Many of the pesticides and fertilizers that enter the field, are transferred to other areas through evaporation, surface leaching or seeping in the ground and get transferred with underground water. The use of VRT greatly reduces the amount of chemicals that are applied in the field. This leads to lower cost for the farmer, since less quantities are required, and also has a reduced effect to the environment.
In addition to pesticides and fertilizers, water is becoming a very valuable commodity, as good quality water is becoming less and less available around the world. Saving on water with the use of variable-rate treatments, is already important and will become even more significant in the years to come.