When we talk about the Internet of Things (IoT), many garden centers and growers might be curious how this technology applies to wholesale growing containers and the horticulture industry.
The horticulture industry has faced many challenges during the pandemic, especially in securing reliable labor. According to AmericanHort, a national association for the green industry, “Many industry businesses, especially growing and landscape operations, are struggling to find the labor they need to sustain and expand their businesses. Major demographic and lifestyle changes have shaped this reality. Seasonality and the very nature of the work are challenges. Manual labor positions are especially difficult to fill.”
Automation in growing operations, from autonomous irrigation control to precision farming technologies, is now a reality for many growers.
The American Society for Horticulture Science concludes that “Greater than 40% of production costs are labor costs, totaling nearly $40 billion per year in the US alone. Mechanization of an operation can provide mechanical power, speed, repetition, safety, and a greater potential for consistency and quality control.”
Wholesale growing containers, in which many are automation-friendly, are an integral part of the growing process. IoT technologies are now being designed to help support growers to move towards more autonomous operations.
The Internet of Things has already infiltrated many areas of our lives. Soon enough, the horticulture industry will not be immune to the benefits the tech can bring.
