In the 1930s, there were approximately 6.8 million farms in the United States. The area averaged about 155 acres. Over the next few decades, the number of farms rapidly declined to about 1.9 million in 2023. Those farms grew to an average of about 464 acres.
As agriculture changes over time, experts believe artificial intelligence (AI) can help farmers and producers create food faster and more efficiently.
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“I think there is a lot of potential in not only increasing crop productivity, but also reducing the amount of resources we use in terms of productivity. “But on the other hand, it also makes it easier to find a workforce,” says Tom, an assistant professor in the Department of Viticulture and Enology and the Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at the University of California, Davis. said Mason Earls, a researcher at the AI Institute. Or AIFS.
In the 1930s, there were approximately 6.8 million farms in the United States. By 2023, the number of farmers has decreased to approximately 1.9 million. (AI Next Generation Food System Research Institute)
According to the latest data, 41% of farmers reported labor shortages in 2018. This is a 27% increase compared to the number of farmers reporting labor shortages in 2014. This trend is expected to continue. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the number of workers will decline by 2% by 2033, even though the number of job openings will remain the same.
“We’re getting more done with less effort,” said Ilias Tagkopoulos, a computer science professor at the University of California, Davis. , empowering and increasing the productivity of existing workers.” Director of AIFS.
AIFS is funded by a grant from the USDA Institute of Food and Agriculture. This is part of USDA’s efforts to conduct further research on the use of artificial intelligence in agriculture.
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“One of the big things that I’m particularly focused on, and we work at the Food Systems Institute, is how can we impact agriculture and food systems as a whole? Whether it involves the production of different agricultural products: different types of vegetables, fruits, nuts, other types of meat, or other types of foods,” Earls said. “We think there is a lot of potential, from research and labs to startups and corporate innovation, and we are here to find ways to foster and integrate it along the way. I’m here.”
According to USDA research, only 27% of farmers are using emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Industry-wide investment is expected to increase from more than $2 billion this year to more than $5 in 2028.
According to USDA research, only 27% of farmers are using emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. (AI Next Generation Food System Research Institute)
“Our vision is how we can achieve a healthier society and a more sustainable planet. Our mission is to leverage AI to build it and support us towards that goal. That’s true,” Tagkopoulos said. “AI is doing two things: one is making businesses more productive, and the second is accelerating innovation. By focusing, we accelerate innovation.”
Researchers are studying how AI hardware, such as sensors and robotics, can collect data more efficiently in the field.
“One of the powers of AI is that it can process large amounts of data in a very short amount of time and achieve very high performance in pattern recognition,” Earls said.
This technology helps farmers decide where to apply fertilizer and when is the best time to harvest.
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“In less than an hour, we process millions of images to identify areas of potential damage from weeds, weeds, diseases and pests, and use various types of equipment to remove those weeds and pests. “By precisely removing , farmers can get higher yields and consumers know they’re getting better fruits, vegetables and other products from their fields,” Earls said. spoke.
One USDA project at the University of Arkansas is looking at using virtual reality in poultry processing. Researchers plan to study whether it is possible to use robots in the field while workers virtually control the devices. Fewer workers are expected to be needed, but equipment costs will be higher.
Researchers are studying how AI hardware, such as sensors and robotics, can collect data more efficiently in agriculture. (AI Next Generation Food System Research Institute)
“The question is, how can we make this technology more cost-effective and more practical? That’s always a challenge,” Tagkopoulos said.
Controlled environment and indoor farming also have higher initial costs. However, some studies have shown that higher crop yields are possible because there are fewer weather-related problems and it can be grown year-round.
“In the future, more data will be generated, more tools will be available, and it will be easier for AI tools to provide recommendations on when to irrigate, when to till, and where to sell. It will be more affordable, and there will be more collaboration, because farmers will be more aware of the need to share their data. , it’s not a competition where everyone wins,” Tagkopoulos said.
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Controlled environments have received significant funding over the past few years. USDA recently broke ground on a project to study grapes at Cornell University. The National Grape Improvement Center helps scientists research climate-adaptable grape varieties and growers’ management strategies.
“The opportunity to grow fruits, vegetables, and other types of crops in places that cannot be grown otherwise has great potential to bring all types of food, fresh produce, and nutritious food to cities and other regions. ,” Earls said. “AI has real potential to help us understand how to control these types of indoor climates and optimize output.”
