# A Survey of Blockchain Applications for Management in Agriculture and Livestock Internet of Things
## 2 Preliminaries
### IoT Technology and Smart Agriculture and Animal Husbandry  
The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to an interconnected ecosystem of everyday objects that gather and exchange data over a network. These devices--ranging from household appliances to industrial machinery--are equipped with embedded sensors, actuators, and dedicated communication hardware, enabling them to sense, interact, and transmit information. Today, the IoT is being deployed across nearly every industry and scenario, including smart homes [11], smart buildings [12], the Industrial Internet of Things [13], smart cities [14], intelligent transportation [15], and smart agriculture [16]. The emergence of IoT technology has brought unprecedented opportunities to various industries, especially in the field of agriculture [17; 18]. The following is an overview of some basic components of IoT and how they work:  
Below is a summary of the fundamental components of the IoT and an explanation of their functionality:  
Key Components of IoT:  
1. IoT devices: These are physical objects capable of connecting to and communicating over the internet. They range from everyday household appliances, like refrigerators and washing machines, to more sophisticated industrial tools, such as robots and drones [19]. 2. Sensors: Integral to the IoT, sensors are tasked with collecting diverse types of data, encompassing aspects like temperature, humidity, location, and motion. The data they gather lay the groundwork for the IoT system's environmental responsiveness [20]. 3. Network connectivity: Network connectivity, encompassing both wireless (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 5G) and wired (Ethernet) connections, is vital for transferring data from devices to processing centers or other interconnected devices. These connections ensure the swift and secure transmission of data [21]. 4. Data processing: Post-collection, the data undergo processing and analysis, which may occur on local smart devices, edge computing devices, or in cloud-based systems. This stage involves data cleansing, categorization, analysis, and decision-making processes [22; 23; 24]. These components collectively enable the IoT to amalgamate data collection, real-time analysis, and automated response, facilitating intelligent and autonomous device operation. This integration boosts efficiency, reduces waste, and strengthens system security. Smart agriculture leverages IoT, big data, AI, and various modern information technologies to achieve intelligent management and precision operations, aiming to enhance efficiency and improve the quality of agricultural outputs within the framework of modern agricultural practices [25; 26]. The application of IoT technologies in agriculture has become increasingly widespread, with numerous successful examples serving as valuable references. For instance, in precision agriculture, IoT-based sensor networks are employed to monitor and collect real-time data on various environmental parameters, such as soil moisture, air temperature, humidity, geographic location, and crop growth status [27; 28]. These data are then transmitted to cloud platforms or local servers for analysis and processing, providing actionable insights for informed decision-making. By utilizing these accurate, real-time data streams, farmers and agricultural managers can dynamically adjust irrigation and fertilization strategies,monitor and prevent pest infestations, and even remotely control irrigation systems or greenhouse ventilation devices via automated systems [29; 30]. Beyond precision agriculture, IoT technologies are extensively applied in diverse sectors such as aquaculture, forestry, and vertical farming. In aquaculture, sensors monitor water quality parameters like pH, dissolved oxygen, and temperature to ensure optimal conditions for fish growth [31]. Forestry applications include IoT devices that track forest health, detect early signs of wildfires, and manage timber resources efficiently [32].