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    At least 3 kg of food grown in Mozambique’s fields is lost due to inefficient processing, transportation, and storage-World Bank

    A change to hotter conditions is a looming challenge in the agricultural sector in the Southern African region

    AfDB commits $10 billion to fight food insecurity

    AfDB commits $10 billion to fight food insecurity

    Natafim SA expands drip-line manufacturing plant

    Natafim SA expands drip-line manufacturing plant

    Africa’s Vast Arable Land Underutilised for Cash and Food Crops

    Africa’s Vast Arable Land Underutilised for Cash and Food Crops

    Farming in South Africa; Six Things That Need Urgent Attention in 2023

    Farming in South Africa; Six Things That Need Urgent Attention in 2023

    Macfrut 2023,Turkey to participate in International Blueberry Days

    Macfrut 2023,Turkey to participate in International Blueberry Days

  • Africa
    AfDB commits $10 billion to fight food insecurity

    AfDB commits $10 billion to fight food insecurity

    Africa’s Vast Arable Land Underutilised for Cash and Food Crops

    Africa’s Vast Arable Land Underutilised for Cash and Food Crops

    Africa’s new agriculture pledge on the cards

    Africa’s new agriculture pledge on the cards

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    EIMA International 2022, a Global Event Returns

    EIMA International 2022, a Global Event Returns

    2026 declared World Year of Pastoralism

    2026 declared World Year of Pastoralism

  • Company
    Norway pledges to build resilience of small aquaculture farmers in East and Southern Africa

    Norway pledges to build resilience of small aquaculture farmers in East and Southern Africa

    Tropical Cyclone Ana: WFP ready to provide food and logistics support for rescue and relief operations

    Tropical Cyclone Ana: WFP ready to provide food and logistics support for rescue and relief operations

    Mozambique authorities seek to combat biodiversity devastation by clamping on illicit fishing

    Mozambique authorities seek to combat biodiversity devastation by clamping on illicit fishing

    World Bank, UN launch programme to help Mozambique improve forestry management

    World Bank, UN launch programme to help Mozambique improve forestry management

    Basis of the Nampula economy calls for a re-orientation of efforts towards the most profitable cash crops, Says Nyusi

    Basis of the Nampula economy calls for a re-orientation of efforts towards the most profitable cash crops, Says Nyusi

    Sporadic rains worry Zambezi farmers

    UN announces US$1.2mln animal health programme for Mozambique

  • International
    Macfrut 2023,Turkey to participate in International Blueberry Days

    Macfrut 2023,Turkey to participate in International Blueberry Days

    First Special Agriculture Industrial Zone launched in Mozambique

    EIMA 2022: Unlocking the growth potential of Africa’s Agribusiness

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    Italian industry Growing Turnover despite the Economic Situation

    Italian industry Growing Turnover despite the Economic Situation

    EIMA International 2022, a Global Event Returns

    EIMA International 2022, a Global Event Returns

    African women playing a critical role in local economic development

    Lusophone countries benefit from Africa Investment Forum

  • Markets
    It is through collective efforts and pursuit of mutual agreements and regional approaches and strategies that SADC can fully address national and intercountry investments on agriculture

    It is through collective efforts and pursuit of mutual agreements and regional approaches and strategies that SADC can fully address national and intercountry investments on agriculture

    Africa’s local ownership drive must balance foreign investment

    President Nyusi reminds investors of the agricultural opportunities available in Mocuba District

    Russia-Ukraine war poses upsides risks on African agriculture: Economist

    Russia-Ukraine war poses upsides risks on African agriculture: Economist

    Mozambique Fisheries on high vigilance following outbreak of fish disease in Malawi

    Mozambique Fisheries on high vigilance following outbreak of fish disease in Malawi

    Govt’s initiative to boost cotton and cashew income

    Govt’s initiative to boost cotton and cashew income

    Maize planter calibration to improve your profitability

    Maize planter calibration to improve your profitability

  • Equipment
    IMPROVING WATER QUALITY TO ENSURE SUCCESS OF BROILER BUSINESS

    IMPROVING WATER QUALITY TO ENSURE SUCCESS OF BROILER BUSINESS

    AWARD targets to improve African smallholders’ livelihoods

    AWARD targets to improve African smallholders’ livelihoods

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    African women playing a critical role in local economic development

    Lusophone countries benefit from Africa Investment Forum

    President Nyusi excited about the prospects the new vegetable oil factory brings

    President Nyusi excited about the prospects the new vegetable oil factory brings

    Russian company to make a humanitarian fertilisers shipment to Africa

    Russian company to make a humanitarian fertilisers shipment to Africa

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  • News
    • All
    • Crops
    • Diary
    • Fresh Produce
    • Game & Wildlife
    • Livestock
    At least 3 kg of food grown in Mozambique’s fields is lost due to inefficient processing, transportation, and storage-World Bank

    A change to hotter conditions is a looming challenge in the agricultural sector in the Southern African region

    AfDB commits $10 billion to fight food insecurity

    AfDB commits $10 billion to fight food insecurity

    Natafim SA expands drip-line manufacturing plant

    Natafim SA expands drip-line manufacturing plant

    Africa’s Vast Arable Land Underutilised for Cash and Food Crops

    Africa’s Vast Arable Land Underutilised for Cash and Food Crops

    Farming in South Africa; Six Things That Need Urgent Attention in 2023

    Farming in South Africa; Six Things That Need Urgent Attention in 2023

    Macfrut 2023,Turkey to participate in International Blueberry Days

    Macfrut 2023,Turkey to participate in International Blueberry Days

  • Africa
    AfDB commits $10 billion to fight food insecurity

    AfDB commits $10 billion to fight food insecurity

    Africa’s Vast Arable Land Underutilised for Cash and Food Crops

    Africa’s Vast Arable Land Underutilised for Cash and Food Crops

    Africa’s new agriculture pledge on the cards

    Africa’s new agriculture pledge on the cards

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    EIMA International 2022, a Global Event Returns

    EIMA International 2022, a Global Event Returns

    2026 declared World Year of Pastoralism

    2026 declared World Year of Pastoralism

  • Company
    Norway pledges to build resilience of small aquaculture farmers in East and Southern Africa

    Norway pledges to build resilience of small aquaculture farmers in East and Southern Africa

    Tropical Cyclone Ana: WFP ready to provide food and logistics support for rescue and relief operations

    Tropical Cyclone Ana: WFP ready to provide food and logistics support for rescue and relief operations

    Mozambique authorities seek to combat biodiversity devastation by clamping on illicit fishing

    Mozambique authorities seek to combat biodiversity devastation by clamping on illicit fishing

    World Bank, UN launch programme to help Mozambique improve forestry management

    World Bank, UN launch programme to help Mozambique improve forestry management

    Basis of the Nampula economy calls for a re-orientation of efforts towards the most profitable cash crops, Says Nyusi

    Basis of the Nampula economy calls for a re-orientation of efforts towards the most profitable cash crops, Says Nyusi

    Sporadic rains worry Zambezi farmers

    UN announces US$1.2mln animal health programme for Mozambique

  • International
    Macfrut 2023,Turkey to participate in International Blueberry Days

    Macfrut 2023,Turkey to participate in International Blueberry Days

    First Special Agriculture Industrial Zone launched in Mozambique

    EIMA 2022: Unlocking the growth potential of Africa’s Agribusiness

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    Italian industry Growing Turnover despite the Economic Situation

    Italian industry Growing Turnover despite the Economic Situation

    EIMA International 2022, a Global Event Returns

    EIMA International 2022, a Global Event Returns

    African women playing a critical role in local economic development

    Lusophone countries benefit from Africa Investment Forum

  • Markets
    It is through collective efforts and pursuit of mutual agreements and regional approaches and strategies that SADC can fully address national and intercountry investments on agriculture

    It is through collective efforts and pursuit of mutual agreements and regional approaches and strategies that SADC can fully address national and intercountry investments on agriculture

    Africa’s local ownership drive must balance foreign investment

    President Nyusi reminds investors of the agricultural opportunities available in Mocuba District

    Russia-Ukraine war poses upsides risks on African agriculture: Economist

    Russia-Ukraine war poses upsides risks on African agriculture: Economist

    Mozambique Fisheries on high vigilance following outbreak of fish disease in Malawi

    Mozambique Fisheries on high vigilance following outbreak of fish disease in Malawi

    Govt’s initiative to boost cotton and cashew income

    Govt’s initiative to boost cotton and cashew income

    Maize planter calibration to improve your profitability

    Maize planter calibration to improve your profitability

  • Equipment
    IMPROVING WATER QUALITY TO ENSURE SUCCESS OF BROILER BUSINESS

    IMPROVING WATER QUALITY TO ENSURE SUCCESS OF BROILER BUSINESS

    AWARD targets to improve African smallholders’ livelihoods

    AWARD targets to improve African smallholders’ livelihoods

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    Agricultural machinery: High demand on the world market

    African women playing a critical role in local economic development

    Lusophone countries benefit from Africa Investment Forum

    President Nyusi excited about the prospects the new vegetable oil factory brings

    President Nyusi excited about the prospects the new vegetable oil factory brings

    Russian company to make a humanitarian fertilisers shipment to Africa

    Russian company to make a humanitarian fertilisers shipment to Africa

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Home News Crops

‘Farms are going to need different kinds of robots’

'Farms are going to need different kinds of robots'

Ian by Ian
March 25, 2021
in Crops, Editor picks, International
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On a lush, green patch of rolling farmland in Australia’s Queensland, cows are quietly grazing in a scene that is replicated around the world.

A closer inspection, however, would reveal that these particular bovines are a bit more high-tech than normal.

Behind one ear, each carries a device roughly the size of a matchbox – a tamper-proof, solar-powered, satellite-connected smart “tag” that is constantly transmitting real-time data back to the farmer.

“It tells us where the animal is with GPS, and also what condition the animal is in,” explains David Smith, the chief executive of Ceres Tag, the Brisbane-based firm behind the technology.

“We have a very sophisticated algorithm for things like pasture feed intake, so we know what the feed efficiency of the animal is. From that, we can start making some genetic selections.”

These tags – which also monitor rumination, or re-chewing, levels, and other health and fitness factors – are just one way in which the latest technologies are finding their way into agriculture.

From autonomous harvesting robots and drones that can spray crops, to artificial intelligence, and the use of “big data”, farmers around the world are turning to high-tech solutions to address issues ranging from food insecurity, to climate change, and pandemic-induced staff cuts.

Collectively, this increased use of technology in architecture is known as “precision farming”, and it is a booming industry. One report suggests that its global value will reach $12.9bn (£9.1bn) by 2027, with average annual growth of 13% between now and then.

“Technology is transforming the world of agriculture for the better,” says Stephen Fagan, head of operations at Irish firm Moocall. It produces a smartphone-connected sensor that fits to the tail of a pregnant cow, and sends the farmer a text message when the animal is approaching calving.

This enables the farmer to be productive doing other things, and then get to the cow on time, rather than have to wait with her for an extended period.

“We are learning more than ever about ways to improve efficiency on farms, and in turn, improve overall profitability,” adds Mr Fagan.

“Nobody wants to remove the human factor, or relationships that farmers build with their livestock. But on the other hand, if a technological solution can make life a lot easier by reducing labour time, human error and general hardships, then farmers will take advantage of that solution without question.”

Among those at the forefront of studying the impact of increased technology on the future of farming is Prof Girish Chowdhary, the director of the Distributed Autonomous Systems Laboratory (Daslab) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

He says that largely autonomous farms are just over the horizon. Already, many emerging technologies, such as robots that can monitor the health of crops, are being put to use at Daslab’s research fields.

“A farm is going to need different kinds of robots,” says Prof Chowdhary. “Some of them are going to be very small… others are going to be big, perhaps even as big as combine harvester. There will be an autonomous system that is co-ordinating this team of robots, telling them what they need to do in order to get different tasks done.”

In addition to robots, Prof Chowdhary says drones will be increasingly used.

“Drones are really good at covering a lot of space,” he says. “They can go somewhere and spray something, or take a picture, really quickly.”

Proponents of technology in agriculture also note that these innovations can be used for the benefit of the developing world.

TechnoServe, for example, is a US international development, not-for-profit organisation that uses remote sensing, drone mapping, machine learning, and satellite data, in a bid to boost cashew nut production in the West African nation of Benin.

Cashews account for 8% of the country’s export earnings, and TechnoServe is helping farmers know where best to plant their trees, and to increase both the quantity and quality of their yields. The organisation already has plans to replicate the project across West Africa and in Mozambique.

TechnoServe director Dave Hale says they can “identify [sites for] cashew farms with a high level of accuracy”.

“[And] with improved agricultural practices, farmers then increase their productivity and their incomes.”

Globally, the coronavirus pandemic, and the empty supermarket shelves at various points of lockdown, has increased concerns about food shortages. Some tech firms are turning to technology to help ease these fears.

“Covid revealed how vulnerable our food supply is. It revealed how fragile our logistics system is,” says Dr Nate Storey, the co-founder and chief science officer of a US firm called Plenty.

His business utilises AI and software to create scalable, indoor “vertical farms” capable of growing multiple vegetable crops on tall walls.

Plenty aims to help relieve pressure on traditional farming as the amount of available agricultural land goes down, and the world’s population – and demand for food – is rapidly rising. The world’s population is expected to increase from 7.7 billion currently to 9.7 billion in 2050, according to the United Nation.

“Ultimately, agriculture will need to become infinitely sustainable,” says Moocall’s Mr Fagan. “I think everyone can agree that as long as humans are on the planet and need food, farming will be at the core of that. But farms need to be viable.”

In the long term, the urgency of improved farming practices and the turn to technology to solve these issues may have another important economic benefit – job creation.

“I think we’re going to see a new influx of people to agriculture,” says Dr Storey. “Agriculture has been ageing for a while, and it hasn’t been ageing particularly well.

“Producing food is one of the most honest and straightforward things you can do for this world. In a complicated world, it’s an uncomplicated act.

“Empowering people to do that with technology is going to be really meaningful for a lot of people, both in terms of quality of life for consumers, and quality of life for producers.”

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