How Industry 4.0 and 5.0 Are Reshaping Manufacturing and Agriculture

Prof. M Zahidul Haque

Prof. M Zahidul Haque

Recently this author came to know through an electronic invitation that the Green University Bangladesh is going to organize its 7 th International Conference on “Sustainable Technologies for Industry 5.0 (STI 2025)” in December 2025. While Appreciating the Green University’s selection of the subject matter, I would like to find an exclusive mention of Industry 5 for sustainable agriculture which is an important technology issue in the context of Bangladesh.

The present era we live in, is defined by rapid technological advancement, the world stands at the intersection of two industrial revolutions: Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0. While both are built upon the innovations of their predecessors, they each bring unique paradigms that are fundamentally transforming the manufacturing sector and agriculture, among other industries.

From Steam to Smart Systems 

The journey of industrial revolutions began with Industry 1.0, which introduced mechanization through steam power, revolutionizing hand production into machine-driven processes. This was followed by Industry 2.0, characterized by mass production techniques enabled by electricity and assembly lines, along with major advances in transport and communication.

Industry 3.0 marked the age of electronics and automation, as computers and robotics became integral to industrial systems. Each stage not only boosted productivity but also raised concerns related to environmental degradation, labor displacement, and technological disparity.

Industry 4.0: The Era of Smart and Connected Systems

Known as the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Industry 4.0 integrates technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Big Data and Cloud Computing, Blockchain, and Advanced Robotics and Automation.

Industry 4.0 has revolutionized manufacturing by enabling real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and the use of digital twins. Factories have become increasingly smart, with systems that are self-optimizing, interconnected, and capable of making autonomous decisions. These advancements lead to higher productivity, reduced waste, enhanced customization, and better worker safety.

Impact on Agriculture (Smart Agriculture / Agri 4.0)

In agriculture, Industry 4.0 is transforming practices through innovations such as smart irrigation, which can reduce water usage by up to 50 percent, and precision farming, which ensures that fertilizers and pesticides are applied only where needed. Predictive analytics allows for more accurate forecasting of crop yields and pest outbreaks, while blockchain technology ensures traceability and transparency in the food supply chain. It may be mentioned here that Blockchain is a decentralized, digital ledger that records transactions across a network of computers in a secure, transparent, and immutable manner, for instance, a mango traced through blockchain can show where it was grown, harvested, packed, and shipped—all verified by different actors on the chain without centralized control.

Here is some notable real-world examples include John Deer’s autonomous tractors equipped with AI and GPS, PrecisionHawk in the USA which deploys drones for crop analysis, and IBM Watson, which leverages AI for comprehensive farm management decisions.

Industry 5.0: A Human-Centric and Sustainable Revolution

Building on the digital foundation of its predecessor, Industry 5.0 shifts the focus toward human collaboration, ethical technology use, sustainability, and system resilience. This new revolution emphasizes the collaboration between humans and AI rather than replacement. It supports regenerative agriculture and circular economy practices, promotes customized and inclusive solutions especially for smallholders and diverse communities, and places social equity,

ethics, and ecological sustainability at its core. The key elements include: Applications in Sustainable Agriculture In agriculture, this vision translates into robotics assisting elderly or physically challenged farmers, the integration of indigenous farming knowledge with modern AI in a concept called agro-ecology plus technology, the practice of zero-waste farming by recycling organic waste, and community-owned data platforms that give farmers control over their information.

Real-world applications of Industry 5.0 include Spread Co. in Japan, which combines human oversight with robotic vertical farming, Farmbot from Australia that promotes small-scale, open-source smart farming, EOSTA in the Netherlands that uses blockchain for ethical and transparent food supply chains, and AgUnity, a global platform empowering smallholder farmers with mobile nd blockchain technologies.

Future Scope

In the manufacturing sector, the future includes hyper-personalization of products, the development of sustainable supply chains driven by data and renewable energy, and more resilient operations capable of adapting to global challenges like pandemics, power-demand and climate change. For example,

China has recently started its new generation Nuclear Power Plant using Thorium instead of Uranium which is more safe and sound than the traditional nuclear reactor for environment friendly clean power generation.

In agriculture, future trends point to the adoption of climate-smart farming systems supported by satellite data and AI, empowerment of youth and women through inclusive agri-tech initiatives, and the rise of localized, tech-integrated cooperatives aimed at fostering rural resilience.

For developing countries like Bangladesh, the path forward involves substantial investment in digital infrastructure and farmer education, collaboration between public and private sectors to scale up innovation affordably, and policy frameworks that integrate both technological and traditional ecological knowledge.

Conclusion

Industry 4 and 5 may be referred to as ‘Two Revolutions, One Vision’. While Industry 4.0 brought about automation, efficiency, and connectivity, Industry 5.0 reintroduces the human touch, ethics, and sustainability into innovation. Together, they offer a path not only toward smarter factories and farms but toward a more resilient, inclusive, and ecologically responsible world. In Bangladesh, the key lies in combining technological adoption with social and environmental consciousness, ensuring that no farmer, worker, or community is left behind in this journey of industrial rebirth.

(Prof. M Zahidul Haque is a former Professor and Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, currently ‘Adjunct Faculty’ for Agri Jounalism MS Progam at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka)