It sounds like a sci-fi movie. But don’t we live in a time where many things from sci-fi movies have already happened? Why then wouldn’t this blog be about the points of contact between almost the oldest branch of economy Agriculture and the most modern technologies? When we talk about agriculture, we talk about farming and animal livestock as well. Already, numerous avenues are opening where agriculture and artificial intelligence can build strategic alliances. This is already happening across the globe, and Serbia, as a country with huge agricultural potential, should think about how these two stories can be connected to a successful unity.
Agriculture and technology – innovation and tradition
Whenever there were times of crisis, agriculture was the basis for the survival of civilization. From the first farmers who tilled the land with simple tools, to today’s modern farmers who use modern technology, agriculture has had an upward journey.
The development that agriculture has reached at the world level today has come to a new dimension. The term smart agriculture implies using digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to optimize aspects of agricultural production. These technologies enable accurate monitoring and management of farm conditions, improving efficiency and reducing costs.
Examples from around the world, such as autonomous tractors in the US or drones for monitoring crops in China, show that the future of agriculture has already arrived. This future should be embraced wholeheartedly because it offers something almost unimaginable thirty years ago.
One of the interesting examples of smart agriculture is something that frees people from operational work. It is about automating processes in the field. At the beginning of 2022, there was a lot of talk in this sphere about tractors equipped with six pairs of cameras to enable better visibility and detection of obstacles. The neural network processes and classifies the data from the cameras. It was the predecessor to the tractor that was thrust into the limelight last year. It is an electric, autonomous tractor that does not emit harmful gases.
Autonomous tractors are becoming an increasingly common means of cultivating the land. Drones and harvesting robots are also a sight to behold. These devices allow farmers to perform tasks with great precision and speed.
Automation in the field can mean that machines plow, sow, or even harvest crops themselves, reducing the need for human labor and certainly increasing yields.
As things stand, self-driving tractors are an innovation that has contributed quite a bit to agricultural production.
Pest control
Centuries-old enemies of farmers, apart from disasters, are pests. AI technologies offer solutions to identify and control pests efficiently. The use of cameras and recognition algorithms is an advantage offered to farmers so that they can recognize the presence of pests in time and recommend appropriate control measures while reducing the need for chemical agents.
This old and rather evolving problem is unique everywhere on the planet. The chaos and disorder brought by pests often disrupt agricultural harmony and calculations. In this constant struggle, AI comes as a kind of Prometheus bringing light.
Although humans are partly to blame for pest invasions occurring more frequently, responsible farmers are using new technologies minding the ethics behind them.
What is one of the more important aspects is the reduction of the use of chemical agents. A very important step toward a more sustainable future is reducing damage to the ecosystem.
Cost reduction – yield increase
Challenges in agriculture are inevitable in the digital age, but they are not impossible to overcome. The use of artificial intelligence in agriculture, and even ERP systems, is becoming increasingly important in the transformation of agricultural processes.
ERP systems integrate all aspects of business, including procurement, production, logistics, and sales. In agriculture, ERP can help track inventory of seeds, fertilizers, fuel, and other materials, as well as manage costs and revenues.
One of the biggest benefits of smart agriculture is the increase in yield. Precision agriculture allows farmers to optimize all aspects of production, from soil preparation to harvest. By using AI technologies and monitoring their business through ERP systems, farmers can monitor the growth and development of crops in real time, identify problems, and take appropriate measures in time. The result is a higher yield and better product quality.
Soil quality analysis
For crops to succeed, one of the most important factors is the quality of the soil. Soil structure and nutrient richness are important to use their full potential. Modern agriculture focuses full attention on improving soil quality and optimizing yields. It became clear that technology can affect insight into the state of the soil, by providing relevant data.
Sensors used in agriculture provide valuable information about various aspects of the soil. For example, fertility sensors can accurately measure levels of nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. This data is essential for understanding current soil conditions and identifying fertilization needs. Traditional methods of soil analysis were often slow and less accurate, while modern sensors enable fast and precise fertility assessment, which directly contributes to increased yields.
Land tenure is another critical factor affecting crop health and productivity. Too much or too little water can lead to a variety of problems, including plant diseases and reduced yields. Moisture sensors enable continuous monitoring of soil moisture levels, providing farmers with accurate information on current conditions. Based on this data, irrigation systems can be optimized to provide the correct amount of water, which not only improves plant health but also reduces water consumption.
By integrating data collected through sensors, AI systems can recognize patterns and provide predictions that are beyond the reach of human analysis. For example, AI can analyze historical data on weather conditions, soil type, and crops grown to suggest optimal fertilization and irrigation practices. This predictive analytics enables proactive management of agricultural processes, reducing risk and increasing efficiency.
Pragmatism and Philosophy
An important question that arises is that a balanced approach is needed. Namely, AI technology provides numerous tools, but human consciousness and ethical principles should be guides in their application. Identifying pests through AI systems is effective, but the decision on control measures needs to be considered. We have to ask ourselves: do we want instant solutions that may bring new problems, or long-term, sustainable solutions that respect the natural balance?
AI without a doubt helps in the detection of pests, thereby reducing long-term costs and raising the yield, but also the level of awareness. As long as it is consistent with reasonable use and in harmony with nature, it will have both meaning and purpose.
Challenges, the future, and Serbia in between
Although AI offers numerous benefits for agriculture, there are also challenges in its implementation. One of the biggest challenges is the lack of infrastructure, especially in rural areas. Also, the education of farmers is needed so that they can efficiently use new technologies. This was demonstrated by the recent digitization and use of the E-agar application for monitoring registered agricultural households and e-incentives.
In addition, the initial costs for implementing these technologies can be high, which can be a barrier for smaller farms.
However, the future of smart agriculture looks bright. Given the ever-increasing need for food due to the growth of the world’s population, the efficiency and sustainability of agriculture are becoming priorities. Innovations in AI and IoT will continue to transform agriculture, making it more productive and sustainable.
Serbia, with its rich agricultural heritage and huge potential, has the opportunity to be well-positioned in the field of smart agriculture. To achieve this, investment in infrastructure, research and development, and education of farmers is needed. The government and the private sector should work together to provide resources and support for the implementation of AI technologies on farms across the country.
Technology and agriculture may seem like two worlds that can hardly be combined. But it is precisely in this synergy that the future of quality food and the conservation of natural resources lies.
Smart agriculture, without a doubt, is bringing a revolution. Investing in technology, education, and research ensures a sustainable and prosperous future for all agricultural branches in Serbia, which is often late, but also able to keep up with world trends.
