Smart Agriculture Practices

The advent of robotics in gardening and agriculture is poised to revolutionize the industry, driving significant changes in various aspects. What do you think about this solution? Increased Efficiency and Productivity: Precision Farming: Robots equipped with sensors and AI can analyze soil conditions, plant health, and weather patterns to optimize resource allocation, leading to higher yields and reduced waste. 24/7 Operation: Unlike human workers, robots can operate around the clock, maximizing productivity and accelerating crop cycles. Minimized Labor Costs: Automation of repetitive tasks like weeding, harvesting, and planting can reduce reliance on manual labor, lowering operational costs. Enhanced Sustainability: Resource Optimization: Robots can precisely apply water, fertilizers, and pesticides, minimizing environmental impact and reducing costs. Reduced Chemical Use: AI-powered robots can identify and target specific pests and weeds, limiting the need for broad-spectrum chemical treatments. Sustainable Practices: Robots can facilitate sustainable farming practices like precision agriculture and organic farming, promoting long-term ecosystem health. Improved Food Quality and Safety: Consistent Quality: Robots can maintain consistent standards for harvesting and processing, ensuring uniform product quality. Reduced Contamination: Automated systems can minimize the risk of contamination from human error or biological factors. Traceability: Robotics can enable precise tracking of food products from farm to table, enhancing food safety and traceability. Challenges and Considerations: Initial Investment: The high cost of robotic systems may be a barrier for small-scale farmers. Technical Expertise: Operating and maintaining complex robotic systems requires specialized skills and training. Job Displacement: Automation may lead to job losses in certain sectors, necessitating workforce retraining and upskilling. Ethical Concerns: The use of AI and robotics in agriculture raises ethical questions about the role of technology in food production and potential environmental impacts. The Future of Agriculture: The integration of robotics in gardening and agriculture is likely to reshape the industry, leading to increased efficiency, sustainability, and food security. While challenges remain, the potential benefits of this technological revolution are immense. As technology continues to advance, we can expect to see even more innovative applications of robotics in the years to come. #Ai #innovation #technology

WHY AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH OFTEN FAILS TO REACH FARMERS — A Consultant’s Perspective Having worked with dozens of cooperatives, farmer groups, and agrifood projects across Kenya, I’ve seen a pattern that’s hard to ignore: Agricultural research is abundant. Impact on the ground? Minimal. Why? Research is often academic, not practical. Brilliant findings end up in journals, not in farmers’ hands. Most farmers I work with have never seen or heard of the latest research that could transform their yields or earnings. Top-down approaches dominate. Solutions are designed in labs or research stations with minimal farmer involvement. Yet, farmers are the experts of their own environments. Poor extension linkages. Even when good innovations exist, there’s a huge gap between research institutions and grassroots extension systems. As consultants, we often end up "translating" research that should have been made farmer-friendly from the start. No market lens. Research tends to focus on production. But farmers ask: “Will it sell? Is it profitable?” Without market integration, innovation is just theory. Feedback is ignored. Farmers are rarely involved in evaluating what works or doesn’t. We need more participatory learning, less top-down training. From a consultant’s view, the solution is not just more research—but more relevant, inclusive, and actionable research. Let’s invest in: Co-creating with farmers, Bridging research with market realities, Translating findings into practical guides, audio-visuals, and demos, Strengthening extension and private sector partnerships. The knowledge exists. The gap is in the approach. Farmers don’t need more data—they need results. #Agriculture #FarmersFirst #ResearchToImpact #KenyaFarming #AgriConsulting #FoodSystems #ValueAddition #DairyDevelopment #ExtensionServices #AgriPolicy #AfricanAgriculture

🌾 Everyone Chases the Farmer. But Who Does the Farmer Chase? 🧑🌾 In Indian agriculture, this is the ironic reality: 🔬 Scientists approach farmers with new research. ⚙️ Tech companies pitch the latest gadgets and apps. 💼 Fertilizer and pesticide companies push their products. 📊 Consultants give advice, charts, and reports. Everyone wants a piece of the farmer’s field. Everyone wants to “help” the farmer. But what does the farmer want? 👉 Just a fair price for their produce. 👉 A transparent market. 👉 Freedom from middlemen. 👉 And respect for their hard work. Yet, while the whole industry runs towards the farmer with inputs and ideas, the farmer runs after traders and buyers, begging for a better price. 📉 This is the imbalance. We’ve over-focused on “production” and under-invested in “value realization.” 💬 It’s time to shift the focus: - From inputs to income. - From exploitation to empowerment. - From “farming for the market” to “making the market work for farmers.” Let's be honest how many of you are actually sourcing produce directly from farms at fair prices?? Let’s build an ecosystem where the farmer stops chasing and finally stands at the center respected, empowered, and in control. #FarmersFirst #AgricultureReality #IndianFarming #AgriReform #BPDblueprint #Kritpann #FarmersVoice #SustainableAgriculture #AgriTech #AgriBusiness #RuralEmpowerment

Modern farming enables farmers to leave the soil undisturbed and promote soil health. Practices such as no-till, reduced-till, and conservation tillage allow farmers to reduce or eliminate plowing a field, churning up the soil. When soil is broken up and turned over in the tilling process it releases carbon stored in the soil and increases the possibilities that the soil will erode via wind or rain. Reduced tillage practices allow valuable nutrients and moisture to remain in the soil, limit soil erosion, reduce water run-off, and enable farmers to make better use of rainwater. These practices have the potential to decrease the need for irrigation and allow farmers to protect freshwater sources. No-till methods can also help sequester carbon in the soil. With minimal or zero tillage, farmers help prevent greenhouse gases from building up in the atmosphere and help in the fight against climate change. Another advantage of no-till is that farmers are able to better preserve the ecosystem for earthworms, nematodes, mites, insects, fungi, bacteria, and over 1,000 different species of invertebrates. Every decision to leave the soil undisturbed is a commitment to healthier ecosystems.

AI’s Promise and Pitfalls in Agriculture - We need better and more humble Founders!! Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform agriculture by optimizing yields, predicting crop prices, and mitigating climate risks. However, the recent collapse of Gro Intelligence, a once-celebrated agritech startup, reveals the dangers of prioritizing hype over substance. Gro’s failure, alongside other AI-driven price prediction missteps, exposes a critical flaw—founders who lack deep domain expertise in agricultural markets risk not only their ventures but also the trust of the farming community. This article "AI as the Ultimate Transformer: Founders' Shortcomings Jeopardize Its Potential in Agriculture" delves into how AI’s promise in agriculture is being undermined by misguided approaches and what can be done to ensure its responsible application. The article is based on my firsthand experience in working with multiple founders and product managers across the globe, many of whom have inflated perception about themselves, and technology. The Fall of Gro Intelligence: A Lesson in Overconfidence Founded in 2014, Gro Intelligence set out to revolutionize agricultural data analytics by using AI to forecast yields and commodity prices. With $115 million in funding, it promised insights derived from massive datasets, but cracks soon emerged. Gro overestimated its AI’s ability to navigate unpredictable market forces such as China’s strategic soybean stockpiling or India’s abrupt export bans. The company also prioritized scaling its data infrastructure over validating its models with local experts, leading to flawed predictions that failed real-world tests. Ultimately, Gro’s downfall highlights a recurring issue—founders who approach agriculture with a Silicon Valley mindset often ignore the deep complexities of global commodity markets, leading to avoidable failures. AI Price Predictions and the Danger of Superficial Models AI-powered price prediction tools have repeatedly failed due to an inadequate understanding of commodity markets. One notable example is a Chicago-based startup that attempted to predict soybean futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. By ignoring factors like China’s opaque stockpiling policies and futures market mechanics, its model deviated from actual prices by 30%, resulting in massive losses for hedge funds. These cases illustrate how AI models, no matter how advanced, are ineffective when they fail to capture the intricate forces driving market prices. A Smarter Approach to AI in Agriculture For AI to succeed in agriculture, it must prioritize context over code and blend technology with human expertise. Companies that embed traders, farmers, and agronomists into their AI teams produce more accurate and practical models. Hybrid intelligence—where AI is supplemented by human oversight—has also proven effective.

New Publication!! 🌍 Overcoming barriers to the adoption of water-saving technologies in Jordan: policy pathways for transforming knowledge, attitudes, and practices💧 Authors: MAHA Al-ZU'BI, Ph.D. Nafn Amdar Youssef Brouziyne Jordan is facing a severe water scarcity crisis, worsened by rapid population growth, climate change, and the overuse of limited groundwater. With per capita water availability at just 61 m³/year—far below the global threshold of 500 m³/year—it’s one of the most water-scarce countries in the world. 🌿 The agricultural sector, which consumes nearly 48% of the country’s freshwater, is hit especially hard. The reliance on inefficient irrigation methods has led to low water productivity, particularly in the highlands, where productivity is only JOD 0.36 per m³, far below the potential achievable with Water Saving Technologies (WSTs). 💡 However, several barriers hinder the adoption of these critical technologies: - Financial Constraints 💸 - Limited Extension Services 📚 - Technical Gaps 🔧 - Unequal Access, especially for smallholders and marginalized communities 🚜 Many farmers struggle to integrate WSTs into their practices without proper guidance and support. Aligning farmers' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) with water conservation goals is key to ensuring the successful adoption of these technologies. 🌱 To address these challenges, a multi-faceted approach is required: 💧Research & Tailored Support: Researchers can pinpoint adoption barriers, while practitioners offer targeted guidance to overcome them. 💧Policymaker Action: Policies should encourage WST adoption through financial incentives, education, and research. 💧Education & Awareness Campaigns: Farmers need to understand the long-term benefits of WSTs for sustainable farming. 💧Financial Support: Subsidies or low-interest loans can help make these technologies more accessible, especially for smallholders. 💧A Farmer-Centric Approach: A Market Systems Development (MSD) strategy can improve the market system surrounding WSTs, while peer learning and strong extension services offer ongoing support. By tackling these issues, we can ensure long-term water security and agricultural productivity for Jordan. Together, we can drive the adoption of water-saving technologies and pave the way for a more sustainable future. 🌱 #WaterSecurity #Agriculture #Sustainability #Jordan #WaterSavingTechnologies #ClimateChange #Innovation #WaterConservation #AgricultureSustainability #FutureOfFarming #MarketSystemsDevelopment International Water Management Institute (IWMI) Read full Policy Brief: https://lnkd.in/epr2fWpT

Why agriculture graduates avoid farming in Africa, and why this must change. Because many agriculture graduates don’t end up on the farm. They don’t go back to the fields. They don’t apply the knowledge they gained in soil science, agronomy, agribusiness, or crop protection. And it’s not because they don’t care. It’s not because they are lazy. It’s because the system is broken. Farming is still perceived as a low-class, last-resort activity. Not as a business. Not as a profession. Not as a career to be proud of. These graduates come out with degrees, ideas, and energy— But find no access to land. No access to capital. No support systems to launch agribusinesses. They apply for grants—few are tailored to first-time farmers. They pitch startups—investors shy away from agriculture. They try to lease land—too expensive, or too politicized. And when they do try farming, markets fail them. Prices fluctuate wildly. Middlemen take most of the profit. Infrastructure is poor—no storage, no transport, no processing units. So they pivot. They find jobs in banks, in NGOs, in logistics. They become teachers, civil servants, or leave the country. Not because they forgot agriculture— But because farming doesn’t feed the farmer. This must change. We must make agriculture attractive again. We must treat it as a science, a business, and a movement. We must bridge the gap between theory and practice. It starts with mindset change. Agriculture is not a backup plan—it’s a smart path. It's an industry worth billions. It’s the heart of food security and economic growth. We need investment in youth agripreneurs. Subsidized loans for first-time farmers. Affordable access to land and greenhouses. Mentorship from experienced farmers and agribusiness experts. We need hubs where students learn beyond textbooks. Hands-on farming. Agri-tech innovation. Market research and product development. We need policies that favor youth-led agribusinesses. Procurement from youth cooperatives. Fast-tracked business licenses. Access to storage, cold rooms, and digital platforms. Let’s celebrate successful young farmers. Let’s showcase farming as a smart, tech-savvy, and profitable path. Let’s teach youth how to grow, but also how to sell, package, and brand. We have the graduates. We have the land. We have the hunger for change. What we lack is the support structure to help youth take off. If we fail them, we fail our future. But if we invest in them, If we give them land, tools, and markets— They will transform African agriculture. They will create jobs, feed cities, and build green economies. They will stay, grow, and lead. Because agriculture is not just about food. It’s about dignity. It’s about identity. It’s about power. And Africa can’t afford to waste this generation. #TheMugabofarmer #FeedAfrica

Sometimes, a strong master’s thesis — especially when supported by a professional research institute like ILVO — leads to insights that matter far beyond academia. This is one of those cases. In his thesis, Senne Vrins explored why AI-driven weed management, despite its promise to cut pesticide use and improve sustainability, is still struggling to gain traction in Flemish agriculture. The findings are clear: the delay is not because the technology doesn’t work, but because there is a poor understanding of ecosystem orchestration. Farmers, policymakers, AgTech startups, contractors, and researchers all act in their own silos, while success requires alignment across regulation, data-sharing, skills, and business models. Using Ron Adner’s Wide-Lens framework, the study shows that adoption barriers — from cost–risk imbalances to unclear data ownership — are interdependent. Without orchestration, each stakeholder waits for others to move first, creating a stalemate. What is missing is coordinated thinking and governance that actively synchronizes incentives, rules, and trust across the ecosystem. The result is an article that is both academically rigorous and highly relevant for practitioners. It makes the case that AI-driven weed management will only succeed if we shift from isolated technology pushes to ecosystem thinking and orchestration — with initiatives like DjustConnect as key enablers. #AIinAgriculture #AgTech #SustainableFarming #PrecisionAgriculture #ILVO #OpenInnovation #EcosystemOrchestration

This vineyard uses ducks to replace pesticides and restore soil health 🌎 For centuries, agricultural practices have relied on nature-based solutions to maintain ecosystem balance and ensure long-term productivity. Vergenoegd Löw The Wine Estate in South Africa exemplifies this principle by deploying Indian Runner ducks as a natural pest control system. This centuries-old technique, inspired by traditional rice paddy farming in Asia, minimizes the need for chemical pesticides, enhancing soil health and biodiversity. By integrating these ducks into vineyard management, the estate not only reduces its environmental footprint but also supports regenerative agriculture, a crucial approach for long-term sustainability in viticulture. The use of animals for agricultural support is not a new concept; from draft animals in plowing to falcons controlling rodent populations, farmers have long leveraged natural processes to optimize yields. By reviving and modernizing these historical methods, Vergenoegd Löw is demonstrating how traditional ecological knowledge can be seamlessly integrated into contemporary sustainability strategies. Beyond pest control, the ducks contribute to soil regeneration by fertilizing the land as they move through the vineyard, a practice reminiscent of rotational grazing systems that have been used for centuries to maintain soil vitality. This approach aligns with global sustainability goals by promoting organic farming principles and reducing dependency on synthetic inputs. Conventional vineyards often rely on pesticides that contribute to soil degradation, water contamination, and biodiversity loss. By contrast, integrating biological pest control measures supports a circular farming system where waste is minimized, and resources are efficiently utilized. The estate further strengthens its commitment to environmental responsibility through complementary initiatives, including a solar power plant and the conservation of a 25-hectare wetland, reinforcing the multifaceted nature of sustainable wine production. Beyond environmental benefits, adopting sustainable practices can enhance the economic resilience of the wine industry. #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange

The Amazing Power of Digital in Agriculture 📱 One of the most common questions we get about Agri-Target, our new Disease and Pest Alerts service, is: "Do you really have enough farmers and data across states to provide real-time insights?" If you’ve ever worked in agriculture in India, or any country with a high population of small-scale farmers, you know why they ask. Real-time data is one of the hardest things to get. 😓 😓 For decades, the industry has relied on a slow, manual process. Field agents visit farms, talk to farmers, and record information by hand. Collecting just 30 data points from 30 farmers takes two people an entire day!! 😲 , and that doesn’t even include travel. Now imagine scaling that across 100 districts in 10 states. 🤯 It quickly becomes a logistical nightmare, with companies employing 400 to 2,000 people every year just to gather basic insights. And even then, the data is often delayed, error-prone, and expensive to process. 🚀 Here’s where digital changes everything The table below shows 17 states in India where Plantix had over 100K active users last year. 100K+ engaged farmers in each state, all using an app that automatically collects GPS-stamped images and real-time data from the field. No need to send thousands of people into the field. No delays. No logistical headaches. Just instant insights that let you react, plan, and execute in real time. and the best thing!? You can SCALE it fast!! 1. You want to reach 500 Districts and 20,000 farmers? we can do it tomorrow. No field agents, no admin. 2. You want to go into a new region? Digital CAC is less then 10% of the non-digital solution. 🌍 The agriculture industry is ready to embrace the power and value of digital. Where have you seen other values of going digital in the industry? What are the challenges you've seen in companies going digital? Drop a comment below and let’s discuss. Androniki Menelaou, Chris Chen, Dean Dutta, Nalin Rawal, Lukas Louis KRATTINGER (EMBA), Manish G., Shitanshu Chhajed, Sunil Khairnar, Sunil Kumar, Deepak Pareek, Daniel Prudhviraj, Ravinkumar Sivalingam, Alexander Kennepohl, Federico Villasanti, Akanksha Barot, Dr Anita Sharma, Venky Ramachandran