EU sows seeds for AI-enhanced farming with agrifood experimentation support

26 Sep 2023 --- Alongside the much talked about EU Artificial Intelligence regulations, the bloc has been cultivating its world-leading position in AI-assisted agriculture through its Agrifood Testing and Experimentation Facility (TEF), launched in January of this year. 

The EU Agrifood TEF is one of the four physical and virtual facilities where technology providers can receive support testing their AI-based software and hardware. In particular, the TEF will assist mature AI solutions that have already been tested in a lab and require near real-world testing.

The facility aims to facilitate sustainable and efficient food production by boosting the capabilities of tech innovators in the field to elevate EU products’ competitiveness on the global market.

Nutrition Insight speaks to Dr. Kees Lokhorst, and Heinrich Prankl, experts representing two of the Agrifood TEF’s national partners and some of the EU’s chief players in digital innovation in the agri-food industry.

AI agriculture advancements
According to Lokhorst, existing and upcoming technologies like AI, robotics, IoT, sensors, drones, 3D printing, blockchain, virtual reality and augmented reality have the power to transform agriculture.

Lokhorst is a senior researcher in smart farming and robotics at Wageningen Livestock Research in the Netherlands and the leader of the Dutch “satellite node” of the Agrifood TEF. The node focuses on agro-ecology in controlled environments and offers expertise on AI, data and robotics initiatives to promote sustainable farming.

“Existing and new farming systems will use all kinds of products and services that will be based on these technologies,” Lokhorst tells us. 

The EU is just one of many tech innovation powerhouses rushing to harness AI’s untapped potential for agriculture. 

Global players, such as the Israel-based ICL Group, are already making notable strides in this space, with initiatives such as the recently launched ICL Planet Startup Hub, which intends to provide novel crop nutrition solutions that optimize plant and soil processes and maximize plant yield.

Agrifood TEF ensures that EU tech companies working in AI agriculture remain competitive in the face of rapidly expanding AI developments.

Ensuring EU competitiveness 
Meanwhile, Prankl shares that Agrifood TEF provides physical and digital infrastructure across Europe and supports local industry in developing innovative products along the agrifood value chain.EU Agrifood TEF aims to redefine farming and secure the EU’s position as a global leader.

“Especially the opportunities to test under practical conditions will contribute to optimizing future highly sophisticated products,” says Prankl.

Prankl is the head of research and deputy director of HBLFA Francisco Josephinum in Austria and CEO of Josephinum Research, representing the Austrian satellite node. It has a focus on the use of AI solutions in alpine arable and grassland farming.

According to Prankl, the number of European product and service developers interested in the field has skyrocketed due to recent developments in AI. 

“To be able to support these companies, the EU stimulates the use of pan-European networks of Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHS) that act as one-stop-shops. The TEFs can be used by various developers to gain more trust and transparency in the provided solutions,” he continues. 

“Agrifood TEF will be the place to be when you want to develop and introduce new products and services based on AI and robotics.”

Quality assurance 
With the rapid development of agricultural technologies, an influx of product and service developers is anticipated, and the best way for EU companies to stay competitive is by ensuring high quality and unique innovation. 

Lokhorst explains how Agrifood TEF and the Dutch satellite, which offers specialized expertise in farming systems rooted in agro-ecological principles, work to guarantee the quality of EU tech innovation. 

“The Dutch satellite has specific expertise on new farming systems that use agro ecological principles, like strip and mosaic farming. To make testing and experimenting more efficient, we also invest in the development of a digital TEF environment where you can experiment in a more controlled and richer environment than just have one physical test on a specific situation that was ruined by bad weather circumstances,” explains Lokhorst.

He further outlines that another focus point of the Dutch involvement in the Agrifood TEF is to support the ethical, legal and social aspects of new products.

“Already in an early development stage, it is good to be aware of the requirements and consequences of specific design choices,” he says.

Alleviating AI concerns
The accelerating developments in AI agriculture are undoubtedly significant for the food and beverage industry stakeholders, as the evolving landscape means preparing for a data-driven future.

Experts agree that using AI in agriculture will likely have a positive effect on society, soils, plants and animals.

“Since data plays an important role now and will continue to play an essential role in the future, the food and beverage industry can rely on a solid database and good documentation of production processes,” says Prankl.

“Well-established AI algorithms tested by Agrifood TEF will support production and processing to meet requirements optimally.”

The researcher further outlines that the increased utilization of AI in agriculture will improve the production of food and feed sustainably, for instance, by applying high-performance mechanical weeding instead of using chemicals. 

Addressing some of the ongoing uncertainty and concerns regarding what these new AI technologies will look like and how they will be used, Lokhorst says, “There is a broad consensus that these technologies should result in products and services that will not harm society, people, soils, plants and animals.”

“Explainability and trustworthiness will be essential.”

By Milana Nikolova