The Age Of Robo-Farming Begins
The farming sector is undergoing an incredible technological revolution that could mean the end of many traditional farming methods and machinery used in years gone by.
Farmers are employing autonomous tractors and AI-enabled robots to plough fields, analyse crops for ripeness and even harvest and package the produce at the end of the season. Some of the latest automated greenhouses in the US are generating salad greens that have almost never been touched by human hands before they’re shipped off to supermarkets.
These farms don’t even reside in the sprawling hills and valleys anymore, but in industrial warehouse complexes on the outskirts of towns and cities. Investment in AI and robotic farming is growing at a rapid pace as the demand for more food at lower prices escalates in developed markets.
However, the impact on emerging markets where agriculture forms a large component of GDP and the labour force could be severe as developed markets close the gap on pricing through automation. Producers of traditional farming equipment, such as John Deere, Mahindra and Caterpillar will also need to adapt their product range to keep ahead in the race for robo-farming supremacy.
How do you feel about the rise of the machines?
