Here’s how artificial intelligence will improve agriculture

Intelligent agriculture, from data to the plate. The analysis of Slava Rein, Sustainability Specialist of J. Safra Sarasin

Artificial intelligence is best known for language processing. But it also has the potential to improve productivity in a number of sectors, including agriculture. Thanks to sophisticated algorithms and machine learning, AI is providing solutions to some of modern agriculture's most pressing problems, transforming traditional practices into highly efficient, data-driven operations.

Despite its merit in feeding an ever-increasing world population, modern agriculture faces significant challenges due to the intensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and the reliance on manual labor, such as weeding. The extensive and non-specific use of fertilizers and pesticides not only harms the environment, but also increases the costs of agriculture. In the EU, for example, the goal is to reduce pesticide use by 50% by 2030. Further complicating farmers' ability to sustain their operations is shortages and rising labor costs, a component fundamental to traditional agriculture. Studies show that over the last decade the agricultural sector has lost 2.5 million workers across the EU. This combination of problems requires innovative solutions capable of optimizing the use of resources and minimizing environmental impact.

Innovative companies have invested in artificial intelligence and precision farming techniques. These companies have integrated machine learning, advanced sensors and data analytics into their agricultural equipment and management systems, significantly improving productivity. The introduction of the Global Positioning System (GPS) at the turn of the century led to significant technological advances in precision agriculture, allowing, for example, the use of autonomous machines working in the field without the need for a driver. Technologies can spread quickly. Depending on the region, more than half and up to 90% of the cultivated area is cultivated with self-guided systems.

Combined with advanced sensors and machine learning algorithms, AI enables the precise and timely application of fertilizers and pesticides. Crops receive the exact amount of nutrients and protection they need, minimizing waste and environmental impact. AI also has the potential to improve foods, which are a critical factor in human health. An interesting example is that of a large raw materials producer cooperating with a food technology company to develop new “microbiomic” ingredients intended to improve consumers' immune systems.

Artificial intelligence also offers a viable alternative to manual labor. Autonomous machines equipped with artificial intelligence can perform several tasks traditionally performed by human workers, such as planting, harvesting and weeding.

Many studies have confirmed the role of agricultural technology as an unprecedented opportunity for transformative change along the agricultural value chain. New research into the use of artificial intelligence in agriculture has revealed two times more efficient use of water, a significant reduction in pesticide use and up to a 25% improvement in crop yields. These results underline the potential of the technology and the interesting opportunities for those investing in companies that develop sustainable technologies for agriculture.

This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/economia/ecco-come-intelligenza-artificiale-migliorera-agricoltura/ on Sat, 17 Aug 2024 06:06:40 +0000.