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AUTOMATION AND MACHINERY
AI in agriculture: The smart revolution we should all be talking about
By Brandon Stannett
The article explores how artificial intelligence is revolutionising agriculture, driving automation, improving efficiency and sustainability, enhancing machinery and creating new high-tech career opportunities across agriculture. Agriculture is undergoing a transformation unlike any in its long and storied history. For an industry that has fed civilisations for millennia, the next chapter is being written not just in the soil, but in silicon. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept—it’s here, embedded in the tractors, combines, and sprayers that traverse our fields. And it’s changing everything. To empower farmers with the best tools and technologies available, agricultural machinery manufacturers must embrace AI—not as a buzz- word, but as a practical, powerful force that’s helping farmers do more with less, make smarter decisions, and build more sustainable operations. The Third Wave of AI: From Pilots to Productivity We’re now in what our global Head of Technol- ogy Strategy and Product Innovation, Francesca Protano, calls the “third wave of AI.” This isn’t about prototypes or pilots—it’s about real tools delivering real results. AI is guiding vehicles, adjusting settings in real time, and improving yields. It’s embedded in our machines, often invisibly, making the farmer’s experience smoother and smarter. Some of the new models of combine harvesters on the market are a great example. Many of them
have had AI-driven features for years, quietly optimising performance without farmers even realising it; good technology works seamlessly. As processing power increases and datasets be- come more structured, these ‘next generation’ machines will move from precision farming to full autonomy and robotics. Challenges We Must Overcome Of course, this transformation isn’t without its challenges. Agriculture is one of the most diverse industries in the world. Farmers operate in vastly different environments, with varying levels of connectivity, infrastructure, and technical exper- tise. Scaling AI across such a diverse landscape is no small feat. In order to match the rate of technology develop- ments, organisations that grow through major acquisi- tions bring together different engineering cultures and
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