The agriculture sector is at the epicenter of climate change–both as a contributor and as a vulnerable industry facing its impacts.
Agriculture contributes to 10 to 15 percent of global greenhouse emissions, according to a recent analysis published in Atmospheric Pollution Research. Plus, unpredictable weather patterns, prolonged droughts, and soil degradation further threaten our global food production.
Simultaneously, the world’s population is expected to reach 8.5 billion by 2030, which only further strains our ability to produce sufficient and healthy food. Those consumers are also increasingly aware of the environmental footprint of their choices and are prioritizing transparency, reduced waste, and eco-friendly practices.
We also know that harnessing controlled environment agriculture (CEA) production methods, we can lessen the impact of the challenges that we face because of our availability to provide precise control over climate, light, water, and nutrients.
This year, our team at Jiffy predicts that we’ll be seeing more innovative solutions that blend technology and ecological principles to meet these challenges head-on so we can work toward a more resilient agricultural system.
To that end, here are 6 key trends we find are shaping agriculture in 2025:
1. The Expansion of Soilless Systems
Because soilless systems use up to 90% less water than traditional, soil-based methods, we expect them to become more sophisticated with advances in system design and nutrient delivery technology.
Recent innovations in oxygenation and nutrient recirculation driven by automation and precision agriculture (which we will touch on more below) are helping to boost yields and help growers produce crops at scale more profitably.
Demand will also continue to increase for versatile, high-performance substrates that support a wider range of crops.
2. Advanced Water-Saving Technologies
Water scarcity is driving significant research and development (R&D) in agriculture. Beyond traditional closed-loop water systems, companies are incorporating AI-driven moisture monitoring, predictive analytics, and fogponics (a variation of aeroponics) to cut water usage even further.
Growers are also increasingly looking to substrates that can retain moisture while also allowing for optimal drainage and aeration to protect plant health.
By 2030, experts predict global freshwater demand will outpace supply by 40%. With agriculture accounting for roughly 70% of freshwater withdrawals, these technologies are increasingly essential to help us protect our resources.
3. Peat-Free and Biodegradable Growing Media
While environmental costs of peat-based media have been known for years, regulatory pressures are accelerating the shift. Several European countries are phasing out peat entirely, and North American markets are following suit.
Environmental challenges of peat harvesting have been known for years. At Jiffy, we’re proud hold
Veriflora® Sustainably Grown and Responsibly Produced Peat certifications to ensure we are making this growing media more sustainable.
More and more growers are also turning to coconut coir, hemp fiber, and wood-based growing media and by doing so–they are reducing waste streams and supporting circular economy principles.
Those who adopt these materials could gain a competitive edge as regulatory pressure intensifies.
4. Automation and Precision Ag Technologies
The integration of robotics, AI, and machine learning has gone from a “future trend” to a practice being adopted more widely within the world of agriculture.
The global agriculture robotics products market is projected to reach $86.5 billion USD by 2033, according to a report cited by GlobalAg Tech Initiative. AgFunder News reports that 70 percent of specialty crop growers are already investing in farm robotics.
Robotics machines have the ability to conduct seeding, transplanting, harvesting, pest control, and scouting.
Additionally, AI-driven predictive models are enabling more precise yield forecasts, while self-learning climate systems continuously adapt to maximize growth conditions.
BBC reports that “87% of businesses in the US agricultural industry” are using AI in some shape or form.
As such, we predict that growers will need substrates that support uniform root growth and reduce the need for manual intervention so they can align with these new and automated systems.
5. Biodiversity in Controlled Crop Systems
Diversifying crop portfolios is becoming a competitive differentiator in the CEA space. While leafy greens still dominate, vertical farms are moving into higher-margin categories like berries, mushrooms, and specialty herbs.
Improved modular systems that allow for mixed-crop production within the same facility are contributing to this shift.
Look for multi-crop CEA farms to become more common as operators aim to hedge against price volatility in any one category.
6. Growth and Consolidation of Urban and Vertical Farming
Urban and vertical farming have undergone remarkable growth, with the global vertical farming market projected to grow at a 19.7% CAGR to $13.7 billion USD by 2029.
These farms have transformed how food is grown and distributed by reducing "food miles" and enhancing local food security–and new partnerships with grocery retailers and e-commerce platforms are also expanding the accessibility of fresh and locally sourced produce.
However, the sector faces significant challenges–including difficult access to capital to fund the lighting, climate-control systems, automation, and labor and energy costs required to operate.
Several high-profile CEA farms have filed for bankruptcy in recent years–while “smaller vertical farms that are the right size for their markets have also shown the ability to be profitable,” reports UrbanAg News.
“I would expect some consolidation of smaller and mid-size producers [in 2025], Tracy Nazzaro of Traders Hill Farm said to Produce Grower in a September 2024 article.
At Jiffy, we are deeply committed to helping our customers stay ahead of and and every one of these trends by supporting them with exciting new solutions in 2025. We’re looking forward to sharing these with you soon!
Let’s work together
Jiffy is a leading global supplier of premium growing media and solution thinking. We aim to serve you, our customers in plant propagation and cultivation, to achieve better results with fewer worries. We do this by continually improving, innovating, and working toward our common goals, based on scientific research, teamwork, and decades of experience. Let’s develop sustainable plant growing solutions together: Let’s start today!