Review and Research Prospects on Additive Manufacturing Technology for Agricultural Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing (AM), also known as three-dimensional (3D) printing, is a manufacturing technology that constructs objects by sequentially adding material layer by layer. AM encompasses a range of different techniques capable of working with very different materials from metals and alloys to polymers and composites. As an advanced fabrication technology, AM is characterized by strong design flexibility, the ability to create intricate structures, and cost-effectiveness when compared to conventional fabrication methods. AM technology is widely employed in various sectors such as aerospace, healthcare, and industrial manufacturing, and its application is increasingly expanding into agricultural manufacturing. This study provides a comprehensive review and analysis of the current status of AM technology applied in the five main agricultural manufacturing aspects such as the application of AM technology in the manufacturing of agricultural equipment parts, its use in agricultural sensors, its role in the utilization of agricultural waste, its application in the field of plant growth mechanisms and in phytoremediation tissues. The current existing problems of AM technology and future development trends are also included to provide the implications for researchers. The adoption of AM technology in agriculture offers significant advantages, including enhanced production efficiency, cost reduction, innovation facilitation, and environmental protection. From initial prototyping to custom production today, AM technology provides more flexible, efficient and sustainable solutions for agricultural manufacturing. Especially in the fields of agricultural machinery, planting facilities and agricultural biomaterials, the application of AM technology has shown great potential and advantages. With the continuous advancement in technology and the reduction of costs, AM technology will become more popular and play a more vital role in agricultural manufacturing. In the future, we can foresee that AM will realize the manufacturing of agricultural products with higher precision, a more complex structure and more functions, providing more intelligent and personalized solutions for agricultural production. As such, it is emerging as a critical driving force in the advancement of precision agriculture.