Florida farmers call artificial intelligence ‘essential’ for growing population
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Florida farmers said artificial intelligence technology is “essential” to producing food for America’s growing population as the technology helps increase production with fewer resources.
“Our farmers and ranchers continue to invest in technology to create efficiencies in their operations,” Florida Agriculture Coalition Chair Jim Spratt said.
The coalition is comprised of more than two dozen groups that represents farmers, growers and ranchers across Florida.
“AI increases crop or product yield with fewer resources and also works to protect and restore Florida’s natural landscapes for future generations,” he continued. “This technology is essential to provide a safe and fresh food supply for the growing American population.”
Reports pointed to how artificial intelligence will help meet the food demand, create tailored nutrition plans for individuals, and monitor crop growth.
According to the Gainesville Sun, approximately 700 million people globally face chronic hunger, and the challenge is expected to intensify with an anticipated additional two billion people to feed by 2050 and AI may help reduce these numbers.
“Today, as our global population stretches toward 9 billion, artificial intelligence can help farmers produce more with less to meet the demands of our global population,” NetChoice Director of Public Affairs Rob Winterton said.
“Yet, overreaching regulations on AI could threaten innovation and our global food supply. It is critical that any policies we pursue on the state or national level foster, not hinder, innovation,” Winterton continued.
Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa proposed a bill focused on regulating AI programs linked to essential aspects of American’s lives such as food and fuel, Fox News reported.
His bill, known as the “Farm Tech Act,” is being backed with bipartisan support, according to the report.
The report said nutrition experts are exploring the use of artificial intelligence to tailor nutrition plans based on individual genetic profiles. By leveraging artificial intelligence, they aim to identify foods that can potentially prevent diseases personalized to an individual.
The University of Florida is working with experts from the UF Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering and one of the university’s agronomists will spearhead the creation of cost-effective mini sensors, the report said.
These sensors, intended for planting alongside crops, will provide real-time feedback on individual plants’ water and nutrient levels.
The Tallahassee Democrat reported that the University of Florida has introduced an innovative tool enabling farmers to use artificial intelligence and drones for enhanced crop monitoring, optimizing production efficiency. Additionally, the university is exploring the potential of its supercomputer, HiPerGator, to address challenges such as mitigating citrus greening.
Researchers at the the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences research center in Southern Hillsborough County are developing an AI-driven robot designed to “learn” how to raise and care for plants, according to Fox 13.
The new robot is a drone, equipped with cameras that are able to assess crop health and identify their needs for optimal growth. The University of Florida wants to establish a new agricultural tech hub to further advance technology for farming applications, according to the report.
Hillsborough County has propped up artificial intelligence in the agriculture industry, citing an expert who said central Florida has the potential to become “the Silicon Valley of agriculture.”
The county said some farming machines are already using AI. For instance, utilizing it for GPS to lay straight bed rows for crops and enabling ranchers to identify and trade livestock.
