AI – The revolutionary force in crop breeding
Added on 02 August 2023
The fusion of AI with traditional agricultural practices is not merely about repainting the old with a coat of the new. This convergence is ushering in an era of precision agriculture, where farmers can predict, with impressive accuracy, the outcomes of their cultivation strategies. It feels like we’re entering an epoch of agricultural science fiction, where technology enables the creation of ‘super crops’.
AI and Predictive Analytics: Breeding Success
A recent report by Grand View Research suggested that the AI in agriculture market is projected to reach $11.2 billion by 2027, witnessing a considerable CAGR of 25.4% from 2020. This dramatic surge is attributable to AI’s predictive capabilities, notably in crop breeding.
In essence, AI allows breeders to model thousands of potential genetic combinations, estimating their effects on crop yield, resilience, and nutritional content. This predictive model then empowers farmers to selectively breed the most promising combinations, paving the way for high-yield, disease-resistant, and nutrient-rich crops.
Machine Learning: Transforming Crop Phenotyping
Machine Learning, a subset of AI, has a pivotal role to play in crop phenotyping, i.e., the process of measuring and analysing plant characteristics. Using algorithms that learn from patterns and data, machine learning can automatically identify plant traits from vast datasets. This automation dramatically increases the speed and accuracy of crop phenotyping, revolutionising traditional breeding practices.
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