In this article, Zunel van Eeden writes about how drones can be used to improve crop health and yield.
Fresh produce growers play a vital role in food supply safety, but they face their fair share of challenges each season. From managing pests and diseases and optimising irrigation and nutrition to predicting yields and harvest planning, there are numerous decisions to be made before the harvest can be delivered to the packhouse and sold to different markets.
New technologies offer new data sources and platforms, but can also overwhelm the user with information and processes. Aerobotics, a local agritech company celebrating 10 years in the global fruit and nut industry in September, offers a suite of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions tailor-made to help growers, packers and sellers make decisions to improve efficiency and profitability.
Aerobotics was founded in 2014 by South Africans Benji Meltzer and James Paterson, who hold master’s degrees in data science and aeronautical engineering, respectively. Paterson grew up on a citrus farm in Citrusdal, Western Cape, where he learnt first hand the challenges faced by his family and the community of citrus producers. After Paterson studied overseas at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Meltzer at the London Imperial College, they decided to combine their skills in aeronautics and machine learning to find ways to solve farmers’ challenges. They created computer vision software specifically for the fruit and nut industry using AI and imagery collected by drones, and later expanded that to mobile phone imagery.
In a recent interview with Farmer’s Weekly, Victor van den Berg, CEO of Aerobotics, described how the company’s customers use apps and drones to optimise fruit and nut production.
TWO MAIN PRODUCTS
Denne historien er fra June 21, 2024-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra June 21, 2024-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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New farmers' seedling pitfalls
Inexperienced farmers may be tempted to grow seedlings from seed themselves, but they have much to gain by trusting a seedling grower at a nursery to perform this task for them instead
South African avocado production: a success story
Avocado production in South Africa has expanded markedly since the industry's humble beginnings over 80 years ago. From a small grove planted in 1938 in what was then Nelspruit, the industry has blossomed to seven million trees planted on 20 000ha. Dr Guy Witney, project manager at Great Brak Avos, spoke to Annelie Coleman about the country's avocado production.
Unlocking value through livestock exports
Exporting livestock might sound like a daunting business that's better left for big companies, but Gerrie Ferreira, who farms near Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, has been doing it successfully for almost 30 years, sometimes in partnership with other breeders. He spoke to Glenneis Kriel about the huge potential this market holds, and offers some advice for farmers who are contemplating going this route.
An agribusiness's dedication to community upliftment
For agribusiness NWK, located in Lichtenburg, North West, corporate social investment is an important part of creating a positive influence alongside financial returns. Johan Bezuidenhout, NWK’s group manager of corporate marketing and communication, spoke to Annelie Coleman about why the company chooses to invest millions of rands in the area it operates in every year.
Empowering dreams, transforming lives
Since its launch in 2013, the Agri's Got Talent competition has revolutionised the lives of many farmworkers by unlocking their hidden talents and fostering a culture of empowerment. Glenneis Kriel spoke to various finalists about how the contest has changed their lives.
Foreign investment: agriculture maintains its appeal
South Africa remains a popular destination for foreign investors, despite an often negative outlook from its citizens. It is a gateway to Africa, and with its counterseasonal production to the Northern Hemisphere and favourable weather, local agriculture is especially well placed to attract foreign interest, bringing with it hope for rural communities
The real value and message of COP29 for SA agriculture
While the 2024 Conference of the Parties may have disappointed those who hoped for real progress, it's more important for South African agriculture to highlight its role in carbon mitigation
Improving efficiencies in feed and grain milling
Bühler, a Swiss-based company that provides solutions and equipment for various industries, including food and animal feed processing, has pledged that by 2025, it will deliver scalable solutions that will reduce energy, waste and water by 50% in the value chains of its customers.
Tips for better olive production
At an SA Olive Association field day in November, industry experts shared ways to improve olive production efficiencies, from soil preparation to harvesting.
More effort needed to protect vulnerable cheetah
On International Cheetah Day, commemorated every year on 4 December, emphasis was placed on the vulnerability of the species.
