AI & Data: AI-assisted international press reviewPress review

Precision Weeding: Horsch Leverages AI and Drones to Map Weeds

Food Resilience: Technology Alone Won't Suffice Without Policy Transformation

Pest Surveillance: Monitoring Desert Locusts Yields Up to 680 Times More Benefits Than Costs

A recent study highlights the importance of monitoring desert locusts to prevent food crises. The findings show that reduced surveillance, often due to conflicts, leads to an increase in swarms, severely impacting child health and the economy. The benefits of monitoring far outweigh the costs, with a cost-benefit ratio estimated between 160:1 and 680:1.

Belgian Company Rainbow Crops Raises €9.7 Million to Accelerate AI-Driven Crop Genetic Engineering

Rainbow Crops, an innovative Belgian agritech company, has announced a funding round of €9.7 million to develop improved crop varieties through multiplex genome editing. This funding will enable the acceleration of AI-assisted genome editing capabilities and the expansion of its Trait Foundry™ platform application.

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The James Hutton Institute partners with PhenomUK, a £35 million project aimed at developing crops resilient to climate challenges. This program, supported by UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) and led by BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council), establishes a phenotyping infrastructure to assess crops in various environments. Utilizing advanced technologies, it will enable rapid testing of crop performance under environmental stress.

An American Startup Leverages Plasma and AI to Reinvent Green Ammonia Production

Faraday Earth, an American startup, employs non-thermal plasma to produce green ammonia targeting a cost of $500/ton, competitive with gray ammonia. The method uses a high-voltage electric field to activate nitrogen molecules, bypassing the limitations of the Haber-Bosch process, while AI optimization enhances yield by real-time adjustment of reactor parameters.

A Fluorescent Nanosensor Detects Fungal Infections Before Symptoms Appear

Researchers have developed a non-destructive ratiometric optical nanosensor to detect fusaric acid, a key biomarker for fungal infections in crops, before the first visible symptoms appear. Integrated into a microneedle patch applied directly to the plant, this device could pave the way for early and non-destructive disease monitoring in precision agriculture.

India: A National Agricultural AI to Support 150 Million Farms

The Annam.AI program aims to transform Indian agriculture by providing personalized, real-time farming advice through open data and AI. Supported by the Indian government and tech leaders like Google, it seeks to overcome challenges faced by smallholders, including extreme weather conditions and crop losses due to diseases and pests.

Crop Protection: Shifting Towards a Hybrid Model of Chemistry, Biotech, and AI

The crop protection sector is at a critical juncture, facing a crisis in its traditional economic model. The costs and timeframes for bringing new active ingredients to market have significantly increased, making the traditional molecule discovery model less viable. The integration of advanced technologies, such as artificial intelligence, and the development of open innovation ecosystems are becoming essential to navigate this changing landscape.

Precision Agriculture: Drones and Smart Sensors Enhance Malaysian Rice Management

In the face of growing challenges for rice production in Malaysia, Bernas is deploying advanced technologies such as drones and smart sensors to optimize crop productivity. These initiatives aim to detect crop issues early, improve resource efficiency, and strengthen the sector's resilience against climate and economic challenges.