The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionised the way we interact with the world by allowing us to connect devices in our daily lives. We can control devices remotely, collect real-time data and automate tasks in a variety of environments. 

The agricultural sector is currently facing several challenges that threaten the sustainability and profitability of food production, which is why IoT technology, with its ability to collect, analyse and transmit data in real time, has become a key tool in addressing these challenges. The use of IoT devices in SMEs is on the rise as shown by data from ONTSI's most recent SME Digitisation Report 2021, which indicates that, by 2020, 22.8% of companies with 10 or more employees and 11.3% with fewer than 10 had IoT devices in place. 

IoT in agriculture has the advantage of reducing energy consumption in agricultural processes such as water pumping, food processing, storage, machinery, fertilisers, transport, and distribution. 

The use of IoT technology in agriculture offers significant benefits, such as real-time monitoring of crop and environmental conditions, optimising resource use, improving product quality, increasing productivity, reducing costs, increasing safety for farmers, and improving sustainability by reducing resource waste and environmental impact. In addition, this technology can be applied to monitor weather, soil conditions such as humidity, air quality, crop health and even track the supply chain. 

To implement a complete IoT solution, it is important to consider components such as sensors, actuators, connectivity, IoT cloud, data analytics and interfaced devices, and there are several tools and applications on the market that can help the farmer in crop monitoring and management. An example of these tools and applications are Agroptima, a farm management tool that allows crop planning and monitoring, or Cropx, a precision farming solution that uses IoT sensors to measure soil moisture.

In short, IoT has had a significant impact on the agricultural sector for SMEs and the self-employed in Spain. It has provided tools and technological solutions that allow farmers to optimise their processes, reduce costs, improve efficiency, and ensure food safety and quality. Through real-time monitoring of crops, environmental conditions and soil quality, farmers can make informed decisions and improve their business results. Although there are challenges, such as the need for a good internet connection and a stable power supply, with the right training and the use of secure tools, IoT offers great potential for agriculture.