How AI is Changing Agriculture Practices

In Washington’s Palouse region, fifth-generation farmer Andrew Nelson is running a 7,500-acre wheat farm while on Zoom calls. His tractor drives itself, guided by AI, sensors, and cameras that decide where to fertilize, spray, or weed. This isn’t an isolated story. Farming is entering a new era: 🚜 Autonomous tractors & sprayers from companies like Deere and Monarch are cutting herbicide use by up to 66%. 🚜 Robotic fruit pickers & drones (Oishii’s Tortuga robot, Tevel’s flying harvesters) are easing labor shortages. 🚜 Data-driven “digital twins” of farms are helping farmers target irrigation and pest control with precision. 🚜 Virtual fencing is changing livestock management with GPS-enabled collars. The goal? Smarter, more sustainable farming—optimizing every drop of water and every seed, while letting farmers focus on strategy, not hours in the cab. As Microsoft’s Ranveer Chandra puts it, “Every time a drone flies or a tractor plants, it’s updating the farm’s own AI model.” The autonomous farm won’t replace farmers—it will amplify them. And it’s happening faster than you think. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eEeW7zef

There’s nothing like bumping into an Acumen fellow before 6 in the morning and getting an impromptu briefing on the amazing things he’s doing. I loved spending time with Michael Ogundare, Nigerian Foundry member (’21) and co-founder of Crop2Cash, a company that connects smallholder farmers to financial institutions to access credit — and now, skills and advice. Already, the company has 500,000 farmers on its platform. What stunned me most was hearing how Michael is integrating AI into the services provided to farmers. “The farmers are weary of accessing traditional extension services,” he said, “because much of the knowledge hasn’t changed since the ’80s and ’90s. Now, we have 20,000 farmers using our AI service." Essentially, the farmers can call a phone number (they don’t need smartphones) and ask the AI about any problem they’re experiencing or any question they might have. The AI responds in their local language (one of seven) and will call them back when a follow-up is needed — for instance, to fertilize or apply a different input. And here’s the part that took my breath away: the 20,000 farmers spend, on average, 20 minutes daily talking with the AI. They typically call between 7 and 8 p.m., set the phone on a table, put it on speaker and share questions and experiences. They might ask about tomorrow’s weather or share worries or concerns. The results are showing up in the farmers’ productivity. This video shows how Crop2Cash is helping farmers become climate-smart: https://lnkd.in/e5higg2i Of course, these are early days, but the changes to agriculture are suddenly dramatic — and the farmers, at least in this case, are quickly adapting. We have so much to learn. #AgTech #AIforGood #FinancialInclusion #SmallholderFarmers #ImpactInvesting

Point of View with PV Role of AI in Precision Agriculture The future of precision agriculture is being shaped significantly by the rapid integration of semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI). In the face of a growing global population and the challenge of feeding it, the importance of efficient and sustainable farming practices has never been greater. This is where the combined power of semiconductors and AI comes into play, presenting innovative solutions to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability. Semiconductors, the small chips powering the digital world, are increasingly finding their way into agriculture. They serve as the foundation for various smart farming technologies like sensors, drones, and autonomous tractors. These devices, driven by semiconductors, gather vast amounts of data on soil conditions, crop health, weather patterns, and more. This data is then analyzed to make informed decisions about planting, fertilizing, watering, and harvesting crops. However, the massive amount of data generated by these technologies can be overwhelming. This is where AI steps in. AI algorithms can process and analyze this data, identifying patterns and offering actionable insights. For instance, AI can predict weather patterns to determine the optimal time for planting or harvesting, and it can detect signs of crop diseases or pests, allowing farmers to take prompt action to minimize losses. The combination of semiconductors and AI is transforming precision agriculture, shifting from traditional, reactive farming practices to proactive, data-driven decision-making. This transition not only increases crop yields but also reduces the environmental impact of farming. By optimizing the usage of resources like water and fertilizers, precision agriculture minimizes waste and lowers the carbon footprint of farming. The potential of semiconductors and AI in precision agriculture is immense, but there are challenges to overcome. The high cost of these technologies can be a barrier for small and medium-sized farms, although as the technology advances, it is expected to become more affordable and accessible to more farmers. Another challenge lies in the lack of digital literacy among farmers, particularly in developing countries. To address this, concerted efforts are needed to provide training and education to farmers about the benefits of these technologies and how to use them effectively.

Crop protection is a big business, valued at about $79 billion, with herbicides comprising almost half of the overall market. In the US, weed killers are used on 96% of planted corn acres, compared to 19% of fields that are treated with fungicides and 14% with insecticides. That's a *lot* of weed killer. What if, instead of drenching whole fields in the stuff, farmers were able to selectively spray it only on the weeds themselves? New AI-powered tech is making that possible, and the companies behind it say it can cut the use of chemical herbicides by 70, 80 or even 90%. From John Deere to Greeneye Technology, tractor and tech companies big and small are getting in on the action. “The chemical companies cannot fight against the reduction of herbicides,” said Guilherme Guiné Pinto Ferreira, Solinftec’s chief sustainability officer. Such technology is a “threat for sure because they drastically reduce the amount of inputs.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/eM_FM3nT Michael Hirtzer #agtech #chemicals #ai #crops #agriculture #commodities #farming #esg

Feeding a growing global population requires innovation, and artificial intelligence is stepping in to transform agriculture in remarkable ways. One of the most exciting applications? Drones that can help with fruit harvesting. Here’s how it works: Using computer vision and multispectral color analysis, these drones evaluate them. They can determine: - Ripeness: Is the apple at its peak for picking? - Sweetness: Advanced imaging can estimate sugar content. - Quality: Ensuring only wholesome fruit is harvested. By precisely selecting only the best fruit, these drones reduce waste, improve efficiency, and help farmers make better use of their resources. This technology is particularly impactful as it addresses challenges like labor shortages in agriculture and the need for sustainable practices. AI isn’t replacing farmers - it’s giving them tools to be more effective and adaptable in a world with increasing pressures on agriculture. What other areas of farming do you think could benefit from AI-driven solutions? #innovation #technology #future #management #startups

The agricultural industry is undergoing a massive evolution, compounded by the need to adapt to a changing climate, labor shortages, and other unpredictable conditions that can impact crop yield and have long-term implications for our environment and food security.   Precision agriculture (PA) is transforming the future of farming, making work more efficient with autonomous machinery and robotic systems, using sensors and drones to monitor soil health and predict weather conditions, and enabling rapid analysis of this data to inform critical, real-time decision making. Despite its enormous potential, some barriers remain that impact PA adoption. One is the obvious challenge of connectivity, which can be particularly tricky in rural or remote areas with little digital infrastructure. Another top concern for farmers cited in a recent study is data privacy (https://lnkd.in/grmf-MKq).   Edge computing is all about bringing new solutions to challenging scenarios. Farming is the perfect use case for solutions like Azure Private MEC and Azure Private 5G Core. Private MEC brings compute power directly to the farm, enabling reliable connectivity and on-site data analytics that support automation capabilities, optimize resource utilization, and provide real-time insights to increase operational efficiency and productivity. And with Private 5G, farmers and frontline workers can communicate effectively within their own reliable network while keeping private data secure.   Ubiquitous computing is powering innovation that will make agriculture more connected, more productive, and more sustainable. The future of farming is at the edge!   #AzurePrivateMEC #5G #EdgeComputing #FutureOfCloud #ModernConnectedApps #PrecisionAgriculture  

Excellent to see GenAI in action and driving significant improvements in agriculture! Krishi Mitra, an AI-powered voice assistant from ITC, is transforming the way farmers engage with technology—bringing personalized, scientific crop planning right to their fingertips. Key outcomes: - 15–20% improvement in crop yields through better, data-driven planning. 30–40% increase in net farm income by directly linking farmers to buyers. Voice-enabled guidance in regional languages, offering crop advice, disease diagnosis, and market insights. What makes this initiative truly outstanding is the strong synergy between digital access and physical connect—a hallmark of the ITCMAARS platform. With over 2 million farmers already engaged, and tools like Crop Calendar and Crop Doctor in action, this is a shining example of AI for good. Congratulations to the ITCMAARS team for building an ecosystem that’s inclusive, intelligent, and impactful. #GenAI #Agritech #KrishiMitra #ITCMAARS #SmartFarming #DigitalIndia #AIforGood #SustainableAgriculture #InnovationInAgri