Makarere University, Uganda - Statistics week: Using data to improve agriculture

Title: 

Statistics week: Using data to improve agriculture

Author:

Betty Kyakuwa

Published:

Makarere University, 18 November 2022

https://news.mak.ac.ug/2022/11/statistics-week-using-data-to-improve-agriculture/

From the news article:

* The School of Statistics and Planning yesterday rewarded and recognized the contribution of some of its staff members.

* Speaking at the opening of the conference, Prof. Buyinza Mukadasi, who represented the Vice Chancellor, said it is important to use agriculture statistics to inform better planning that can cause transformation in the entire agriculture production chain.

 

Banana paper could save East Africa’s potatoes from devastating worms [The Conversation, May 2022]

Title:

Banana paper could save East Africa’s potatoes from devastating worms 

 

Authors:

Danny Coyne 

Soil Health Scientist, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)  

&

Solveig Haukeland 

General nematologist, International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology

 

Published:

The Conversation, 19 May 2022

https://theconversation.com/banana-paper-could-save-east-africas-potatoes-from-devastating-worms-182524

 

From the article:

Due to the magnitude of the damage that the nematodes cause to potato production, strict quarantine regulations have been implemented across many parts of the world to contain and restrict their further spread.  But we may have found a solution: banana paper.

Challenges to Use Machine Learning in Agricultural Big Data: A Systematic Literature Review [Scholarly Article - Agronomy, March 2022]

Title:

Challenges to Use Machine Learning in Agricultural Big Data: A Systematic Literature Review

 

Authors:

Ania Cravero1, Sebastian Pardo1, Samuel Sepúlveda1 & Lilia Muñoz2

 

1 Department of Computer Science and Informatics, Center for Software Engineering Studies, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4780000, Chile 

 

2 Faculty of Computer Systems Engineering, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá, Panama City 32401, Panama

 

Published:

Agronomy, 21 March 2022

https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/12/3/748

 

Abstract:

Agricultural Big Data is a set of technologies that allows responding to the challenges of the new data era. In conjunction with machine learning, farmers can use data to address different problems such as farmers' decision-making, crops, weeds, animal research, land, food availability and security, weather, and climate change. The purpose of this paper is to synthesize the evidence regarding the challenges involved in implementing machine learning in Agricultural Big Data. We conducted a Systematic Literature Review applying the PRISMA protocol. This review includes 30 papers, published from 2015 to 2020. We develop a framework that summarizes the main challenges encountered, the use of machine learning techniques, as well as the main technologies used. A major challenge is the design of Agricultural Big Data architectures, due to the need to modify the set of technologies adapting the machine learning techniques, as the volume of data increases.

Verdant Robotics Unveils Farm Robot for Specialty Crops [IoT World Today, March 2022]

Title:

Verdant Robotics Unveils Farm Robot for Specialty Crops

 

Author:

John Yellig

Published:

IoT World Today, 1 March 2022

https://www.iotworldtoday.com/2022/03/01/verdant-robotics-unveils-farm-robot-for-specialty-crops/

From the article:

Hayward, Calif.-based Verdant Robotics officially rolled out its multi-function autonomous farm robot that backers expect will take an increasingly large bite out of the multibillion-dollar fruit and vegetable industry. 

This Seed-Planting Robot Looks Like WALL-E, But What it Could Actually Do? [Tech Times, December 2021]

Title:

This Seed-Planting Robot Looks Like WALL-E, But What it Could Actually Do? 

 

Author:

Joseph Henry

 

Published:

Tech Times, 22 December 2021 

https://www.techtimes.com/articles/269678/20211222/seed-planting-robot-looks-wall-e-what-actually.htm

 

From the article:

Wall-E, a popular robot from a Pixar film named after itself, has been brought to life by the scientists following the creation of a seed planting robot. The A'seedbot could wander around a desert to look for fertile lands.

 

Reporting for duty: black soldier flies to farmers' rescue [Food for Mzansi, 2021]

Title:

Reporting for duty: black soldier flies to farmers' rescue

Author:

Zolani Sinxo

Published:

Food for Mzansi, 10 December 202

https://www.foodformzansi.co.za/reporting-for-duty-black-soldier-flies-to-farmers-rescue/

 

From the article:

It looks like a wasp but buzzes like a bee ...  How can the creepy little critter called black soldier fly benefit farmers? Quite a lot, it seems, as it has a remarkable avility to turn organic waste into high-quality protein and fertiliser.

 

Effectiveness of on-farm demonstration events in the EU: role of structural characteristics [Scholarly Article - The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 2021]

Title:

Effectiveness of on-farm demonstration events in the EU: role of structural characteristics 

 

Authors:

Fleur Marchand, Hanne Cooreman, Eleni Pappa, Ioanis Perifanos, Yiorgos Alexopoulos, Lies Debruyne, Hannah Chiswell, Julie Ingram & Alex Koutsouris

 

Published:

The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 2 September 2021] 

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1389224X.2020.1847151

 

Abstract:

Purpose 

The objective of this paper is to undertake an in-depth exploration of how structural characteristics of on-farm demonstration events impact the effectiveness of the demonstration as perceived by participants. 

 

Methodology 

An explanatory mixed-methods approach was used based on the responses to 356 post-demonstration questionnaires filled out by the attendees of 31 demonstration events held in 12 EU countries in 2018, together with the qualitative data from an observation tool, interviews and case study reports relating to the same 31 events. Factor analysis was employed to predict general effectiveness, complemented with a qualitative analysis of participants’ responses to improve the understanding of the quantitative results. 

 

Findings 

Results indicate that peer-to-peer learning activities and good facilitation increase participants’ perception of the effectiveness of a demonstration event. Furthermore, characteristics such as the structure of the day, the suitability of the host farm, a trustworthy demonstrator, and group size add much to the effectiveness of a demo event. Group dynamics – including group connectedness and composition – have the potential to impact perceived effectiveness.      

Could these AI robots replace farmers? [Horti Daily, September 2021]

Title:

Could these AI robots replace farmers?

 

Published:

Horti Daily, 28 September 2021

https://www.hortidaily.com/article/9359042/could-these-ai-robots-replace-farmers/

 

From the article (includes video):

Agricultural technology start-up Iron Ox says that its mission to make the global agriculture sector carbon negative. And they have just secured €47 million ($53 million) from investors, including Bill Gates.

Small strategic dietary changes yield surprisingly large health and environmental returns [Anthropocene, September 2021]

Title:

Small strategic dietary changes yield surprisingly large health and environmental returns 

 

Author: 

Emma Bryce 

 

Published:  

Anthropocene, 3 September 2021 

https://www.anthropocenemagazine.org/2021/09/a-series-of-small-dietary-changes-can-bring-surprisingly-large-health-and-environmental-gains/ 

 

From the article:

Meticulously ranking almost 6,000 foods, researched showed how simply swapping some ingredients for others could incrementally add hours and days to our lives and reduce environmental harms, too. 

 

ALSO SEE 

 

Stylianou, K.S., Fulgoni, V.L. & Jolliet, O. Small targeted dietary changes can yield substantial gains for human health and the environment. Nat Food 2, 616–627 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-021-00343-4 

 

World Economic Forum (WEF) - An app that allows farmers to rent tractors could revolutionize agriculture in Africa. Here’s how

Title:

An app that allows farmers to rent tractors could revolutionize agriculture in Africa. Here's how

 

Author:

Douglas Broom

 

Published:

World Economic Forum (WEF), 21 June 2021

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/06/tractor-app-agriculture-farming-africa/

 

From the article:

* More than 200 million subsistence farmers in Africa live off $2 a day. 

 

* But a tractor app is offering them the chance to grow more food and earn more money. 

 

* Hello Tractor enables farmers to rent tractors when they need them. 

 

* The scheme is expected to bring nine million hectares of land into production and create two million new jobs. 

 

* It’s one of 17 companies selected for The Circulars Accelerator on the UpLink platform.

 

'Sacred forests' in West Africa capture carbon and keep soil healthy - by Michele Francis [The conversation, April 2021]

Title:

'Sacred forests' in West Africa capture carbon and keep soil healthy

 

Author:

Michele Francis

Researcher, Department of Soil Science, Stellenbosch University

Published:

The Conversation, 8 April 2021

https://theconversation.com/sacred-forests-in-west-africa-capture-carbon-and-keep-soil-healthy-158325

From the article:

In parts of West Africa, patches of forest have been preserved for long periods of time because of their cultural or religious significance. These “sacred forests” are believed to be inhabited and protected by gods, totem animals or ancestors. Local communities have their own rules prohibiting reckless harvesting of timber and game, which have protected the sacred forests over many generations.

MIT develops method for lab-grown plants that eventually lead to alternatives to forestry and farming [TechCrunch, 20 January 2021]

Title:

MIT develops method for lab-grown plants that eventually lead to alternatives to forestry and farming

 

Author

Darrell Etherington

 

Published:

TechCrunch, 20 January 2021

https://techcrunch.com/2021/01/20/mit-develops-method-for-lab-grown-plants-that-eventually-lead-to-alternatives-to-forestry-and-farming/

 

From the article:

Researchers at MIT have developed a new method for growing plant tissues in a lab – sort of like how companies and researchers are approaching lab-grown meat. The process would be able to produce wood and fibre in a lab environment, and researchers have already demonstrated how it works in concept by growing simple structures using cells harvested from zinnia leaves.

How technology might finally start telling farmers things they didn't already know [MIT Technology Review, 18 December 2020]

Title:

How technology might finally start telling farmers things they didn't already know

 

Authors:

Rowan Moore Gerety

 

Published:

MIT Technology Review, 18 December 2020

https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/12/18/1013239/precision-agriculture-farmwise-remote-sensing-salinas/

 

From the article:

As a machine operator for the robotics startup FarmWise, Diego Alcántar spends each day walking behind a hulking robot that resembles a driverless Zamboni, helping it learn to do the work of a 30-person weeding crew. 

Localization and Mapping for Robots in Agriculture and Forestry: A Survey [Robotics, 21 November 2020]

Title:

Localization and Mapping for Robots in Agriculture and Forestry: A Survey

 

Authors:

André Silva Aguiar 1,2; Filipe Neves dos Santos 1; José Boaventura Cunha 1,2; Héber Sobreira 1; & Armando Jorge Sousa 1,3 

 

1 INESC TEC—INESC Technology and Science, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal 

2 School of Science and Technology, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal 

3 Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal

Published:

Robotics, 9(4), 21 November 2020

https://www.mdpi.com/2218-6581/9/4/97

Abstract:

Research and development of autonomous mobile robotic solutions that can perform several active agricultural tasks (pruning, harvesting, mowing) have been growing. Robots are now used for a variety of tasks such as planting, harvesting, environmental monitoring, supply of water and nutrients, and others. To do so, robots need to be able to perform online localization and, if desired, mapping. The most used approach for localization in agricultural applications is based in standalone Global Navigation Satellite System-based systems. However, in many agricultural and forest environments, satellite signals are unavailable or inaccurate, which leads to the need of advanced solutions independent from these signals. Approaches like simultaneous localization and mapping and visual odometry are the most promising solutions to increase localization reliability and availability. This work leads to the main conclusion that, few methods can achieve simultaneously the desired goals of scalability, availability, and accuracy, due to the challenges imposed by these harsh environments. In the near future, novel contributions to this field are expected that will help one to achieve the desired goals, with the development of more advanced techniques, based on 3D localization, and semantic and topological mapping. In this context, this work proposes an analysis of the current state-of-the-art of localization and mapping approaches in agriculture and forest environments. Additionally, an overview about the available datasets to develop and test these approaches is performed. Finally, a critical analysis of this research field is done, with the characterization of the literature using a variety of metrics.

Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH Zurich) - Prof Robert Finger presses for a comprehensive pesticide policy & Public Webinar (20 Oct 2020) on “Pathways for advancing pesticide policies”

Title:

The quest for a holistic pesticide policy

 

Author:

Prof Robert Finger

Published:

ETH Zurich, 8 October 2020

https://ethz.ch/en/news-and-events/eth-news/news/2020/10/blog-finger-pesticid-policy.html

From the blog post:

Something must be done – nobody’s questioning that. But the dilemma in the agricultural sector is not easy to solve: crops must be protected from diseases and pests, yet many products potentially endanger both the environment and our health. The risks here must be drastically reduced – and fast.

Note from blog owner:

On Tuesday 20 October 2020, the World Food System Center and researchers from the Agricultural Economics and Policy group will host a public webinar on “Pathways for advancing pesticide policies”. 

Click here for more information & to register 

[Registration ends 19 October, 11:00 CET.]

Tech Central, 20 May 2020 - Naspers to invest R100-million in agritech start-up Aerobotics

Title:
Naspers to invest R100-million in agritech start-up Aerobotics

Author:
Duncan McLeod

Published:
Tech Central, 20 May 2020
https://techcentral.co.za/naspers-to-invest-r100-million-in-agritech-start-up-aerobotics/98189/

From the article:
"Naspers has agreed to invest R100-million in South African agriculture-technology start-up Aerobotics, which uses artificial intelligence and drone and satellite imagery to help farmers manage crop health and predict crop yields."

Note: 
Naspers is a global internet group and one of the largest technology investors in the world.