Farm app connects gamers and growers

Popular online farming games allow users to run virtual farms, harvest their own crops and steal produce from other players, all with a tap on a smartphone. With internet of things technologies, this virtual experience is becoming a reality.

Saiot Group, a Hong Kong-based company focusing on the sharing economy, has launched its Yiwu Farm project. Users can rent land, remotely manage their crops through the mobile app and have their produce delivered to their door after the harvest. They can even 'steal' from neighboring farms, to add to the fun.

The model is achieved through internet of things technologies, which are applied to connect users' phones to employees and farming facilities, including temperature control and water tubes.