How a Capacitor Packaging Technology Will Change the Future of Farming

By 2050, Earth's population is expected to reach 9.1 billion.  According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), global food production will need to increase by 60%, and that number does not include all the other agricultural products that we depend on every day, like cotton and lumber. As the population continues to climb, farmers and ranchers are turning toward technology to help increase yields in what many are calling Agriculture 4.0.

No longer are the days of uniform watering schedules, fertilizers, and pesticides.  Now farmers are using GPS technology, aerial imagery, and humidity and temperature sensors to precisely meter vital resources. As these technologies become more widespread, producers can begin to collect data on their own properties to predict more accurate weather patterns, soil conditions, and crop yields. With an increase in data, distributors are making more logistical decisions to reduce waste, meaning food gets to the grocery store sooner. Additionally, consumers will be able to trace back from the grocery store to the farm, making it easier and safer to find healthy food and support local organizations. As these advancements continue to be made, KEMET strives to provide electronic components to back it up. Farm equipment is using exponentially more capacitors today than they have in the past. This increase is due to the number of electrical systems all connected and integrated into making each machine more precise & comfortable so that a producer spends less time in a tractor seat and more time solving the next problem.

Increased Reliability

As farmers and ranchers move towards advanced technology, the reliability of these new systems is a must. That is why at KEMET, reliability is our top priority. Farmers cannot afford to have equipment fail, so we take the time to test for those failures before our products ever end up in the field.

Improved Accuracy

As sensor technology improves, high accuracy of field operations will become commonplace.  Instead of looking at yields from square footage, farmers can instead begin to evaluate in square inches. With each plant’s performance highly monitored, yields can be closely calculated.

More Possibilities

With the power of KEMET’s KONNEKT™ packaging technology, significant space reductions can be made in bulk capacitance. This allows for more space on the circuit board for other technologies, giving agricultural equipment manufacturers the flexibility they need to be innovative with new technology integration into their systems. Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and automation now can become commonplace amongst agricultural equipment. Decisions in the field will be powered by large collections of data, agronomic modeling, and accurate weather predictions. Carbon emissions can be closely monitored and improved. Food loss will drastically decrease. Agriculture is changing for the better, and with every step forward, the future looks increasingly brighter.