IoT and Embedded System-Based Framework for Sustainable Smart Agriculture: A Review and Proposed Methodology

Abstract

The accelerated use of the Internet of Things (IoT) and embedded systems has influenced modern agriculture by introducing the ability to monitor, automate, and make decisions based on data, in real-time. Nevertheless, the current IoT-based smart agriculture devices are usually associated with low scalability, excessive energy use, lack of interoperability, and the absence of focus on sustainability measures. This paper presents a systematic review of IoT and embedded system applications in smart agriculture published between 2021 and 2025, and then proposes a single and sustainability-conscious architectural design. The literature review is a critical analysis of the most recent developments in sensing technologies, communication protocols, cloud-based analytics, and intelligent automation, and outlines the main challenges and gaps in the research. The proposed layered IoT architecture consists of sensor networks, edge processing, low-power communication technologies, cloud analytics, and automated actuation, based on the identified gaps. The sustainability indicators which the framework specifically includes are water-use efficiency, energy consumption, and environmental impact as a way of supporting agriculture that does not use a lot of resources. The proposed framework is evaluated in terms of comparative analysis and conceptual visualisations in comparison with traditional and existing IoT-based systems. The findings reveal that the suggested architecture has high scalability, energy use, and sustainability performance. The research has beneficial implications for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers who would wish to develop the next generation of smart agriculture systems in line with the sustainable development objectives.