If 2024 was about laying the groundwork for digital transformation, 2025 is about scaling those innovations in ways that redefine industries—but there’s a catch. We’re standing at the crossroads of major technological and environmental shifts. In the second installment of our Biggest Trends Across Industries series, we explore how smart cities, Web3, and regenerative agriculture are reshaping the future.
Related: Predicting the Biggest Trends Across Industries in 2025: Part One
Smart Cities
Despite the consumer push for low-tech options, cities and populations continue to become more urbanized, and the demand for smarter, more sustainable infrastructure is at an all-time high. Governments and private sector leaders around the world are looking for ways to incorporate AI-powered public services and real-time citizen engagement technology to create future-proof urban environments. For example, AI-powered smart grids can optimize energy use by predicting consumption patterns and adjusting supply accordingly to reduce carbon footprints, while smart water conservation technologies reduce resource waste.
Urban cooling solutions like green rooftops, reflective pavement, and smart irrigation systems are also becoming more common. From telehealth kiosks in public spaces to AI-driven traffic monitoring, smart cities are changing the way we interact with the world around us.
Here are some examples of how cities are adopting these new technologies:
- New York City: New York’s LinkNYC project is replacing outdated payphones with free high-speed internet and digital navigation displays.
- Singapore: Virtual Singapore is a comprehensive 3D digital model of the city-state that integrates real-time data so urban planners can simulate and analyze various scenarios, from crowd movement during events to the impact of new infrastructure.
- Santander: This city in Spain established a comprehensive network with approximately 20,000 sensors connecting buildings, infrastructure, transport, networks, and utilities. These sensors monitor pollution levels, noise, traffic, parking, and more to manage city services more efficiently.
We expect to see cities increasingly integrate AI-powered systems for resource management and public safety over the next few years. In addition to this, autonomous public transport will use AI to optimize routes and reduce congestion as 5G infrastructure and IoT networks expand.
Related: Immersive Innovation: How AR and VR are Revolutionizing the Consumer Goods Sector (Part One)
Web3 and the Industrial Metaverse
The evolution of Web3 and the industrial metaverse is transitioning from speculative hype to tangible applications across industries. At its core, Web3 is fundamentally altering data ownership, security, and financial transactions. Unlike traditional Web2 models where centralized platforms control user data, Web3 operates on decentralized blockchain-based networks. This gives individuals and businesses the power to own and control their digital assets through smart contracts and a more transparent digital ecosystem.
The industrial metaverse is also picking up steam as manufacturers and logistics firms invest in virtual training simulations, AI-powered production lines, and digital twins or virtual models of real-world systems used to optimize performance. As businesses strive to streamline supply chains, companies like Siemens and NVIDIA are integrating AI-powered predictive analytics into their industrial metaverse initiatives to reduce downtime and improve efficiency.
Here are some examples of how Web3 is reshaping different industries:
- BitGo: By providing institutional-grade custody, liquidity, and security solutions for digital assets, BitGo facilitates secure transactions and storage for cryptocurrencies to support the adoption of digital assets in the financial sector.
- Chainlink Labs: This company uses blockchain-based decentralized oracle networks to connect smart contracts with real-world data, promising secure and reliable interactions between blockchain platforms and external data sources.
Related: Revolutionizing Retail: How AI Powers Consumer Goods Companies
The Regenerative Agriculture Movement
Consumers are rethinking sustainability and pushing the conversation with corporations into a new direction. The regenerative agriculture movement urges action that does more than simply maintain current environmental conditions. This action needs to actively restore ecosystems, improve soil health, promote biodiversity, and increase carbon sequestration. As consumers demand more visibility into how the products they purchase are sourced and their environmental impact, some brands are responding by integrating block-chain tracked sourcing to verify sustainability claims. For example, companies like Walmart and Unilever are using this technology to provide real-time transparency into farming practices.
Other examples include:
- PepsiCo: With a commitment to implement regenerative farming practices across seven million acres by 2030, PepsiCo is actively working with farmers to reduce its agricultural footprint.
- General Mills: Similarly, General Mills aims to advance regenerative agriculture across one million acres of farmland by 2030 by providing farmers with education, technical support, and tools.
- HeavyFinance: This climate technology company facilitates investments in regenerative agriculture by providing financial support to farmers adopting practices like no-till farming and cover cropping.
Research shows that 72% of values-based shoppers prioritize regenerative certifications, while 56% are willing to pay more for verified regenerative products. By taking measures to improve soil health, we can strengthen crop resilience and reduce the reliance on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, decreasing input costs for farmers, promoting healthier livestock, and leading to higher long-term profitability. In other words, regenerative farming is a win for everyone.
Related: The Defensive Consumer Mindset: Prioritizing Health and Sustainability
Combining Trends for a More Resilient Future
These trends are already unfolding in cities, industries, and supply chains around the world—and it’s important to note that they’re not isolated developments. Each of these shifts are interconnected forces that are shaping a new economic landscape. Organizations that can connect these dots and weave seemingly unrelated trends together to develop unique solutions will have the upper hand. At Innovationedge, we’ll be watching, analyzing, and guiding businesses through these changes. Stay tuned as we continue to explore the trends that are reshaping industries this year.