Efforts to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into agriculture have gained significant momentum in recent years, unlocking new opportunities and transforming farming practices. As AI models continue to evolve, their application in agriculture is reshaping the industry in profound ways. One notable example is seen in northeast China’s Jilin Province, where a robot is deployed to glide through vast cornfields in Gongzhuling city. This robot captures high-quality, precise images of the crops, offering a glimpse into how AI can revolutionize farming.
In the past, the development of new crop varieties was a lengthy and labor-intensive process. Breeders had to spend years observing crops in the field and conducting experiments, a method that was not only time-consuming but also physically exhausting. However, AI technologies are accelerating this process. AI-powered robots now play a crucial role in observing and analyzing crops, enabling breeders to conduct preliminary screenings of plants. These robots can identify plants with desirable traits such as high yields or disease resistance. Once identified, the promising plants undergo further testing.
This integration of AI into crop breeding has significantly increased productivity. For example, a single robot can inspect about 0.17 hectares of farmland per hour, allowing for rapid analysis of large areas. With multiple robots working simultaneously, the scale of operations increases, leading to a substantial rise in overall efficiency. Additionally, AI reduces the number of plants that need to undergo lab testing, thus accelerating the breeding cycle. AI’s potential in breeding is enormous, with hopes to use it to develop crops that can thrive in challenging environments, such as deserts, plateaus, or saline-alkali soil.
Beyond crop breeding, AI is also transforming farming operations on the ground. In Hezhuang village, Jiangsu Province, the general manager of a local ecological agriculture company, Xia Hongyu, runs an unmanned farm where AI plays a central role. Previously, farming machinery required manual route mapping, which was both inefficient and time-consuming. Now, with the help of AI, machinery can autonomously plan its routes and avoid obstacles, thanks to high-precision positioning systems like Beidou and 5G networks. This has drastically improved operational efficiency and reduced the need for manual labor.
AI is also making strides in pest control and weeding. Using AI-driven image recognition, farmers can quickly assess crop growth and detect pest infestations with remarkable speed and accuracy, often surpassing human capabilities. Agricultural drones, equipped with AI, are an essential tool in this process. These drones can perform tasks such as spraying pesticides, fertilizing crops, seeding, and even monitoring disaster areas. Over 200,000 agricultural drones are now in operation across China, covering more than 400 million mu (about 26.7 million hectares) of farmland, significantly contributing to increased productivity.
In addition to fieldwork, AI is improving agricultural processes in other areas, including post-harvest activities. In Lingshan county, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, AI has helped address challenges related to the preservation, logistics, and sales of lychees, a crop that is central to the region’s economy. By using AI image recognition technology, lychees are graded based on their size and color, and then assigned to appropriate sales channels. This not only maximizes profits but also ensures that consumers receive fresh, high-quality produce. AI algorithms also play a crucial role in matching orders with available inventory, streamlining the sales process and boosting efficiency.
Moreover, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in China, in partnership with Tencent, has launched initiatives to promote AI in rural areas. Over a three-year period, the plan aims to provide free training to key personnel in rural governance and leaders of new agricultural businesses. This will help ensure that the benefits of AI are spread across all levels of agriculture, enhancing productivity and fostering innovation in rural areas.
In summary, AI’s integration into agriculture is paving the way for high-quality development in the industry. From improving crop breeding and farming practices to enhancing post-harvest processes, AI is helping to address long-standing challenges in agriculture. As AI technologies continue to evolve, the potential for more efficient, sustainable, and profitable farming practices is boundless.
