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30-year-old farmer Nerudo Mregi is transforming the face of farming by applying technology and artificial intelligence. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

Welcome to agri’s future of drones, robots and IoT

30 Sep 2022
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The devastating impact of Cyclone Freddy on Malawi’s agricultural sector underscores the urgent need for increased investment in climate adaptation measures and support for affected communities. Photo: Twitter

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    Africa’s Food System Forum (AGRF): Tanzanian president Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan. Photo: Supplied

    Hassan unveils AGRF summit in Dar es Salaam

    The devastating impact of Cyclone Freddy on Malawi’s agricultural sector underscores the urgent need for increased investment in climate adaptation measures and support for affected communities. Photo: Twitter

    Cyclone Freddy devastates agriculture in Malawi

    Food inflation and currency collapse threaten food security in the Middle East and North Africa as the region celebrates the beginning of the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan. Photo: Supplied

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    Global leaders say Africa can achieve water security by 2030. Photo: Supplied

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    Thoko Didiza, the agriculture, land reform and rural development minister in South Africa. Photo: Supplied

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    Seeds of change: Eritrea’s updated seed policy paves the way for improved food security and a brighter future for its people. Photo: Supplied

    Eritrea revamps seed policy to boost food security

    From rice farmer to agripreneur: Kébè Lamah leads a cooperative of 500 women farmers in Guinea, thanks to the support of the INTEGRA programme. Photo: Supplied

    Guinean women farmers thrive with INTEGRA

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    Welcome to agri’s future of drones, robots and IoT

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    Africa’s Food System Forum (AGRF): Tanzanian president Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan. Photo: Supplied

    Hassan unveils AGRF summit in Dar es Salaam

    The devastating impact of Cyclone Freddy on Malawi’s agricultural sector underscores the urgent need for increased investment in climate adaptation measures and support for affected communities. Photo: Twitter

    Cyclone Freddy devastates agriculture in Malawi

    Food inflation and currency collapse threaten food security in the Middle East and North Africa as the region celebrates the beginning of the Muslim Holy Month of Ramadan. Photo: Supplied

    Food prices soar as North Africa braces for Ramadan

    Global leaders say Africa can achieve water security by 2030. Photo: Supplied

    Water security: Panel unveils 3 pathways to 2030

    Thoko Didiza, the agriculture, land reform and rural development minister in South Africa. Photo: Supplied

    SA hosts symposium to boost honey processing

    Seeds of change: Eritrea’s updated seed policy paves the way for improved food security and a brighter future for its people. Photo: Supplied

    Eritrea revamps seed policy to boost food security

    From rice farmer to agripreneur: Kébè Lamah leads a cooperative of 500 women farmers in Guinea, thanks to the support of the INTEGRA programme. Photo: Supplied

    Guinean women farmers thrive with INTEGRA

    Zimbabwe takes stock of its achievements against targets to mainstream biodiversity in agriculture, leaving no one behind. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Zim includes biodiversity into agricultural practices

    With power cuts in South Africa threatening food security, infrastructure, and communication networks, experts have called for increased private sector investment in renewable energy projects. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Power cuts: Private sector urged to go green

  • Changemakers
    • All
    • Agribusiness
    • Agripreneurs
    • Farmers
    • Innovation
    From rice farmer to agripreneur: Kébè Lamah leads a cooperative of 500 women farmers in Guinea, thanks to the support of the INTEGRA programme. Photo: Supplied

    Guinean women farmers thrive with INTEGRA

    Namibia's Popular Democratic Movement party has tabled a motion of insurance for farmers, that will compensate for the loss of livestock due to conflict with wildlife. Photo: Supplied/Food For Mzansi

    Computer model to ease farmer-wildlife conflict

    It started with a handful of trees on her family farm. Today Wezi Mzumara is breaking new ground as a woman chocolate maker in Malawi. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Meet Malawian chocolate maker Wezi Mzumara

    Nature-based biopesticides are now offering a safer alternative to locust control. ©FAO/Ismail Taxta/Arete

    Locusts: How Somalia became biopesticides leader

    The award-winning Nigerian farmer Samson Ogbole, who did not initially want to be a farmer, incorporates technology, science and agriculture to end hunger.

    Meet ‘Farmer Samson’, biochemist and soilless farmer

    What started as an informal Facebook group has become a vibrant online market community in East Africa called Mkulima Young.

    East Africa’s vibrant digital one-stop for farmers

    Greenify Global, a youth environmental conservation movement, works in schools in Zomba, Malawi, teaching children and creating food gardens according to permaculture principles. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Malawi permaculture project teaches earth care

    Woman Farmer Kerotse Lekabe (middle) with her workers in Pella, North West, where she farms with vegetables on six hectares of land. Photo- Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Woman farmer’s drive builds family business

    Support to improve women land ownership delivers life-changing benefits for women farmers in Tanzania, like Mariam Tungu, from Singida’s Ikungi district in central Tanzania. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Women land ownership changes destinies

  • Food Security
    • All
    • Climate Change
    • Crops
    • Food Trends
    • Logistics
    Climate change: A total of 27% of children in South Africa are stunted. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Climate change ‘a daily reality’ for Africans

    Cop27: Zambian farmer Esther Zulu was born in Nyimba district in the eastern part of Zambia. She currently lives and farms on property inherited from her parents, both of whom were farmers. Photo: Supplied/AICCRA

    Cop27: Zambian farmer demands food systems change

    With heavier and unpredictable rainfall and tides encroaching on coastal cities, the risk of flooding is becoming more prevalent. Through an FAO project, local communities in Quelimane, Mozambique have restored 1.6 hectares of mangroves to prevent flooding and soil erosion. Photo: Supplied/Mani Tese/Leonel Raimo

    Green city living changes Africa’s urban landscape

    Perennial rice being harvested near Lake Victoria in Uganda. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Perennial rice could boost food security in Africa

    The global FoodTech Challenge is looking to reward 4 agritech or foodtech companies working to address food security challenges. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    FoodTech Challenge: 3 African startups shortlisted

    30-year-old farmer Nerudo Mregi is transforming the face of farming by applying technology and artificial intelligence. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Welcome to agri’s future of drones, robots and IoT

    Farmer Japeth Owidi makes use of a solar-powered pump to ease the labour-intensive strain of farming. Photo: Supplied/FuturePump

    COP27: Small-scale farmers belong at the table

    Insect-rearing requires minimal access to land and feed, providing income and livelihood opportunities for many in rural and urban communities. Left/top: Photo: FAO/Giulio Napolitano

    World ‘worms’ up to edible insects

    Hunger and malnutrition in the Lake Chad Basin have reached alarming levels this year, driven by Boko Haram terrorism and the effects of climate change.

    Hunger, terrorism stalks Lake Chad Basin

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Food Health
    • Trends
    A picture featuring George Chiwedzerero, who left Zimbabwe for South Africa and was not heard from for two decades.

    Missing migrants project helps families find peace

    The general impression of Zanzibar when approached from the mainland is of a long, low island with small ridges along its central north–south axis. Coconut palms and other vegetation cover the land surface. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Here’s how farming transformed Zanzibar’s coastline

    Saponins also work against bacteria and fungi. Some bacteria have an external membrane that protects their genetic material. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Southern Africa’s soapy plants can improve hand hygiene

    There are a number of flowering plants that we do not often recognise the holistic health benefits of, such as okra, kalanchoe and periwinkle flowers. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Healing with the help of Africa’s indigenous plants

    Burger King is one of many fast food franchises that is introducing more plant-based meals. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Burger King, KFC explore more veggie options

    Cassava is one of the continent's food staples. Here is a history on the root veg and its humble beginnings. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Cassava, a staple crop that sustains a continent

    Herbal remedies are commonplace in Uganda; testing these scientifically is a good way to ensure they’re safe and effective. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Herbal skin treatments in Uganda get a scientific boost

    Researchers believe that Rwanda's soft drink tax can be better used to boost public health by targeting sugar content. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Sugar tax might curb rise in obesity, diabetes in Rwanda

    Lebanese farmers have shirked using chemicals during the goring process and are realising their produce is healthy regardless. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

    Lebanese potato farmers find that less is more

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Welcome to agri’s future of drones, robots and IoT

by Staff Reporter
30 Sep 2022
in Agri News, Climate Change
Reading Time: 3 mins read
A A
30-year-old farmer Nerudo Mregi is transforming the face of farming by applying technology and artificial intelligence. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

30-year-old farmer Nerudo Mregi is transforming the face of farming by applying technology and artificial intelligence. Photo: Supplied/FoodForAfrika.com

Outside, drones fly overhead, keeping an unflinching eye on crops and cattle, while driverless tractors plough the fields precisely and robots methodically gather the harvest. Meanwhile, miles away from traditional farmland, machine-controlled vertical farms grow food without soil in giant warehouses.

It’s not a science fiction movie – it’s the future of farming, according to HSBC Global Research.

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“The rise of disruptive technologies will be key in 21st-century farming,” says Davey Jose, thematic analyst for HSBC Global Research.

“Technologies such as robotics, connectivity, artificial intelligence and data analysis will automate activity on farms, and increase crop, food and livestock yields while reducing water use, energy and labour.”

ALSO READ: Technology uptake remains low in upper parts of Africa

Drones save input costs

Drones are not only useful for taking aerial images or for dropping seeds. They can also be used to spray pesticides far more efficiently than manual spraying.

A fleet of drones could cover as much as 500 acres in a single day, compared with just one acre for a person. They are also more accurate and precise, which could cause a reduction of as much as 80% in the amount of pesticide used, depending on the crop, our researchers say. And that’s just what they can do now.

As 5G technology matures, it could take drone use to another level. 5G will not only provide faster and more reliable internet speeds, it also improves connectivity, meaning it will be easier to introduce and control drones in increasingly remote locations.

Tech drives smarter farming

Alongside drones, HSBC Global Research outlines other benefits of smart farming:

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  • Self-driving tractors to improve efficiency and solve labour shortages.
  • Harvesting robots that use machine learning to identify and pick specific crops in the most accurate and efficient way possible.
  • Robotic milking systems that can use AI and improve on current mechanical milking.
  • Controlled environments that support vertical (indoor) farming, which uses methods such as hydroponics or aquaponics to save soil and water while growing food.
  • And smart farming isn’t just about machines. The use of blockchain makes it simple to trace food production’s sustainability all the way from seeding to selling.

Disruptive technologies are key to delivering smarter and more sustainable farming as the agriculture industry faces up to some of the world’s most urgent challenges.

The UN estimates that the world must increase its food production by more than 60% between now and 2050, or face shortages. If feeding the world wasn’t a big enough challenge, with agriculture-related activities generating 40% of global non-energy greenhouse gas emissions, production has to be more sustainable in the future, too. If not, it’s unlikely the world will meet its net-zero targets.

Cybersecurity a new imperative

The increased adoption of technology doesn’t come without its challenges, especially when it comes to cybersecurity and hacking, our researchers caution. As farmers increasingly make use of the Internet of Things, these threats include data theft, and business sabotage, such as ransomware attacks.

“Protecting against these threats will be key as we embrace new, smarter and more sustainable ways of farming,” says Davey.

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ALSO READ: Agripreneur turns cassava waste into animal feed

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Tags: agritechClimate Changesmart farming
Staff Reporter

Staff Reporter

Researched and written by our team of writers and editors.

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