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2 November 2022, Rome – Agricultural automation ranges from tractors to artificial intelligence and can play an important role
in improving food production efficiency and enhancing environmental sustainability.
However, uneven access to technology can also exacerbate inequality
.
Inequality will be exacerbated
by the lack of access to technology, especially for small-scale producers and marginalized groups such as youth and women.
in improving food production efficiency and enhancing environmental sustainability.
However, uneven access to technology can also exacerbate inequality
.
Inequality will be exacerbated
by the lack of access to technology, especially for small-scale producers and marginalized groups such as youth and women.
As one of the annual flagship publications of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), The State of Food and Agriculture 2022 explores how automation in agriculture can contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and makes several recommendations
to policy-makers on how to increase benefits and reduce risks.
to policy-makers on how to increase benefits and reduce risks.
The report analyzes 27 cases from around the world, from tractor rental services in Ghana to cage shrimp farming models in Mexico using machine learning and robots.
These cases represent technologies at different stages of maturity and the size and income levels of agricultural producers they are suitable for
.
These cases represent technologies at different stages of maturity and the size and income levels of agricultural producers they are suitable for
.
The report examines the drivers of these technologies and identifies barriers to their adoption, especially for small-scale producers
.
Based on this analysis, the report makes several policy recommendations to ensure that agricultural automation is inclusive and contributes to sustainable and resilient agrifood systems
.
.
Based on this analysis, the report makes several policy recommendations to ensure that agricultural automation is inclusive and contributes to sustainable and resilient agrifood systems
.
Finally, the report also addresses one of the most widespread concerns surrounding automation technology, namely that automation leads to job losses; The report notes that such fears have never been proven
in history.
in history.
Overall, automation can help ease labor shortages, increase the resilience and productivity of agricultural production, improve product quality, increase resource efficiency, promote decent employment, and enhance environmental sustainability
, according to the report.
, according to the report.
"FAO firmly believes that the goal of lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty, hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition cannot be achieved without technological progress and increased levels of production," FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said in the foreword to the report.
We must ensure that automation is inclusive and drives sustainable development"
.
We must ensure that automation is inclusive and drives sustainable development"
.
The pace of automation
Throughout history, humans have been skillfully developing tools and using the power of fire, wind, water and livestock to reduce the heavy physical burden
of agricultural activities.
Farmers in Mesopotamia began using cattle farming in 4000 BC, while Chinese water mills appeared around
1000 BC.
of agricultural activities.
Farmers in Mesopotamia began using cattle farming in 4000 BC, while Chinese water mills appeared around
1000 BC.
Over the past 200 years, the invention of the steam engine has led to rapid technological change; Later, fossil-powered tractors provided a strong impetus
for technological development.
for technological development.
At present, the new technological revolution under the banner of digital technology is making great strides, including artificial intelligence, drones, robots, sensors, and global navigation satellite systems; In addition, handheld devices such as mobile phones are widely spreading, and new devices (i.
e.
, the Internet of Things) that access the Internet are becoming popular
.
Another important development is the sharing economy
.
For example, shared services in Africa and Asia use a service model similar to Uber taxis, allowing small- and medium-sized farmers to use expensive equipment, such as tractors,
without having to pay for them in full.
e.
, the Internet of Things) that access the Internet are becoming popular
.
Another important development is the sharing economy
.
For example, shared services in Africa and Asia use a service model similar to Uber taxis, allowing small- and medium-sized farmers to use expensive equipment, such as tractors,
without having to pay for them in full.
The development of automation varies greatly between and within countries, with sub-Saharan Africa lagging particularly behind
in technology penetration.
For example, it is estimated that Japan had more than 400 tractors per 1,000 hectares of arable land in 2005, compared with 0.
4 in
Ghana.
in technology penetration.
For example, it is estimated that Japan had more than 400 tractors per 1,000 hectares of arable land in 2005, compared with 0.
4 in
Ghana.
In addition, some technologies are still in the prototype development stage, while others lack the support
of rural infrastructure such as connectivity and electricity.
These factors hinder technology diffusion, especially in low- and middle-income countries
.
of rural infrastructure such as connectivity and electricity.
These factors hinder technology diffusion, especially in low- and middle-income countries
.
It should also be noted that the adoption of some technologies, such as large-scale mobile equipment, will stimulate the development of monoculture models, resulting in soil erosion and thus adverse environmental effects
.
In recent years, the development of small machines is helping to overcome such problems
.
.
In recent years, the development of small machines is helping to overcome such problems
.
Policy recommendations
In this report, the overarching principles of the policy recommendations are grounded in "responsible technological change"
.
This means anticipating the impact of technology on production levels, resilience and sustainability, with a focus on marginalized and vulnerable populations
.
.
This means anticipating the impact of technology on production levels, resilience and sustainability, with a focus on marginalized and vulnerable populations
.
It is critical to create an enabling environment for the integrated use of policy tools to ensure integrated policies; This includes laws and regulations, infrastructure, institutional arrangements, education and training, research and development, and support for
private innovation processes.
private innovation processes.
In order to prevent uneven development of automation technologies, inclusive investments are needed to encourage the active participation of producers, manufacturers and service providers, with particular emphasis on women and youth, in order to further develop the technology and tailor technological solutions
to the needs of end users.
to the needs of end users.
In addition, investments and other policy actions to promote responsible agricultural automation need to be tailored to local conditions, taking into account connectivity, knowledge and skills challenges, the level of infrastructure development, and unequal access
.
Even biophysics, topography and climatic conditions have an impact
.
For example, small machinery, even hand-held devices, can bring significant benefits
to small-scale producers in mountainous areas.
.
Even biophysics, topography and climatic conditions have an impact
.
For example, small machinery, even hand-held devices, can bring significant benefits
to small-scale producers in mountainous areas.
Finally, the report responds to widespread concerns that labor-saving technological change could replace employment and trigger unemployment
.
The report says such concerns are overblown, but acknowledges that agricultural automation could lead to job losses in a context of abundant rural labor and low wages
.
.
The report says such concerns are overblown, but acknowledges that agricultural automation could lead to job losses in a context of abundant rural labor and low wages
.
In the context of an abundant workforce, policymakers should not subsidize automation, but instead focus on creating an enabling environment for technology diffusion while providing social protection
for low-skilled workers most likely to be hit during the transition.
for low-skilled workers most likely to be hit during the transition.
definition
Agricultural automation is defined in this report as the use of machinery and equipment in agricultural operations to improve diagnosis, decision-making or execution, reduce the workload of agricultural labor and/or increase the timeliness and even accuracy of
agricultural operations.
agricultural operations.
Agrifood systems include all actors involved in the primary production of food and non-food agricultural products, as well as all actors involved in the storage, aggregation, post-harvest treatment, transport, processing, circulation, sale, disposal and consumption of all foods, including non-agricultural foods, and their interrelated value-added activities
.
.
