How AI Is Poised to Change the Global Agricultural Landscape 

In the late 1800s, nearly half of the U.S. workforce was employed in agriculture. By 1920, this figure had declined to 30%, dropping further to just 3% by 1980. As of 2023, less than 2% of the population is directly employed in farming.

This dramatic shift reflects how technology has continually transformed farming practices over time. The Green Revolution dramatically increased crop yields by introducing high-yield crop varieties, fertilizers, and pesticides. 

Mechanized equipment like harvesters and tractors enabled large-scale farming, while modern irrigation systems expanded agriculture into arid regions by enhancing water efficiency. Now, artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to revolutionize the industry, ushering in a new era of innovation. 

While the application of AI and machine learning (ML) in agriculture is not a new concept, it has only recently become mainstream, partly due to the broader awareness. Generative AI (GenAI)  in particular has captured the imaginations of many leaders in the agriculture sector. 

According to McKinsey & Company, the combination of GenAI and analytical AI can unlock value across the business operations and value chain in agriculture. Not only can GenAI improve on-farm economics such as input costs and yields, but it can also increase sales growth for enterprises. 

“Agriculture is particularly well suited for disruption by AI and GenAI because of its high volumes of unstructured data, significant reliance on labor, complex supply chain logistics, and long R&D cycles, as well as the sheer number of farmers who value customized offers and low-cost services,” highlighted by McKinsey & Company. 

GenAI has the potential to “synthesize” millions of data points on soil conditions, weather patterns, and other environmental factors. Analytics AI models can then be used to simulate scenarios and derive insights. This can have a significant impact on farmers' ability to lower costs, increase efficiencies, and improve overall environmental impact. 

Agriculture enterprises can benefit from AI through enhanced operational efficiency, research and development,  and improved business functions. They can also streamline their process for product development, crop innovation, and regulatory compliance. 

Several companies, ranging from startups to enterprises, are striving to leverage the transformational power of AI to improve farming. Avalo, a crop development company based out of North Carolina, uses ML models to accelerate the creation of new and resistant crop varieties. 

Instead of relying on time-consuming and error-prone methods to physically select favorable traits in crops, Avalo uses ML algorithms to identify the genetic basis of complex traits like pest resistance in hundreds of crop varieties. The traditional methods require farmers to grow a plant through its entire lifecycle to analyze the results. Avalo claims their method can speed up the process by as much as 70%. 

Microsoft is playing a role in advancing innovation in agriculture by providing tools like Azure Data Manager, which helps gather and understand farm data. They also provide weather forecasts and apps like Krishi Mitra, which offer advice on crops, pests, and soil. These tools help farmers make smarter choices and improve their farming practices.

While AI leads agricultural innovation, other advancements are also emerging globally. To enhance strategies for protecting crops from drought, heat, and humidity, UAE-based agritech company Silal has partnered with international organizations, including biotechnology company Bayer. The collaboration aims to leverage cutting-edge technology and expertise to conduct advanced seed trials and implement sustainable farming practices. 

Despite technological advancements, agriculture continues to face significant challenges. This includes labor shortages, inefficiencies in resource use, and the growing need for sustainable practices. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, we must produce 60% more food by 2050 to sustain the projected world population of over 9 billion. 

Traditional farming practices might not be sufficient to meet this demand. It could also result in a heavy toll on our natural resources. To bridge this gap, the agricultural industry must embrace AI, which has the potential to address these pressing issues.