In the ever-evolving world of agriculture, a South African drone company is leading the charge in revolutionizing farming practices. Aerobotics, founded just nine years ago, is utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to help fruit and nut farmers improve their crop yields and mitigate the impact of climate change. With operations in 18 countries and the United States as its largest market, Aerobotics is paving the way for a new era of efficient and sustainable farming.
Food security is a pressing global challenge, and the agricultural industry is constantly striving to do more with less. By harnessing the power of AI and utilizing different imagery sources, Aerobotics is helping fruit and nut producers make better decisions and improve yields. CEO James Paterson emphasizes the importance of this technology, stating, “We work with a range of fruit and nut producers across the U.S., from citrus and table grape growers in California to apple producers in Washington, to nut growers in Arizona and New Mexico. We have mapped over 600,000 acres of farmland in the U.S., and growers are uploading over 1 million images of fruit per month through our platform, using our system to scale their knowledge.”
Aerobotics' innovative approach involves the use of drones and mobile phones running AI software. Farmers and professional drone pilots collect data about the fruit and trees, enabling the AI software to report on the health and status of the produce and predict crop yield. This information is invaluable for planning purposes, benefitting packhouses, sales teams, and retailers. Additionally, the AI system significantly reduces the time taken to monitor for pests and diseases on farms, with AWS claiming that it has reduced the task from an entire day to just 20 minutes on a 50-hectare farm.
The role of AI in fruit and nut farming goes beyond monitoring and predicting crop yield. The Aerobotics AI software also detects irrigation issues, such as leaks and blocked water lines, assisting farmers in optimizing water usage. It helps with fertilizer usage and replanting damaged or missing trees. Early prediction of tree health issues enables farmers to get back into production within a year, rather than waiting for several years when a tree is lost.
The impact of AI on the agriculture industry extends to food security and crop insurance policies. By utilizing per-tree data, the AI system can determine crop insurance policies, safeguarding growers' production and improving overall food security.
Aerobotics' data-driven approach caters to a wide range of fruits and nuts, including citrus, apples, grapes, cherries, kiwis, pomegranates, and various nuts like almonds, pecans, and pistachios. Their technology has received praise from farmers who have adopted it in their operations. Matt Allred of North Bowie Farming, a pecan nut producer in Arizona, commends Aerobotics for their drone imaging technology, stating, “The drone flights help us measure this across hundreds of acres, not just one small block. Seeing the improvement in the health uniformity of our blocks is what really sold me on the technology.”
AI plays a pivotal role in Aerobotics' mission to transform the farming industry. By leveraging AI and imagery, they have been able to increase the efficiency of data collection by more than 10 times. CEO James Paterson sums it up, saying, “AI enables us to construct models that generalize, learn, and operate effectively at scale. Using AI and imagery, we are able to increase efficiency of data collection by more than 10 times.”
Through advancements in AI technology, Aerobotics is empowering farmers to make informed decisions, maximize their yields, and contribute to the global challenge of food security. With a commitment to sustainability and efficiency, this South African company is paving the way for a brighter future in agriculture.
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