Blockchain and AI for Securing IoT in Agricultural Smart Farming Systems

Abstract

Agriculture is shifting toward smart farming systems that use IoT devices for soil monitoring, irrigation, crop management, and livestock tracking. These systems improve yields and reduce waste, but their digital nature exposes them to cyber threats. Weak IoT security in farming can disrupt food production, alter sensor data, and compromise supply chains. This paper studies the convergence of blockchain and artificial intelligence (AI) as a security foundation for smart farming. Blockchain ensures device identity, transaction transparency, and supply chain integrity. AI enables anomaly detection, predictive analytics, and adaptive defense. Methodology includes case studies, blockchain pilot testing, AI anomaly detection trials, and simulation of integrated frameworks. The analysis shows that blockchain and AI enhance resilience in agricultural IoT but face challenges in cost, scale, and adoption. By 2035, blockchain-AI cybersecurity frameworks are expected to underpin global food security.