According to plant pathologist Karen Garrett of the University of Florida, AI can assist farmers and policymakers in making informed decisions to combat crop pathogen threats. Garrett explained to Scientific American that AI can detect diseases and pest infestations early on, allowing growers and others to catch problems before they cause significant damage. This could be especially beneficial for crop protection in areas where unpredictable weather patterns caused by climate change are exacerbating the spread of crop diseases. Garrett pointed out that most pathogens prefer a specific temperature range, and that AI tools can use image analysis to pinpoint the location of pathogen-infected crops. Satellites and drones can take images to analyze changes in the coloration, shape, and size of leaves, flowers, and fruits. Garrett added that better software for breeding crops with disease resistance and drought tolerance, as well as designing better robots for pesticide delivery and harvesting, are other ways AI can help improve crop resilience.

Source: FastCompany (link)
Images: MidJourney, Prompts by Lewis Farrell

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