Smart data farms use more robotics
More artificial intelligence, cheaper sensors and longer flying drones are some of the advances that Kiwi farmers can look forward to on ‘‘data-driven’’ farms over the next 10 years.
Microsoft Research principal researcher Ranveer Chandra was in New Zealand for a week offering insights into precision agriculture and advances the United States technology company is working on to improve farming. Farmers faced doubling food production to feed a growing population by 2050 and this would require more technological advances. ‘‘New Zealand is quite advanced as far as technology and agri-practices go and this is where it can lead the world because there is more work to be done.’’ Chandra was a speaker at the eresearch NZ conference in Queenstown and met with Agresearch leaders before returning to the US a week ago. The Indian-born researcher has led Microsoft projects including in longer lasting batteries and TV white space networking. Farmers would rely less on intuition for farm work as they gained more data for ‘‘precision nutrition’’, better yields and profits, he said. Nutrients would be customised for every animal based on the evaluation of data showing, for example, their body condition score, phenotyping and other genetic research.
Data-driven farming required cheaper sensors and unmanned aerial vehicles such as drones needed faster data streaming to capture more information such as the location of an animal, soil and ambient temperature, humidity and soil nutrients.
Chandra’s team found they could use TV band white spaces – unused VHF and UHF TV channels - and because of their lower frequency they could increase the distance of wireless access so farmers could connect to the internet. Artificial intelligence would give data-driven predictions on the best time to sow seeds, irrigate crops and apply fertiliser and provide the best nutrition for livestock.