Using AI in agriculture could boost global food security, but we need to anticipate the risks
Farmer's Weekly|April 22 & 29, 2022 - Double Issue
Asaf Tzachor, a research affiliate at the Centre for the Study of Existential Risks at the University of Cambridge in the UK, outlines the findings of a recent paper that looked at the risks involved in the roll-out of advanced and autonomous technologies in agriculture.
Asaf Tzachor
Using AI in agriculture could boost global food security, but we need to anticipate the risks

As the global population has expanded over time, agricultural modernisation has been humanity’s prevailing approach to staving off famine.

A variety of mechanical and chemical innovations delivered during the 1950s and 1960s represented the third agricultural revolution. The adoption of pesticides, fertilisers and high-yield crop breeds, among other measures, transformed agriculture and ensured a secure food supply for many millions of people over several decades.

Concurrently, modern agriculture has emerged as a culprit of global warming, responsible for one-third of greenhouse gas emissions, namely carbon dioxide and methane.

Meanwhile, inflation on the price of food is reaching an all-time high, while malnutrition is rising dramatically. Today, an estimated two billion people are afflicted by food insecurity (where having access to safe, sufficient and nutrient-rich food isn’t guaranteed). Some 690million people are undernourished.

The third agricultural revolution may have run its course, and as we search for innovation to usher in a fourth agricultural revolution with urgency, all eyes are on artificial intelligence (AI).

AI, which has advanced rapidly over the past two decades, encompasses a broad range of technologies capable of performing human-like cognitive processes, such as reasoning. It’s trained to make these decisions based on information from vast amounts of data. In assisting humans in fields and factories, AI may process, synthesise and analyse large amounts of data steadily and ceaselessly. It can outperform humans in detecting and diagnosing anomalies, such as plant diseases, and making predictions, including those about yield and weather.

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ARC names best dairy producers of the year
Farmer's Weekly

ARC names best dairy producers of the year

The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) recently announced the winners of the 2024 National Master Dairyman Awards at an event hosted by AgriExpo in Stellenbosch, Western Cape.

time-read
1 min  |
December 06, 2024
Lion breeders to give up bone stockpiles?
Farmer's Weekly

Lion breeders to give up bone stockpiles?

The Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment issued an official notice in mid-November in which it called on lion breeders to voluntarily hand over their lion bone stockpiles to the state as soon as possible.

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1 min  |
December 06, 2024
Thousands of British farmers march on parliament against inheritance tax
Farmer's Weekly

Thousands of British farmers march on parliament against inheritance tax

Thousands of UK farmers gathered in London, England, on 19 November to demand the government repeal a proposed inheritance tax on agricultural land, which they argued threatened the future of family-run farms (see page 4), Al Jazeera reported.

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1 min  |
December 06, 2024
Avocado frittata with sundried tomatoes, feta and olives
Farmer's Weekly

Avocado frittata with sundried tomatoes, feta and olives

This wholesome, vibrant frittata is perfect for brunch or a light supper. Recipe and photo: The South African Avocado Growers' Association.

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1 min  |
December 06, 2024
Feed, hay, and other costs are up, so it's time to get creative
Farmer's Weekly

Feed, hay, and other costs are up, so it's time to get creative

Breeders and riding schools need to explore innovative ways to generate income in order to ensure their survival, says Dr Mac.

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2 mins  |
December 06, 2024
How to make polystyrene seedling trays last longer
Farmer's Weekly

How to make polystyrene seedling trays last longer

While thinking about how to prolong the lifespan of polystyrene seedling trays that are exposed to harsh sunlight, Bill Kerr began to wonder if a coat of paint might offer a solution.

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2 mins  |
December 06, 2024
Living the 'culture' in agriculture
Farmer's Weekly

Living the 'culture' in agriculture

Creation Wines has won numerous awards, was ranked fourth in the World’s Best Vineyards in 2023, and more recently won the V d’Or award for the Best Brand Experience. The owners, Carolyn and Jean-Claude Martin, spoke to Glenneis Kriel about how their winery became a top tourism destination.

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10+ mins  |
December 06, 2024
Time to take a deep breath on the slopes of the Magaliesberg
Farmer's Weekly

Time to take a deep breath on the slopes of the Magaliesberg

Around 100km from both Johannesburg and Pretoria in Gauteng and a tad over 40km from Rustenburg in North West, Farmer’s Weekly found a fine retreat on a working farm where couples may kindle their romance.

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5 mins  |
December 06, 2024
African penguins could be extinct by 2035 how to save them
Farmer's Weekly

African penguins could be extinct by 2035 how to save them

Protecting the critically endangered African penguin is good for the environment, other animal species, and the economy, say Lorien Pichegru and Dr Alistair McInnes of Nelson Mandela University, Katrin Ludynia of the University of Cape Town, and Peter Barham of the University of Bristol in the UK.

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4 mins  |
December 06, 2024
An urgent need to confront Nassella in SA
Farmer's Weekly

An urgent need to confront Nassella in SA

South American grass species from the genus Nassella were unwittingly introduced to South Africa over 120 years ago and continue to invade montane veld. As Mike Burgess writes, research-based action is required.

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3 mins  |
December 06, 2024