DIGITAL TWINS AS A TOOL TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE AGRO-INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

The article explores the role of digital twins in agriculture as a tool to improve the efficiency and sustainability of agribusiness. In the context of population growth, climate change and natural resource scarcity, digital twins offer innovative solutions to optimize processes, reduce costs and minimize risks. The main application areas of digital twins are reviewed, including precision farming, resource management, animal health monitoring and optimization of post-harvest processes. Based on practical examples of digital twins implementation in large agricultural holdings and startups, it is shown that this technology helps to increase yields, reduce water and fertilizer consumption, and improve the management of agricultural processes. Major implementation challenges such as high cost, lack of skilled labor and data security issues are identified. The results of the study demonstrate that digital twins have significant potential to create automated agricultural systems capable of ensuring food security in the face of increasing food demand and limited natural resources.