Artificial Intelligence, Remote Sensing and Digital Twins in Precision Agriculture: Emerging Tools for Climate-Resilient Crop Production
Shivaji Kallappa Duradundi *
Vegetable Science, Principal Breeder at Global Seeds India Pvt Ltd, UHS Bagalkot, India.
Kagita Navya
Seed Science and Technology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute New Delhi, India.
Shivabasappa Kandkur
Department of Agricultural Engineering, College of Agriculture, Karekere, Hassan, India.
Kerobim Lakra
Department of Agricultural Economics, Ranchi Agriculture College, Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi 834006, India.
Lalit Kumar Sanodiya
Department of Agronomy, Prof. Rajendra Singh (Rajju Bhaiya) University Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Moinuddin
Department of Agronomy, Shri Guru Ram Rai University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Global agriculture faces unprecedented and compounding pressures arising from accelerating climate change, a growing human population, and the progressive degradation of the natural resource base upon which food production depends. Precision agriculture has emerged as a paradigm that leverages advanced technologies to improve the efficiency, sustainability, and resilience of crop production systems. This review examines the convergence of three transformative technological domains — artificial intelligence (AI), remote sensing, and digital twins — and their collective application in climate-resilient crop production. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature published predominantly between 2005 and 2026, the review evaluates how machine learning and deep learning algorithms facilitate crop monitoring, yield prediction, and disease detection; how satellite and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-based remote sensing provides spatially explicit, high-resolution data on crop biophysical variables; and how digital twin frameworks integrate real-time sensor data, simulation models, and AI analytics to create dynamic virtual replicas of agricultural systems. The review further analyses synergistic applications of these tools in addressing key climate-resilience challenges, including drought stress management, pest and disease surveillance, and yield optimisation under variable climatic conditions. Despite significant progress, substantial challenges remain, encompassing data interoperability, computational demands, and socio-economic barriers to technology adoption — particularly in low-income agricultural economies. The review concludes that the integrated deployment of AI, remote sensing, and digital twins holds transformative potential for climate-smart agriculture, but realising this potential requires concerted investment in rural digital infrastructure, open-data frameworks, and inclusive capacity-building initiatives.
Keywords: Precision agriculture, artificial intelligence, remote sensing, climate resilience, food security