Artificial intelligence in agriculture | DW Documentary

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The way we feed ourselves is changing. Agriculture will also be impacted by Artificial Intelligence. Could AI present an opportunity for increased food security in the future?

From the climate crisis to depleted soils: farmers all over the world fear for their future. Our food security is at risk. The United Nations wants to end hunger worldwide by 2030. The advent of Artificial Intelligence could help.

In Cameroon, Adamou Nchange Kouotou has developed an AI-supported app that farmers can use to scan their crops. This enables them to recognize whether the plants are healthy, find out which pests are present and receive specific instructions for how to combat problems. This AI app already provides direct help to many small farmers who are cultivating depleted soils in the sub-Saharan region.

In southern Spain, the vegetable garden of Europe, Joaquín Soriano Fernandez relies on sensors to maintain the right temperature and humidity levels in his greenhouses. An algorithm ensures that drought-stricken farmers in the region can irrigate more precisely - and thus save a lot of water.
In Madrid, engineer Roemi Fernandez Saavedra is researching new harvesting technologies. Her two-armed harvesting robot can already recognize the shape of ripe tomatoes and eggplants. Her aim is to reduce costs and waste, while freeing people from undignified working conditions.
One of the biggest problems we face is food waste. In Germany alone, eleven million tons of food end up in the bin every year. 17 percent of this is produced in restaurants and canteens. That is why a company canteen in Lünen is now using an AI forecasting system that predicts which dishes are most likely to be in demand during the lunch break.

Ethical issues are a major hurdle when using AI. Ameca, the world's most advanced humanoid robot, guides us through the film with his assessments: What are the potentials and limits of AI?

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