The future of farming

Farmers don’t have it easy these days. “Climate change is causing problems out in the fields, and certain plant and animal species that play an important role in farming, such as bees and earthworms, are facing various difficulties and are overall under pressure. In the meantime, the world population is growing fast, and by 2050 we’ll have to feed about 9.7 billion people globally,” says Jean-Marie Sol.

According to Sol, improved varieties through new breeding techniques, together with biocontrol and biostimulant products, serve as key tools for achieving greater crop yields for environmentally friendly farming. Although some such products have been available for several years, they are only gradually taking hold in agriculture. Biocontrol products protect plants against pests and diseases and Biostimulants reinforce natural plant processes that boost growth, nutrient absorption, plant health, and overall resilience. Sol thinks they play an important role in the future in replacing chemical plant protection products: “The advantage with biocontrol and biostimulant products is that they’re generally more respectful of both biodiversity and the natural ecosystemic balance which are critical to increasing the resilience of agricultural production towards the effects of climate change.”

However, in order for biocontrol and biostimulant products to become an efficient alternative to chemical products and for agriculture to become really sustainable, it will need to be truly smart. The Internet of Things (IoT) and digital decision-making tools will enable growers to identify issues earlier and to introduce biocontrol and biostimulant programs in optimal conditions to provide satisfactory levels of crop protection. Agriculture will increasingly make use of artificial intelligence (AI), for example, for data analysis.

“AI will allow us to gain a deeper understanding of how individual environmental factors influence the yields for various types of plants,” Sol explains. Processes that take place in the soil are particularly important: “Once we gain a better understanding of the interplay between plants and microorganisms in the soil, we’ll be able to protect plants more effectively from disease and pests, and won’t need to spray as many chemical pesticides,” says the agricultural scientist.

Besides pests and disease, weeds represent another major challenge for farmers. This is in part due to a reduction of authorized chemical herbicides, particularly in Europe. In addition, weed resistance has increased as a result of widespread intensive use of certain herbicide active substances. Sol recommends “smart spraying,” where farmers use a field sprayer equipped with cameras and AI. In just milliseconds, this system can differentiate between crop plants and weeds, only spraying where strictly necessary.

Meanwhile, robots that are able to weed fields may eliminate the need for chemical substances entirely. These move across fields independently, using smart cameras to identify plants that compete with the crops. Robots that are equipped with sensors will provide additional benefits: On the basis of the information they collect, for example regarding temperature, air humidity, solar radiation and soil texture, farmers will be able to closely follow and manage crops, and potentially to forecast optimal harvest times.

Furthermore, sensors on agricultural robots will gain general insights into plant development and health. “Robots will definitely play an important role in the future of agriculture,” says Sol. That being said, and despite the many changes that his sector is facing, he is also certain that humans will continue to play a vital role in the future of agriculture. “AI will never replace farmers. But it will help them make better decisions, achieve greater yields, and implement sustainable agricultural practices more thoroughly and effectively.”