In today's rapidly evolving agricultural landscape, the potential for farmers to benefit from their own data has never been greater. With a plethora of data platforms and a continuous stream of revolutionary apps being launched, the promise of data-driven farming is tantalizing. But does this data truly empower farmers, or are they becoming mere cogs in a data-driven machine? Future Farming set out to answer this question by speaking with crop growers from around the globe. In this second episode, we hear from North American corn grower Anthony Osgood ..read more

Ekobot is working on a new version of their WEAI weeding robot. It will feature its own chassis and increased ground clearance ..read more

Monarch Tractor has secured $133 million USD (€120 million) in funding for expansion, with a particular focus on Europe Monarch Tractor announced this week that it has completed the largest funding round in agricultural robotics history. The company raised $133 million USD (€122 million) in growth capital in a round led by Belgian fund Astanor ..read more

A tour among the early adopters of the Farmdroid reveals that they are eager to make the alternative weed control approach work ..read more

Deciphering the past to develop future-proof crops. That, in a nutshell, is what the international research project Ancient Environmental Genomics Initiative for Sustainability (AEGIS) entails. Wageningen University & Research is one of the participants in this international project, which has received a research grant of 78 million euros. How did ecosystems and crops adapt to climate changes in the past? The scientists of AEGIS hope to find the answer to this question. This historical knowledge can be used to improve current agricultural methods and develop more resilient crops. A key com ..read more

In today’s rapidly evolving agricultural landscape, the potential for farmers to benefit from their own data has never been greater. With a plethora of data platforms and a continuous stream of revolutionary apps being launched, the promise of data-driven farming is tantalising. But do these data truly empower farmers, or are they becoming mere cogs in a data-driven machine? Future Farming set out to answer this question by speaking with crop growers from around the globe. In this first episode, we hear from Grower Chad Glover from South Australia. Farm data Name: Chad Glover Age: 48 Location ..read more

Dutch chicory company Sensus has rolled out the red carpet for the Farmdroid FD20. With a substantial sustainability bonus, the chicory processor supports growers who are experimenting with the field robot. A tour among the early adopters reveals that they are eager to make the alternative weed control approach work, but it does not immediately go smoothly. In the second article we will discuss the experiences of farmers. Seed/weeding robot significantly reduces chemical use Not plug-and-play; the robot does not work flawlessly right away High chemical pressure forces growers to look for alte ..read more

Progress, benefits and potential risks: an exclusive interview with Osledy Bazó, founder of the AI firm AlamedaDev in Spain. “It is fundamentally a tool that supports, rather than replaces, the skilled labour in agriculture.” AI vision systems are revolutionising crop management in several ways. In the field of disease detection, vision systems along with new leaf health sensor systems will soon enable AI to detect signs of infection before they are apparent to the human eye. AI crop disease detection systems can also alert the farmer at a point when a set ‘infection threshold’ is met, automat ..read more

The German company Bayer and the Dutch company Solynta are set to jointly market potato seeds in Kenya and India. The companies have signed a collaboration agreement for this purpose. For Bayer, this represents the first step into the global potato market. Solynta specializes in the hybrid breeding of potatoes. Bayer will distribute new hybrid varieties to the most remote areas in India and East Africa’s Kenya. Cultivating potatoes from seed instead of seed potatoes offers advantages in these areas because seeds are better preserved and more transportable than seed potatoes. Hybrid breeding al ..read more

In today’s rapidly evolving agricultural landscape, the potential for farmers to benefit from their own data has never been greater. With a plethora of data platforms and a continuous stream of revolutionary apps being launched, the promise of data-driven farming is tantalising. But do these data truly empower farmers, or are they becoming mere cogs in a data-driven machine? Future Farming set out to answer this question by speaking with crop growers from around the globe. In this first episode, we hear from Grower Chad Glover from South Australia. Farm data Name: Chad Glover Age: 48 Location ..read more