Agritech 2024

Smart farming Smart farming – which can also be referred to as precision farming – is the use of AI and other technologies to improve efficiency in farm operations. The level of efficiency can be measured based on the optimal use of resources while reducing soil stress, the timely application of inputs and early risk detection and mitigation. Use cases of agritech for smart farming are: –AI and AR for crop management, advice on crops, pests, plant diseases and nutrients: As with crop planning, AI and AR can provide advice to farmers based on images and videos captured on the ground. Most smartphones today are designed with built-in light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensors that use lasers to build AR and projected reality AR. Farmers can therefore capture images and share them through start-up machine learning (ML) apps to be further analysed and provide agronomic advice. The ML app can use the images to diagnose plant health, pest infestations and yield predictions based on such elements as fruit size. –AI for weather prediction: Traditional weather predictions are based on satellite imagery, weather stations and buoys out at sea that collect data alongside a battery of supercomputers carrying out complex calculations to predict the weather. It is a costly and lengthy process, and generally weather agencies release data at six-hour intervals. Predictive and AI model-based advice services do not challenge the traditional model, but by using historical data independently or by using a mix of historical data coupled with data sourced from hyperspectral imaging,12 they enable local weather stations, in the space of as little as one minute, to predict weather up to 10 days in advance.13 –Robotics: The use of robotics in agriculture is advancing and becoming increasingly precise. Robotics largely focuses on weeding and the application of inputs (for instance, spraying of fertilizers and pesticides) as well as the harvesting of ripe fruits in orchards and plantations. The technology includes: a) machine-vision technology to locate, identify and assess a crop’s readiness for harvest; b) mechanical tools used to apply inputs or to harvest produce; and c) in some advanced robotics, use of the Global Positioning System (GPS) to achieve the precise position of the robot on a large farm to plan the robot’s movements and avoid collisions.14,15 –Yield prediction: Most of the yield-prediction models are generated by a neural-network- based algorithm that is inspired by the functioning of the human brain or by linear- regression models. The datasets used in yield prediction include soil data, temperature, humidity, nutrients, field management and crop information, among others.16 –Distributed ledger-based index insurance: When it comes to insurance, crop-loss estimation is a costly exercise in which crop loss is estimated through physical surveys and includes factors relating to farm practices. In contrast, index insurance is a simpler system in which a pay-out is triggered according to measurements of a metric or index such as rainfall or crop yield. With such a contract, the data source of a given index is linked to a smart contact on a blockchain platform.17 In the case of an accident or natural disaster, or deviation from the index beyond or below agreed parameters, a pay-out is triggered without any human intervention and transferred to the beneficiary through a digital channel. KSA faces arid conditions and water scarcity, challenging traditional farming. Therefore, there is a strong need to embrace emerging technologies like vertical farming, controlled environment agriculture (CEA) and precision agriculture with IoT, and use biotechnology for resilient crops. C4IR KSA is collaborating with C4IR India through AI4AI for agricultural innovation programmes to bolster food security and enhance sustainability. We look forward to contributing towards collaborating with global agritech entities to foster knowledge exchange and implement advanced solutions to enable a more prosperous and sustainable future. Basma AlBuhairan, Managing Director, Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) Agritech: Shaping Agriculture in Emerging Economies, Today and Tomorrow 10