Châtenay-Malabry (FR - 92290), May 08, 2023


EFITA newsletter / 1070 - European Federation for Information Technology in Agriculture, Food and the Environment


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Avant l’informatique / Before computers

08/05/2023 To have good harvests, use "Manon" fertilizers! "Manon" is a popular feminine given name in the past.

08/05/2023- See winstonchurchill.org

01 - 08/05/2023

About ChatGTP… What the Future of Automation in Agriculture Might Look Like? By Jan Johnson, Millennium Research, March 7, 2023, in Growing Produce

Paul: In the latest issue of EFITA that I have just received, the above question is asked and the answer can be read on the Global AG Tech Initiative site

An answer that really left me hungry; so, I asked ChatGPT what they thought about it.

Q. What the Future of Automation in Agriculture Might Look Like?

Réponse de ChatGPT / ChatGPT Answer

The future of automation in agriculture is likely to be transformative, with the potential to increase productivity, reduce costs, and address the challenges of food security and sustainability. Here are some possible scenarios of what the future of automation in agriculture might look like:
Autonomous vehicles: We are already seeing the use of autonomous vehicles in agriculture, such as drones and tractors. In the future, we may see the development of more advanced and sophisticated autonomous vehicles that can perform a range of tasks, such as planting, harvesting, and monitoring crops.

Precision agriculture: Precision agriculture involves the use of sensors, data analytics, and automation technologies to optimize crop yields and reduce waste. This could include automated irrigation systems, crop monitoring systems that use machine learning algorithms to detect crop stress, and automated pest management systems.

Robotic harvesting: Robotic harvesting technologies are already being used in some crops, such as strawberries and lettuce. In the future, we may see the development of robots that can harvest a wider range of crops, such as apples, oranges, and grapes.

Vertical farming: Vertical farming involves growing crops in stacked layers, using artificial lighting and climate control systems to optimize growing conditions. This could be combined with automation technologies, such as robotic planting and harvesting, to create highly efficient and productive farming systems.

Agricultural drones: Drones can be used for a range of agricultural applications, including crop monitoring, aerial surveys, and spraying pesticides. In the future, we may see the development of more advanced drones that can perform a wider range of tasks, such as planting and harvesting crops.

Overall, the future of automation in agriculture is likely to be highly disruptive, with the potential to transform the way we produce and consume food. While there are potential risks and challenges associated with this technology, such as job displacement and environmental impacts, the benefits could be significant in terms of increased productivity, reduced costs, and improved sustainability.

Paul: This answer is well constructed and very didactic. So, I insisted on digging a little deeper.

Q.: Among these five possible evolutions - Autonomous vehicles, Precision agriculture, Robotic harvesting, Vertical farming, Agricultural drones - some are the most advanced, the most widespread

Réponse de ChatGPT / ChatGPT Answer

Currently, all five of these possible evolutions are being developed and used to varying degrees in agriculture, but some are more advanced and widespread than others.

Precision agriculture is currently one of the most advanced and widespread forms of agricultural automation. It involves the use of sensors, data analytics, and automation technologies to optimize crop yields and reduce waste. Farmers are using precision agriculture techniques to improve the efficiency of crop management and reduce the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and water.

Autonomous vehicles, such as drones and tractors, are also becoming more common in agriculture. They are being used for a range of tasks, such as crop monitoring, mapping, and spraying. However, they are still relatively new technologies and their adoption is not yet widespread.

Robotic harvesting is being developed and used in some crops, such as strawberries and lettuce, but it is not yet widespread due to the high cost and complexity of the technology.

Vertical farming is a relatively new and emerging technology, but it is becoming more widespread in urban areas, where space for agriculture is limited. Vertical farms use artificial lighting and climate control systems to optimize growing conditions and can be combined with automation technologies for efficient and productive farming.

Agricultural drones are also becoming more common, especially for crop monitoring and aerial surveys. However, their use is limited by regulations and concerns over safety and privacy.

Overall, the adoption and use of these technologies varies depending on factors such as cost, complexity, and regulations. Precision agriculture is currently the most widespread and advanced form of agricultural automation, but other technologies such as autonomous vehicles and vertical farming are rapidly evolving and could become more common in the future.

Paul: What do you think? In the first answer, the 5 areas listed were already classified according to their state of advancement and penetration in agricultural practices.

I think well used, the A.I. is a very interesting tool for gathering ideas in an exhaustive way or even opening horizons... The A.I. explores a vast body of data to extract its essential marrow... But let's keep our critical mind because the A.I. is still very far from understanding the answer she gives you...

Contact: Paul JAMET
Mél / E-mail: paul.jamet(a)free.fr


Guy: thank you for this nice test of ChatGPT. ChatGPT's answer is interesting, well written, but not very original.

It lacks, but it is also the case in many articles or theses, this idea which is dear to me, which claims that the main motivation both of the mechanization of agriculture from its beginnings and of its robotization today, is above all to reduce the work arduousness , the productivity increase being only a side effect, certainly welcome but not essential.

With that in mind, it seems to me that cobots are very interesting. A cobot or "collaborative robot" is an industrial robot designed to perform tasks in close interaction with the production team. It is intended to be lighter, easier to program and less expensive than conventional industrial robots.

Paul: I share your thoughts... At the current stage of development, AI responses are standardized, without originality as you say, but they are "effective" because they are built from thousands of analyzed references, which gives them makes it possible to offer a quasi-exhaustiveness...

In addition, I asked the following question: Could you explain me what is a collaborative robot ie a cobot?

Réponse de ChatGPT / ChatGPT Answer

Sure! A collaborative robot, also known as a cobot, is a type of robot designed to work alongside human workers in a shared workspace. Unlike traditional industrial robots that are usually placed in cages or behind safety barriers to prevent any contact with humans, cobots are specifically designed to be safe for people to work alongside.

Cobots are equipped with sensors and other safety features that allow them to detect when a human worker is nearby and adjust their movements accordingly. They can also be programmed to perform a wide range of tasks, from simple pick-and-place operations to more complex assembly tasks.

Cobots are increasingly being used in manufacturing, healthcare, and other industries to improve productivity and efficiency while also reducing the risk of accidents or injuries. They are particularly useful for tasks that are repetitive or require a high degree of precision, freeing up human workers to focus on more complex and creative tasks.

Paul: You notice that the word arduousness is not used as such; but the answer contains "repetitive and physically demanding tasks". On the other hand, productivity and safety are well cited; it is true that the automotive industry uses many robots for painting, electrical welding, etc.


Old Breton woman smoking pipe

02 - 08/05/2023

The Week in AgriFoodTech: Canopy raises $60m to help forests, CropX nets $30m for farm management, AFN, by Jennifer Marston and Lucy Ngige
See agfundernews.com


Why Farmers Business Network launched Norm, an AI advisor for farmers built on ChatGPT, AFN, by Jennifer Marston

It was only ever a matter of time before ChatGPT came for agriculture.

Generative AI has already infiltrated restaurants, ingredient development and other areas of agrifoodtech. Now, it’s providing agronomy advice to growers courtesy of Norm, the recently unveiled AI chatbot developed by Farmers Business Network (FBN).

Farmers registered on FBN can access Norm for free (for now) to access near-real-time information about farm equipment, planting times, soil health, and many other areas of farming.
.../...
See agfundernews.com


How to implement digital agriculture, step-by-step, AFN, by guest contributor Marco Brini

Marco Brini is a digital agriculture expert, affiliated with renowned institutions such as ETH, ITU, and FAO. Currently a Digital Agriculture Expert at ETH – World Food System Center, he has also worked as a freelance consultant, CTO, and CEO-founder for various organizations, focusing on digital agriculture solutions, IoT technologies, and outdoor monitoring systems. Marco holds multiple patents in the field. He recently wrote a free digital book entitled ‘Implementing Digital Agriculture Step-by-Step,’ which he summarizes here.
.../...
Download the book for free here
See agfundernews.com

Old Breton woman smoking pipe

03 - 08/05/2023

Edete offers high-tech alternative to spray and pray approach for artificial pollination, AFN, by Elaine Watson

Unlike almonds, which rely on honeybees for pollination, a dwindling and increasingly expensive resource, pistachio crops are pollinated by wind, which is both abundant and free-of-charge. So why are some growers turning to artificial pollination?

If the weather is optimal throughout the year, male and female pistachio trees bloom at the same time, and the wind successfully carries pollen from male to female plants, growers can expect a decent harvest, says Ed Surber, head of the US operation at Israeli agtech startup Edete Precision Technologies for Agriculture.

Put another way, he says, if all the stars align, Mother Nature doesn’t need any assistance. The problem is, she doesn’t always play ball.
…/…
See agfundernews.com


Revol Greens CEO: ‘Customers don’t care what tech you have, they care if it’s a better product’, AFN, by Elaine Watson

The promise of a reliable supply of fresh, local produce with a pesticide-free positioning is alluring. But with controlled environment agriculture (CEA) startups dropping like flies, “jaundiced” investors are now laser-focused on models with proven unit economics and financial returns, Revol Greens CEO Michael Wainscott tells AFN on a tour of the firm’s vast hydroponic greenhouse in Tehachapi, California.

Plants, he observes, are not widgets that come out perfectly every time. Instead, they are living organisms that require careful handling, and investors that jumped into CEA with the hope of making a fast buck have got their fingers burned.

“People got so enamored with the shiny new toys and technology, that they forgot how efficient existing systems that they are trying to replace are. This is where the greenhouse market really blew it and why investors are a little bit jaundiced; these startups made it seem like you build a greenhouse and these plants come out like magic. But you can kill plants a million different ways.”
…/…
See agfundernews.com


Old Breton woman smoking pipe

04 - 08/05/2023

Tevel named winner at World Ag Expo for advancing autonomous harvesting using flying robots, AFN, by Lucy Ngige

“Right now there’s just not enough pickers to harvest fruit on time and farmers are just bleeding money, losing revenues and profits due to this global labor shortage,” says Danielle Efargan from Tevel, an Israeli developer of autonomous flying fruit-picking robots currently serving the European and US markets.

Tevel recently made headlines after being recognized as one of the winners in the ‘Top-10 New Product‘ competition at the World Ag Expo in Tulare, California.

Tevel’s founder and CEO Yaniv Maor, who comes from a background in research and development, industrial defense and consumer markets spanning over 20 years, had the idea for the company after watching a documentary where young people were tasked to manually pick fruit. In just half a day, everyone quit because the task was too strenuous. Apart from the strain, such labor is often priced very low in the market and is scarce. Manual harvesting is also one of the major causes of food waste due to unnecessary bruising and is very time inefficient.

Milestones after Tevel’s raise in 2021 include securing $20 million from a pool of investors including AgFunder, for product validation, commercialization, and commencing operations in the US and Europe. The robot maker’s market entry strategy is to partner with ag machinery and harvesting solutions manufacturers and integrate its robots and ground computing software system into these harvesting machines.
.../...

See agfundernews.com

FutureFarming.com

> Test with Robot One from Pixelfarming at Dutch bulb grower
Pixelfarming Robotics demonstrated the Robot One at flower bulb grower and NPPL participant Stef Ruiter in Andijk (NH).

> Forecast Information: Using a GoPro camera to create forecast information
Bitwise Agronomy offers berry growers an AI tool that uses a GoPro camera to create accurate forecast information.

> Top 10 Ag Tech: Top 10 agri-tech organizations in the USA in 2023
Analytics Insight mentions the top 10 agri-tech Organizations for 2023.

> 7 AI supported 3-point linkage systems for selective weeding
Weeding tools are upgraded with cameras and AI to smart self-thinking tools with shares, tines, spray nozzles and even lasers.

> Glyphosate: How an EU glyphosate ban would affect farmers globally

> Future of herbicides: The future of herbicides: trends for use and more

> Hoeing: Austrian sideshift frame for hoeing machines up to 6 rows

> Herbicide-tolerant: Herbicide-tolerant barley offers growers more options

> Weeding: FarmWise launches next-generation weeding
How to VRA plant per plant with PWM-technology

> PWM-TECHNOLOGY: How to VRA plant per plant with PWM-technology
K.U.L.T. prepares hoeing machinery for robotic weed removal

> Hoeing: K.U.L.T.: hoeing machinery for robotic weed removal
Test drive with smooth self-propelled Agrifac Condor Vanguard

> Test drive: Test drive with self-propelled Agrifac Condor Vanguard

> ChatGPT: ‘How ChatGPT could change Farming fast (good and bad)’
One of the key developments in this field now is ChatGPT, a language model developed by OpenAI.

>PWM Technology: How to VRA plant per plant with PWM-technology
While more and more new field sprayers are equipped with PWM-technology, farmers can’t optimally benefit from it for their VRA applications yet.

> Potato disease: Breakthrough in fight against devastating potato disease
WUR researcher Daniel Moñino-López made with CRISPR/Cas plants resistant to late blight disease caused by Phytophthora infestans.

> Laser bots: Carbon Robotics bags $30m for weed control with autonomous laser bots
Carbon Robotics has raised a $30 million Series C for its precision weed-control system for speciality crops.

> Job opportunities: HMC Farms: ag tech is about making jobs better
HMC Farms believes that instead, innovation breeds new job opportunities and breathes fresh life into the industry.
See futurefarming.com

Old Breton woman smoking pipe

05 - 08/05/2023

Global Tech Initiative

> Will We See Autonomous Vehicles on Farms?
While automatic vehicles are already on today's farms, it’s matter of time before this technology becomes widespread.

> Bosch BASF Smart Farming Is Now ONE SMART SPRAY
New global brand name supports commercialization activities and recognizes a unique market offer for the smart spraying of herbicides.

> Autonomous Robotics in Agriculture Prompt Safety Initiatives at the University of Illinois
As new technological innovations in agriculture continue to advance, it is critical to understand the safety implications of automated equipment.

>How Argitech Is Creating Better Opportunities for Indian Farmers
The growth of agtech entrepreneurs has made the ag ecosystem more advanced and robust, benefiting its most crucial stakeholder — Indian farmers.

> First AI Ag Advisor Provides Farmers With a Wide Array of Agronomic Intelligence
Farmers Business Network's new artificial intelligence Agronomic Advisor, Norm, is powered by Open AI's ChatGPT.

> Learn About the Women in Ag Tech Initiative at Tech Hub LIVE 2023
The group aims to provide women in agriculture technology with a platform to connect, engage, and build a community.

> Recognize the Innovators Transforming Agriculture: Submit Nomination by May 1
Nominate an outstanding individual for one of four CropLife Ag Tech Awards Of Excellence by May 1, 2023.

> Q1 2023 AgTech Venture Capital Investment and Exit Round Up
Despite the reduction in investment dollars, the number of deals continued to grow, says agtech investment expert Kyle Welborn.

> Urban Crop Solutions Ranked Fourth in Fast Company’s List of Most Innovative Companies
The only indoor farming company to be named in this category, UCS stood out for the launch of its PharmSpee platform.

> Wingtra Lands $22M Funding Round for Manufacturing Commercial Drones
Wingtra to accelerate growth with new funding round, management team, and product innovation.

> Following the 'Falling Dominos' in AgTech
From myriad new product launches to several mergers and acquisitions, there are many examples of the falling dominos in agtech today.

> Chia Network, SpaceKnow Collaborate to Secure Spatial Data and Analytics for AgroTech Industry
Blockchain and satellite technology innovation will unlock actionable intelligence, drive accuracy and transparency, and build trust in carbon credit programs.

> SVG Ventures | THRIVE Launches THRIVE Agrithon to Discover Sustainable Agrifood Tech Innovations
THRIVE Agrithon provides a platform for global innovators to solve sustainability challenges in agriculture.

> Gerbera Harvesting Robot Getting Closer to Reality
The harvesting robot originally developed by Wageningen University & Research (WUR) has improved significantly over the past year.

> Proagrica, Lexagri Form Crop Input Data Partnership for the Global Agriculture Industry
This new alliance between Proagrica and Lexagri will provide reference data coverage for the agriculture industry in over 90 countries.
See globalagtechinitiative.com


It’s A Pretzel Party, by Chuck Dinerstein, April 26, 2023

There is nothing better than a crisp, crunchy, dare I add, slightly burnt pretzel – whole or in pieces. Add a bit of mustard, and we are set for the day. It is National Pretzel Day, time for a few pretzel factoids.
See acsh.org


French huge public expenses / La dépense publique au plus haut par rapport aux autres pays de l’UE

01 - 08/05/2023

France pays 1.1% of its GDP more than the European average for pensions / La France paie 1,1 % de son PIB de plus que la moyenne européenne pour les retraites

02 - 08/05/2023

Female diseases underfounded in US and probably in France / Sous-financement des maladies affectant les femmes

03 - 08/05/2023

In China, better air but far from correct / En Chine, un air moins pollué mais encore trop

04 - 08/05/2023

High US solar costs high / Energie solaire encore couteuse aux USA

05 - 08/05/2023

A first thought for today

Oh, the comfort -- the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person -- having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all right out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away.
Dinah Maria Mulock CRAIK, poet and novelist (1826-1887)


A second thought for today

So act that your principle of action might safely be made a law for the whole world.
Emmanuel KANT, philosopher (1724-1804)


A third thought for today

Understanding a person does not mean condoning; it only means that one does not accuse him as if one were God or a judge placed above him.
Erich FROMM (2013), in “Man for Himself: An Inquiry Into the Psychology of Ethics”, p.243, Open Road Media


A fourth thought for today

History is all explained by geography.
Robert Penn WARREN, novelist and poet (1905-1989)


Old Breton woman smoking pipe

06 - 08/05/2023

Another warning about the AI apocalypse? I don’t buy it, by Ivana Bartoletti, The Guardian, May 3, 2023

Yes, there are sobering risks, but also potential for huge advances. We need to agree some global rules of the game.

AI tools like ChatGPT are everywhere. It is the combination of computational power and availability of data that has led to a surge in AI technology, but the reason models such as ChatGPT and Bard have made such a spectacular splash is that they have hit our own homes, with around 100 million people currently using them.

This has led to a very fraught public debate. It is predicted that a quarter of all jobs will be affected one way or another by AI and some companies are holding back on recruitment to see which jobs can be automated. Fears about AI can move markets, as we saw yesterday when Pearson shares tumbled over concerns that AI would disrupt its business. And, looming above the day-to-day debate are the sometimes apocalyptic warnings about the long-term dangers of AI technologies – often from loud and arguably authoritative voices belonging to executives and researchers who developed these technologies.
…/…
There is both excitement and fear about this technology. Apocalyptic scenarios of AI similar to those depicted in the Terminator films should not blind us to a more realistic and pragmatic vision that sees the good of AI and addresses the real risks. Rules of the game are necessary, and global agreements are vital if we want to move from somewhat mindless development of AI to responsible and democratised adoption of this new power.
See theguardian.com


Exclusive: OpenAI Used Kenyan Workers on Less Than $2 Per Hour to Make ChatGPT Less Toxic, by BY Billy Perrigo, January 18, 2023

ChatGPT was hailed as one of 2022’s most impressive technological innovations upon its release last November. The powerful artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot can generate text on almost any topic or theme, from a Shakespearean sonnet reimagined in the style of Megan Thee Stallion, to complex mathematical theorems described in language a 5 year old can understand. Within a week, it had more than a million users.

ChatGPT’s creator, OpenAI, is now reportedly in talks with investors to raise funds at a $29 billion valuation, including a potential $10 billion investment by Microsoft. That would make OpenAI, which was founded in San Francisco in 2015 with the aim of building superintelligent machines, one of the world’s most valuable AI companies.

But the success story is not one of Silicon Valley genius alone. In its quest to make ChatGPT less toxic, OpenAI used outsourced Kenyan laborers earning less than $2 per hour, a TIME investigation has found.
.../...
But the need for humans to label data for AI systems remains, at least for now. “They’re impressive, but ChatGPT and other generative models are not magic – they rely on massive supply chains of human labor and scraped data, much of which is unattributed and used without consent,” Andrew Strait, an AI ethicist, recently wrote on Twitter. “These are serious, foundational problems that I do not see OpenAI addressing.”
See time.com


Old Breton woman smoking pipe

07 - 08/05/2023

Agvolution

Germany-based startup Agvolution has developed an AI system that draws on data from solar-powered sensors monitoring the microclimate around crops.

The devices measure temperature, humidity, radiation and soil moisture in the field, while algorithms use these insights to make precise recommendations about plant health and exactly how much water and fertilizer to use.

This can both boost yields and reduce wasted resources. The company says this can increase ecological and economic efficiency by up to 40%.
See en.agvolution.com


Address the growing urgency of fungal disease in crops, by Eva Stukenbrock & Sarah Gurr

More political and public awareness of the plight of the world’s crops when it comes to fungal disease is crucial to stave off a major threat to global food security.

From leaf rust in wheat to sheath blight in rice, most of the word’s worst crop diseases are caused by fungi. Fungi are resilient, adaptable survivors. And they have been helped along by modern monoculture farming methods and the overuse of antifungals. Rising temperatures and a growing population pile on further challenges. It is no longer enough to focus on clearing diseased crops, breeding plants for narrow resistance or spraying fungicides, argue evolutionary biologist Eva Stukenbrock and plant pathologist Sarah Gurr. “Much more awareness of the plight of the world’s crops as a result of fungal disease is needed, as is more government and private- sector investment in crop fungal research.”
See nature.com

The Efita newsletter is sponsored by:

Old Breton woman smoking pipe

08 - 08/05/2023

06 - 08/05/2023

07 - 08/05/2023

08 - 08/05/2023

09 - 08/05/2023

See archive.today

See warpnews.org

10 - 08/05/2023

US Liquids and gas production per hour worked by extraction ans support employees down / Diminution de la quantité de pétrole et gaz extraite par heure de travail

11 - 08/05/2023

Poland has changed beyond recognition – and so has its place in Europe’s pecking order, by Anna Gromada, 25 Apr 2023

When the iron curtain was swept away on that miraculous night of 9 November 1989, it exposed some of the deepest differences between geographical neighbours the world has ever recorded. The 13:1 GDP per capita gap between Poland and soon-to-be united Germany was twice that between the US and Mexico.
.../...
Like my sense of entitlement, my country has changed beyond recognition. Poland has experienced uninterrupted growth over three decades, the longest in European history. Its GDP has increased tenfold nominally, sixfold when corrected for the cost of living. It has a record low unemployment rate of 3%, lower infant mortality than Canada, higher female life expectancy than the US and less violent crime than the UK . And now you don’t get lost on Polish highways either.
.../...
Globally and locally, economic cooperation based on a centre-periphery division of labour is being challenged. When your assembly line grows in power, it starts coming up with its own Lego sets. China-US rivalry may soon be echoed in regional (and friendlier) miniatures, such as a Polish-German divide. As eastern Europe grows in power, it is questioning its role in the pecking order. The region has learned the hard way that if you are not at the negotiating table, you are on the menu.
See theguardian.com


Old Breton woman smoking pipe

09 - 08/05/2023

10 - 08/05/2023

11 - 08/05/2023

The world has lost one-third of its forest, but an end of deforestation is possible, by Hannah Ritchie, February 09, 2021

Over the last 10,000 years the world has lost one-third of its forests. An area twice the size of the United States. Half occurred in the last century.

01 - See ourworldindata.org

02 - See ourworldindata.org

03 - See ourworldindata.org

Dumbest kid?

A young boy enters a barber shop and the barber whispers to his customer, "This is the dumbest kid in the world. Watch while I prove it to you."

The barber puts a dollar bill in one hand and two quarters in the other, then calls the boy over and asks, "Which do you want, son?" The boy takes the quarters and leaves.

"What did I tell you?" said the barber. "That kid never learns!"

Later, when the customer leaves, he sees the same young boy coming out of the ice cream parlor.

"Hey, son! May I ask you a question? Why did you take the quarters instead of the dollar bill?"

The boy licked his cone and replied:

"Because the day I take the dollar the game is over!"