The chain of transport food has to go through before it ends up in our kitchens is a long journey. We might think that the process from farmer, truck, store, then our kitchens is straightforward. Still, even before products get on the truck, some producers have had to ensure that the idea becomes a product. Farmers have had to put in long extensive months to years of work to ensure that they can supply us with food. In the past, farmers have had to rely on working relentlessly to support their needs and create an accessible food supply to other citizens. Technology has made great strides in the way we can access food and how it is sourced. The integration of technology in the agricultural sector has made the lives of farmers easier as they can be more productive with the support of machines and robots. The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) in farming has made it even easier for a farmer to support the public.
According to research from Precision Agriculture, AI can speed up harvesting and gather data for farmers and help produce better crops. This technology allows farmers to grow better crops as the data provided by the machine can give specific information based on their circumstances like humidity, water supply, pollution, pests, soil, and other factors that can reduce the quality of the crop. The precision that robots provide for farmers allows them to cut time and costs in farming which helps farmers become more efficient. These machines are often adaptable and can support small- and large-scale farmers. They also do not just support one specific product like an apple or orange but anything that can be harvested as the programming can be adjusted, making them flexible throughout the business’s lifespan. Due to this advancement, farmers are better equipped for their farms and the public’s various challenges and needs while also maximizing the quality of their products and reducing waste in the process. This also means that farmers can have higher profit margins as they are better able to ensure a successful harvest and better products to their suppliers.
The introduction and integration of AI in agriculture is still in the early stages in comparison to the field of agriculture itself. Still, there is no doubt that this technology brings many positives not just for farmers but also consumers. This is an exciting development in the agricultural sector as the possibilities are endless as to how this technology will change and expand in the future. Innovations like this will be more than functional but necessary in the future.
Beloev, I., Kinaneva, D., Georgiev, G., Hristov, G., & Zahariev, P. (2021). Artificial Intelligence-Driven Autonomous Robot for Precision Agriculture. Acta Technologica Agriculturae, 24(1), 48–54. https://doi.org/10.2478/ata-2021-0008
Virnodkar, S. S., Pachghare, V. K., Patil, V. C., & Jha, S. K. (2020). Remote sensing and machine learning for crop water stress determination in various crops: a critical review. Precision Agriculture, 21(5), 1121–1155. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11119-020-09711-9