How industries are leveraging industrial intelligence to achieve more with less

Farmers have been efficiency experts for centuries, constantly innovating to improve yields with limited resources. In 1701, Jethro Tull became one of the early pioneers of a scientific approach to agricultural practices. By mechanizing planting with the innovation of the horse-drawn seed drill, he enabled farmers to do more with less by increasing crop yields while reducing waste.

Today, we stand at the cusp of another revolution — that of the explosive growth of industrial intelligence. This revolution demands that we apply the principle of "doing more with less" across all industries to combat climate change.

In recent years, the climate agenda has converged with the need to protect our planet’s biodiversity, recognizing these are deeply interconnected goals. This convergence was crystallized at Climate Week NYC 2023 with the historic launch of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures reporting standard. This measure underscores the need to double down on integrated solutions that maximize impact for the protection of our climate and biodiversity and minimize resource use. After all, the best resources are the ones we don’t use.

International agreements such as the Paris Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity also emphasize the need for integrated approaches. These frameworks encourage the development of country policies that simultaneously address climate change and biodiversity loss, demonstrating the global adoption of the principle of doing more with less.

Just as Tull’s seed drill marked a leap forward in agricultural efficiency, today’s industrial intelligence is revolutionizing how we approach resource management and, equally, climate action across all industrial sectors.

Leading enterprises delivering life’s essentials — food, water, energy, medicines and transportation — are leveraging technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to do more with less, maximizing productivity while minimizing environmental impact. These companies recognize that a data-centric digital transformation is the nexus of the new industrial revolution, one where efficiency, sustainability and profitability coexist, allowing us to achieve more with fewer resources.

AVEVA's Industrial Intelligence Index (III) Report 2024 reveals the urgency of this transformation. Among global manufacturing C-level executives:

These figures paint a powerful picture. A staggering 97% of manufacturing executives agree that industrial AI solutions are now required to remain competitive, with 74% prioritizing investments in industrial intelligence solutions in the next 12 months.

In the business of agritech, data and AI optimize every aspect of their operations to produce more with less. AI, analytics, digital twins and next-gen tech are the modern drivers of efficiency, resource preservation and yield gains with precision and scale.

Here are just a few examples of how industrial intelligence is already being applied to improve efficiency and reduce climate impact — all while safeguarding the world's resources.

In New Zealand, WaterForce has developed an IoT-powered water management system that allows farmers to remotely control irrigation. The result is an up to 50% reduction in energy costs and more efficient water use — a crucial achievement in a world facing a projected 40% gap between water supply and demand by 2030.

Cargill, a global leader in food and agriculture, has implemented a data-driven programme to optimize energy performance. This initiative aligns with their goals of reducing supply chain emissions by 30% by 2030 and achieving sustainable water management in priority watersheds.

In South Africa, Woodlands Dairy has taken a data-centric approach to dairy production. By implementing integrated software solutions, Woodlands has achieved ISO22000 compliance, reduced costs and improved quality control. This comprehensive approach allows them to produce more high-quality dairy products while using less energy, water and generating less waste.

Danone, a global food industry leader, ties these threads together. Using AVEVA’s Manufacturing Execution System, they've built DANMES, a solution that digitizes processes and enhances traceability across their infant nutrition manufacturing chain. This system reduces waste, improves efficiency and ensures higher product quality and safety. It also contributes significantly to the company’s sustainability goals, demonstrating how industrial intelligence can drive sustainable farming and food production at a global scale.

Using the CONNECT industrial intelligence ecosystem, an Australian agritech provider has developed a cloud-based system that enables real-time monitoring of livestock welfare through IoT-enabled devices. Farmers can now optimize care and resources for each animal. The outcome is higher yields and healthier livestock with less water, feed and energy consumption.

Beyond agriculture and food and beverage production, the principle of “doing more with less” extends to all industries. From energy grid optimization to sustainable shipbuilding, companies must leverage new technologies across diverse industries to drive efficiency and yield gains and reduce environmental impact. As we forge ahead in this new industrial revolution, we’re cultivating the same spirit of innovation that drove Jethro Tull to modernize agriculture centuries ago. Today’s industrial leaders are the modern-day cultivators of efficiency, sustainability and profitability.

The future promises even more revolutionary technologies and applications — advanced AI, edge computing and quantum mathematical capabilities — that will further enhance how we process and use industrial data, accelerating digital transformation. This focus on innovation and connection through digitalization will enable energy and resource savings, creating massive value and opportunity for the economy and the people who can achieve it.

The urgency of our climate and biodiversity crises demands immediate and decisive action to do more with less. It’s time to act. By harnessing the power of industrial intelligence, we can rise to the challenge of our time – protecting our planet, ensuring humanity’s wellbeing and opening new avenues to sustainable growth for generations to come.