Agrorobots: the fourth agricultural revolution

The world has mostly witnessed three agricultural revolutions: the first, around 10 000 years ago, when sedentary economies were replaced by activities such as societies gathering for hunting. Second, around the 18th century, when agricultural practices in Europe shifted from techniques of the past to newer ones, such as animal husbandry and crop rotation. And the third agricultural revolution came around the middle of the 20th century, when the green revolution kicked in, increasing crop yields and saving many from starvation. Now, the world is entering, or should I say has entered, the fourth agricultural revolution, driven by robotics.

Agricultural Robot Revolution

Every day we are reminded that the “robot revolution” is moving forward at a faster pace than expected. From self-driving vehicles to automated cash registers, robots are slowly making their way into our daily lives. And while we tend to focus on robots in manufacturing, there is one key area that is perhaps being disrupted more than any other, and that is the use of robotics in agricultural activities. So the only question we need to ask ourselves is whether we are ready for “agricultural robots”?

Agricultural Robots

“Necessity is the mother of invention”. This saying is most apt when it refers to the overall advances in agricultural technology. The technological evolution of agricultural robotics ranges from drones to self-driving tractors to robotic arms. The underlying rationale behind such a drastic change in a traditional activity like agriculture was the need to cater for a significantly growing population worldwide. The UN estimates that the world population is expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050. As a consequence, the population will need much more food and farmers using traditional agricultural practices will be under extreme pressure to keep up with this demand.

Another major concern in agriculture is the shortage of skilled and semi-skilled labour. It is difficult to find people who will take on agricultural work, especially when the work is dangerous, physically demanding and involves long hours in the sun. It becomes difficult and unpleasant, making it difficult to attract workers, even when farmers offer much more than expected. This scenario is evidenced by the fact that in 1900, 14.3 of the US population worked on farms, which is far more than the 2017 figures. According to Our World in Data, an organization that monitors agriculture and land use, less than 2 of the US population worked on a farm in 2017. Therefore, AgBots are sure to open up new opportunities for the development and maintenance of ancillary jobs such as robots, drones, software.

Agricultural Robots

Agricultural robots help automate repetitive and tedious tasks for farmers so they can better focus on improving overall production yields. The most common applications for agricultural robots include:

• Harvest management
• Mowing management
• Field mapping
• Weather tracking and -forecasting
• Pasture management
• Soil management
• Irrigation management
• Inventory management

Harvesting and harvesting is one of the most common robotic applications in agriculture. This is due to the precision and speed that robots can achieve, improving yields and reducing wastage. There are also robots or drones that can accurately remove weeds or spray targeted pesticides, using 90% less chemical than conventional blanket sprayers. In the case of organic farming, weeds could simply be laser-cut instead. The UN estimates that 20-40% of crops are destroyed by pests and diseases. To counteract this problem, sensors and cameras are used to monitor crop growth and farmers are alerted via their smartphones when faults are detected or notified of the best time to harvest. Companies such as AgriBotix have already commercialized a way to spot unhealthy vegetation by analyzing infrared images captured by drones. The farmer receives a notification on their device when they identify a problem area. From financial bonuses to green farming, there are many benefits to be derived from the development of agricultural robots, which are truly the future of agriculture.

Agricultural Robots Market

According to Verified Market Research, the global agricultural robots market was valued at US$2.96 billion in 2018 and is forecast to reach US$11.58 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 18.6% between 2019 and 2026.

The global agricultural robots market could revolutionize advanced technology, but investment costs are holding it back from fully blossoming into a global market. The cost of investing in agricultural robotics is high, which is discouraging farmers and owners of farms and farmland from choosing agricultural robotics. Another aspect that keeps farmers from choosing agri-robotics is lack of awareness.

The challenges are significant, but so are the opportunities. We just have to know how to use them.

source: https://www.roboticstomorrow.com/article/2019/03/agbots-the-fourth-agricultural-revolution-ready-to-take-over-farms/13253/