Global and Planetary Change; Food Science; Geography, Planning and Development; Ecology; Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment; Urban Studies; Nature and Landscape Conservation; Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Abstract :
[en] Effectively feeding a burgeoning world population is one of the main goals of sustainable agricultural practices. Digital technology, such as edge artificial intelligence (AI), has the potential to introduce substantial benefits to agriculture by enhancing farming practices that can improve agricultural production efficiency, yield, quality and safety. However, the adoption of edge AI faces several challenges, including the need for innovative and efficient edge AI solutions and greater investment in infrastructure and training, all compounded by various environmental, social and economic constraints. Here we provide a roadmap for leveraging edge AI at the intersection of food production and sustainability.
Disciplines :
Engineering, computing & technology: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Author, co-author :
El Jarroudi, Moussa ; SPHERES Research Unit, Department of Environmental Sciences and Management, University of Liège, Arlon, Belgium
Kouadio, Louis ; Centre for Applied Climate Sciences, Institute for Life and the Environment, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia ; Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice), Bouake, Cote d'Ivoire
Bock, Clive H. ; ARS-US Horticultural Research Laboratory, USDA, Ft. Pierce, United States
Mahlein, Anne-Katrin; Institute of Sugar Beet Research, Göttingen, Germany
Fettweis, Xavier ; SPHERES Research Unit, Department of Geography, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
Mercatoris, Benoit ; Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech, Biosystems Dynamics and Exchanges, TERRA Teaching and Research Centre, University of Liège, Gembloux, Belgium
Adams, Frank; Lycée Technique Agricole de Gilsdorf, Gilsdorf, Luxembourg
Lenné, Jillian M.; North Oldmoss Croft, Fyvie, Turriff, United Kingdom
Hamdioui, Said ; Department of Quantum and Computer Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands
External co-authors :
yes
Language :
English
Title :
Leveraging edge artificial intelligence for sustainable agriculture
A.-K.M. was partially funded by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) under Germany\u2019s Excellence Strategy\u2014EXC 2070\u2013390732324. S.H. acknowledges support from the EU Horizon Europe research and innovation programme (grant agreement no. 101070374). C.H.B was supported by the USDA-ARS National Programs through CRIS project 6042-21220-014-000D.
Commentary :
This Nature Sustainability perspective is the result of a collaborative interdisciplinary effort by senior researchers from diverse fields, including agricultural, environmental, social, and computer sciences. These long-time collaborators are all enthusiastic about the deployment of edge AI to improve food production systems across the globe, yet they analysed this potential very honestly and from all possible angles, considering the significant challenges ahead to adapt the technology, making it robust, autonomous, energy, and resource-efficient, and globally beneficial for all farmers, whether they are small-scale farmers in Africa or large landowners in North America.
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