January 13, 2023 | 5:02 PM
LAS VEGAS, USA — Armed with smartphones in today’s increasingly connected world, farmers can remotely monitor field health, feed levels in silos, and even wine aging in barrels.
Startups and agribusiness giants alike showcase cutting-edge tools to help farmers collect and analyze data to make better decisions at the massive CES electronics show in Las Vegas, which ends Sunday doing.
Thus, Olivier Lepine, who heads French start-up Brad, has developed a sensor that can provide real-time information about the temperature, humidity and light falling on farms.
With such data at hand, farmers can make more accurate decisions about when to irrigate, how to reduce pesticide use, how to treat soil, and the time it normally takes to move from field to field. You can save.
Farmers, especially the younger generation, “want to have an impact, but they also want to improve their quality of life,” says Lepine.
Meanwhile, South Korean startup AimbeLab offers a way to monitor the contents of giant silos where grain and feed are stored.
Farmers often “use a hammer to hit the silo to check the sound, which is still very inaccurate, but to check how much is left,” Thane Kwong said.
AimbeLab’s probes assess not only the quantity of grain in the silo, but also its condition, allowing both farmers and their suppliers to more accurately predict deliveries, thus reducing travel.
herbicide savings
American startup Simple Labs has developed a sensor that can measure the temperature, humidity, pH value and phenolic content of wine in a barrel or vat (affecting both taste and color). This allows more precise control over aging. .
Also, the French company Meropy is exhibiting a kind of alien wheel. The wheels have long spokes on either side that allow them to roll across the field and use cameras to photograph crops from all angles and detect the presence of weeds. pests and diseases.
Amit Dhingra, professor of horticulture at Texas A&M University, said, “The two main factors driving the adoption of new technologies are need, such as when disease strikes, and the quest for the most cost-effective method. ‘ said.
In a nutshell, farmers are using genomics, digitization and data analytics to make “less Input needs to produce more calories per acre.
Farm-equipment giant John Deere, known for its eco-friendly tractors, is also working on it.
The giant 120-foot (36-meter) boom of the modern spray tractor has cameras every few feet and very fast processors, so even when the vehicle is traveling at 20 miles per hour (20 kilometers), weeds can be detected and sprayed. just where you need it.
Jorge Heraud, Head of Automation at Deere, said:
drowning in data
The group has also developed an “operation center” that can be used on computers and smartphones. The center allows farmers to monitor real-time information about their position, engine performance, and more, thanks to data collected by the tractor’s multiple sensors. You can also check the progress of seed trials and find out where weeds are growing.
“Farmers can look at a map and understand which parts of their fields need to be managed differently,” says product designer Lane Arthur.
“He’s going to save some money, but he’s also going to help the environment.”
Like other industries, “farmers are starting to digitize their jobs,” says Vonnie Estes, Innovation Officer at the International Fresh Food Association (IFPA).
Combined with increasing automation, data analytics can help solve the problem of food waste and greenhouse gas emissions in supply chains by knowing where workers are on the farm.
“It’s not seamless,” Estes said, noting that broadband connectivity isn’t always available or reliable in rural areas.
Another challenge, she said, is that large amounts of technical data can be overwhelming.
“Everyone is talking about 5G,” Estes said, but “many farmers will be happy with 3G.”
