FROM PLANT TO PLATE: HOW SMART GARDENING TECHNOLOGY IS CHANGING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD

Zakhro  Sodikova

ISSN:

2181-3906

2025

International scientific journal

«MODERN

SCIENCE

АND RESEARCH»

VOLUME 4 / ISSUE 8 / UIF:8.2 / MODERNSCIENCE.UZ

246

FROM PLANT TO PLATE: HOW SMART GARDENING TECHNOLOGY IS

CHANGING OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH FOOD

Zakhro Sodikova

Founder and CEO of Heirloom Garden, MBA in Management Information Systems.

zsodikova@heirloomgarden.org

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.16885923

Annotation.

This article explores the intersection between technology and agriculture

emphasizing how advancements in robotics, automation, IoT, and artificial intelligence are
changing how food is produced and consumed. It investigates how ag-tech companies, like
Heirloom Garden, might advance precision farming and sustainable practices. The desire for
organic products, especially from younger generations, is discussed in relation to sustainability
and health-conscious living. A comprehensive approach to welfare and environmental
stewardship is reinforced by post-pandemic tendencies toward immunity, nutrition, and traceable
food sources, which highlight the potential of technology-enabled solutions to make fresh,
organic produce accessible in urban environments.

Keywords

: Agricultural technology (AgTech), Artificial Intelligence (AI) in agriculture,

Precision agriculture, Smart gardening systems, Sustainable farming, Organic food production,
USDA National Organic Program (NOP), Big data in agriculture, Health-conscious living, Post-
COVID food trends.

Tech trends in food & wellness

Agricultural technology is one of the prominent environmental sectors that seems to be

captivating a lot of attention lately. Development of tools such as high-tech, Artificial
Intelligence (AI), robotics and implementation of sensors are promising to improve the food
system. Consuming organic and healthy food is intertwined with the social movements that
promote the notion of sustainability and a positive change in agriculture. This movement is
especially noticed in many Silicon Valley ag-tech startups (Fairbairn, 2022).

The most groundbreaking trend in 2025 is the rise of AI in Agriculture. Decisions derived

by data are not only ubiquitous among farmers now, but also numerous startups are catching the
momentum to promote the sustainability. One of such startups in Silicon Valley is Heirloom
Graden, founded by Zakhro Sodikova. What Heirloom promises is a smart kitchen garden that
brings herbs, light, water and memories into one beautifully designed station that allows to grow
fresh ingredients in your kitchen. The role of AI in such startups is to generate smart algorithms
that analyze big data that bring out insightful findings. Farmers and gardeners are no longer
required to evenly apply insecticides, fertilizers, and water to entire fields. Alternatively, they
can treat each plant differently, target highly specific locations, and use the bare minimum of
quantities needed with the help of IoT devices that allow automation. Additionally, gauges such
as evapotranspiration, soil moisture, and rainfall sensors are integrated into IoT-driven irrigation
systems to enable autonomous crop watering. Creative startups are developing sensor systems
that combine computer imaging, robots, drones, and IoT technology. This provides timely
signals for regions that require attention and improves farming precision, agility, and response.

ISSN:

2181-3906

2025

International scientific journal

«MODERN

SCIENCE

АND RESEARCH»

VOLUME 4 / ISSUE 8 / UIF:8.2 / MODERNSCIENCE.UZ

247

Sustainability is an important factor in precision agriculture. In agriculture, sustainability

refers to environmentally beneficial methods that reduce or completely eradicate environmental
damage. Precision agriculture, which involves managing crops and livestock according to
precise sites, is one excellent example. By enabling farmers to apply precisely the right amounts
of fertilizer, herbicides, and water, this method maximizes productivity and produce quality.

Because fields differ in terms of slope, solar exposure, and soil characteristics, uniform

treatment is wasteful and ineffective. Many AgriTech businesses are creating precision
agriculture solutions to increase profitability while optimizing input applications in order to meet
this challenge.

Important data for future farming seasons include metrics related to crop area,

production, land use, irrigation, agricultural price, weather forecasts, and crop health. To extract
relevant information for farm operations, big data and analytical tools examine data on
meteorological events, agricultural machinery, water cycles, crop quality, and quantity.

Growers are empowered to find hidden patterns and correlations using this data-driven

strategy. Farm analytics tools are increasingly available from businesses, enabling farmers to
better utilize field data. For example, farm analytics facilitates data-driven decision-making by
offering insights about soil nutrient levels, acidity, alkalinity, and fertilizer requirements.

Growing Consumer Demand for Food Quality Control

Over the past two decades demand for organic sources of food/farming/ and food

consumption has been growing exponentially. It resulted many parts of the US to grow organic
food. USDA's publication of the final rule to implement the Organic Foods Production Act of
1990 (OFPA) in 2000 marked the beginning of federal regulation of the organic food and
agriculture sector in the United States. In order to ensure that all organic agricultural products
sold, labeled, or represented as organic comply with the standards, USDA created the National
Organic Program (NOP) in accordance with the final rule, which went into full force in 2002.

According to the Organic Trade Association, organic fruits and vegetables account for

around 36% of all organic retail sales and are the largest organic food category in terms of retail
sales, with sales expected to reach $22 billion in 2022. The area dedicated to organic specialty
crops - the category for fruits, vegetables, and tree nuts - has steadily grown by producers.

Thus, sustainability is now not just the buzzword, but it is a choice of life for many

people. Especially the Gen Z and Gen Alpha a driven by the concept of making our planet a
better place to live in. They continually search for products that reduce negative impacts on the
environment because they are highly aware of how their eating choices affect the world around
them. Organic agricultural methods are thought to be a more sustainable option because they
usually do not use artificial fertilizers and pesticides. These methods improve soil health, cut
down on pollution, save water, and lessen the chance that those who grow our food may be
exposed to pesticides. Young consumers are supporting a food system that puts the long-term
health of the earth and people first by selecting organic.

Another factor bridging the world of agriculture with technology is health. It is a broad

issue that connects the principles of consumption and sustainability. Young consumers are
becoming more conscious of how their food choices affect their health.

ISSN:

2181-3906

2025

International scientific journal

«MODERN

SCIENCE

АND RESEARCH»

VOLUME 4 / ISSUE 8 / UIF:8.2 / MODERNSCIENCE.UZ

248

Organic meals are thought to be healthier options because they don't contain artificial

additives, preservatives, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Studies indicating that
organic vegetables may have lower levels of pesticide residues and higher quantities of specific
nutrients support this view.

As a result of this change, organic products are becoming increasingly popular. Farmers'

markets are more visited than ever, supermarkets are growing their organic sections, and startups
are sprouting to satisfy consumer demand. The organic food industry has expanded at rates
previously unheard, reflecting the preferences of younger generation.

Innovating for Health-Conscious Living in a Post-COVID Era

Global awareness of immunity, nutrition, and sustainable living has increased since the

COVID-19 pandemic. Customers are looking for food sources that are not only nutrient-dense
and fresh, but also traceable and produced in reliable practices. Innovations that combine
sustainability, everyday ease, and wellbeing have become possible as a result of this change. One
such innovation focuses on using technology to make it easier and more personalized for people
to grow their own produce, regardless of space limitations. This strategy ensures that food
reaches the plate at its most nutritious moment by combining directed care, adaptive growth
conditions, and intelligent monitoring. In addition to improving physical health, it helps families
and individuals rediscover where their food comes from, promoting mindful eating and
communal customs around fresh produce. A Silicon Valley startup Heirloom Graden focuses on
using technology to make it easier and more personalized for people to grow their own herbs,
regardless of space limitations. This strategy ensures that food reaches the plate at its most
nutritious moment by combining directed care, adaptive growth conditions, and intelligent
monitoring. In addition to improving physical health, it promotes mindful eating and communal
customs around fresh produce. These kinds of solutions redefine "fresh" and make it accessible
to urban households, busy professionals, and anydiv looking to have a closer relationship with
their diet in an era where prevention is just as important as cure.