Unlocking the Future of Farming: A Review of Metaverse Integration in Agriculture

Abstract

This article reviews 51 scholarly articles to explore integrating metaverse technologies within agriculture. Key findings reveal that the metaverse can enhance precision farming by enabling real-time monitoring of soil conditions and crop health and optimizing inputs such as water, fertilizers, and pesticides. In addition, it facilitates immersive training and educational experiences for farmers, promoting advanced skills and knowledge without physical constraints. Simulating various farming scenarios under different climatic and soil conditions improves preparedness and resilience against climate change. However, the review highlights several challenges to adopting metaverse technologies in agriculture, including technological, economic, and sociocultural barriers such as the digital divide, significant infrastructural investments, and potential resistance from traditional farming sectors. Data privacy and security issues, interoperability among diverse systems, and high deployment costs present further obstacles. The study evaluates the agricultural sector's readiness to integrate advanced technologies like the metaverse, considering existing infrastructure, the availability of technical expertise, and the community's openness to technological innovations. The insights gained provide valuable guidance for policymakers and stakeholders to strategically plan and facilitate the adoption of metaverse technologies, aiming for a sustainable and efficient future in agriculture.