The characteristics, architecture and stakeholders of the IoT ecosystem 1

Abstract

The digital transformation is changing the whole sector of AgriFood, shifting the global production and supply network. Emerging technologies that are increasing interconnectivity and smart automation under the umbrella of Industry 4.0 and Agriculture 4.0 are revolutionizing the whole food chain. Agriculture 4.0 encompasses a wide range of technologies including artificial intelligence (AI), distributed ledger, cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), advanced robotics (like autonomous agricultural robots) and other precision farming technologies, advanced imaging and the latest communication technologies. Within this chapter, we will introduce the IoT and the general architecture building blocks of an IoT ecosystem, describing the main elements enabling its implementation. This covers the data management and information models, interoperability and the enabling technologies at the different layers (physical device, edge, cloud).