Specialty crops” refer to “fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). It also takes into consideration exotic crops that are specifically cultivated across a region due to climatic and topographical features. With the expanding population growth, coupled with rise in per capita disposable income, a paradigm shift in consumer eating patterns have been observed, which has direct impact on the demand for healthy and tasty food. Further, rapid urbanization along with ethnic composition, health concerns, changes in demographic features are some of the other factors promoting the demand for specialty crops. The widening application scope of specialty crops, supportive government measures and free trade policies are the key factors driving the specialty crops market growth. However, the environmental and trade barriers restrict the profitable growth of the specialty crops market.
Precision agriculture (PA) is defined as the science of enhancing crop productivity by incorporating the use of high technology sensor and analysis tools. It is considered a novel concept, which focuses over boosting the overall production with minimal labor time and proper management of fertilizers and irrigation facilities. It is an advanced method wherein the farmers optimize the use of inputs such as water, fertilizer and others to enhance productivity, quality, and yield. The use of precision agriculture in cultivation of specialty crops is one of the significant criteria, which helps to dissipate accurate information related to the spatial variability on fields to cultivators.
RISING ADOPTION OF PRECISION AGRICULTURE IN SPECIALTY CROPS TO BOOST ITS DEMAND IN THE GLOBAL MARKET
The advancement in technology have led to the adoption of advanced technologies and sensing systems for specialty crop production across the globe. The use of precision farming techniques offers considerable financial benefits to cultivators of handpicked specialty crops. Further, row repeatability is quite essential for specialty crops like potatoes and beets. The use of precision farming tools and techniques helps to attain row accuracy leading to better yields and stronger crops. According to National Robotics Engineering Center, the implementation of Specialty Crop Automation project successfully integrated precision agriculture and use of advanced equipment to growers. Hence, the use of precision farming methods in specialty crops is perceived to be one of the remarkable trends, significantly contributing to the growth of the market.
The major players operating in the global specialty crop market include DIAMOND FRUIT CO.; Harbor Spice Co., Inc.; Olam International; Oregon Spice Company; The Specialty Crop Company; BanaBay Limited; Rice Fruit Company; Fisher Nut Company; Simped Foods Pty Ltd.; SVZ Industrial Fruit & Vegetable Ingredients. The major players in the specialty crops market are focused on strategies such as mergers and acquisitions and research and development to increase the geographical presence and consumer base globally. For Instance, in 2020, the new operating group Olam Food Ingredients, created after the reorganization within OIL (Olam International Limited), extended its Spices portfolio (Olam Spices). The expansion was completed to meet the increasing demand for authentic flavors by acquiring one of the world’s leading suppliers of premium green chilies, jalapeños, and enchilada sauces.
