation schedules, and other farm operations.
• Precision agriculture:?LBS can be used to guide tractors and other agricultural equipment with high accuracy, allowing farmers to apply inputs such as fertilizer and pesticides more precisely and efficiently. This can help to reduce costs and improve yields.
• Crop monitoring:?LBS can be used to collect data on crop health and development, which can then be used to identify and address problems early on. This can help to reduce crop losses and improve crop quality.
• Livestock management:?LBS can be used to track the location of livestock and monitor their health and well-being. This can help to reduce livestock losses and improve animal welfare.

LBS Business Model in Ag

There are a number of different business models that can be used for LBS in agriculture. One common model is to charge farmers a subscription fee for access to a suite of LBS features. Another model is to charge farmers on a per-acre basis for the use of LBS services such as precision agriculture or crop monitoring.

Another business model is to partner with agricultural input companies such as seed and fertilizer companies. These companies can offer LBS services to their customers as a value-added service. This can help them to attract and retain customers.

Finally, LBS companies can also generate revenue by selling data to other businesses in the agricultural sector. For example, LBS companies can sell data on crop yields to food processors or data on livestock health to animal feed companies.

Examples

Here are a few examples of LBS companies that are operating in the agricultural sector:

• FarmShots:?FarmShots uses satellite imagery and machine learning to provide farmers with insights into crop health and development.
• FieldView:?FieldView is a precision agriculture platform from Bayer that uses GPS and other sensors to help farmers apply inputs more precisely and efficiently.
• FarmDog:?FarmDog is a livestock management platform that uses GPS and RFID tags to track the location and health of livestock.

These are just a few examples of the many LBS companies that are operating in the agricultural sector. As technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more innovative and disruptive LBS applications emerge in the years to come.