The upshot was kick off by California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary Karen Ross and moved into a tamp agenda with panel discussions , lightning talks , and pitches where automation company representatives , academics , and growers had the opportunity to share their challenge , concerns , and hopes for the future of autonomous farming . The consequence culminated at CSU Fresno , with more than a dozen companies offering in - field demonstrations .
Although growers are the target marketplace for most of the equipment , the benefits of automation can babble out into society , according to Glenda Humiston , University of California vice chairman for agriculture and rude resources .
" Technology can help oneself us grow , harvesting , and pass around food more efficiently so that it can become more affordable and accessible for those who are food insecure , " enunciate Humiston . " If we do this right hand , it ’s unspoiled for the whole residential district .
Here are a few themes and takeaway from this pioneering multi - day event .
clear on - farm use - sharpen on death - substance abuser needs and ease of useA major question speaker tackled was why more growers are n’t yet desegregate automation on their farm . Automation solutions exist and are being develop to facilitate growers in nearly every aspect of running a farm — from planting , harvesting , and weeding to addressing dour labor shortages . Despite this , ag automation society – both big and low – still face resistance from growers to adopting new technologies .
Steve Fennimore , UC Cooperative Extension locoweed direction specialist and Gabe Youtsey trial force a farm robot in the expo area of FIRA USA .
Department of Agriculture and the planetary food provision are menace by a reach of payoff , including drouth and climate impacts .
Part of the problem , Jeff Morrison of Grimmway Farms state during a control board on mechanisation versus automation , is that companies bear more aid to their product than the needs of the grower . " Farmers desire applied science that make full a particular need , " he say . Anna Haldewang , the founder of InsightTRAC , agreed . " Do n’t be marital to your merchandise , be married to your client . "
Chuck Baresich , president of the Haggerty AgRobotics Company , emphasized the grandness of make automation solutions that are simple and visceral to use . " For a manufacturer , the first affair I ’d tell them is do n’t overcomplicate things , " he said . " Make trusted your automaton can drive straight , start with that . "
Panels also partake on the proficient , business , and regulatory challenges to automating agriculture . The ag tech inauguration market is much young than Silicon Valley , and we do n’t yet know the best route to establish a successful line of work , Rob Trice of Better Food Ventures and The Mixing Bowl observed during a panel on robotic product development with key industry leaders , including Walt Duflock , vice president of excogitation for Western Growers . That suppose , panellist identify three things that startup should do :
" If your technology requires Internet and we do n’t have access to broadband in a rural area , we ca n’t use it , " Aubrey Bettencourt ( in ruddy garb ) of The Almond Alliance cautioned ag tech developer .
AgTech , labor , and farmworkers - Forging win - winnings opportunitiesLabor issues also come out as a persistent theme during the event . One of the major forces driving the need for mechanization in farming is persistent labor shortage . Simply put , farmers do not have sufficient Labour to get their operations and are turning to agtech , robotics , and automation to meet the gap . At the same prison term , as robotics and automation take hold in the agriculture industry , farmworkers and farm labor organizations are rightly concerned about the impingement that the espousal of automation will have on Agriculture Department occupation , in particular farm labor jobs .
Hernan Hernandez of the California Farmworker Foundation know the toil business but also sees opportunity . " All of a sudden , you go from 100 individuals that are go to be able to harvest this season to now 10 that will harvest with a motorcar , " he said . " But the elbow room we look at it is as well when we spill the beans to farmworkers and engage them , and we look at data , there is also opportunity . We get it on a lot of the farmworkers want opportunity to further their skill solidifying . "
We ’ve got to incur way to serve our farm workers actually get the grooming they need to make utilisation of this technology , which will give them a respectable quality of life .
Gabe Youtsey , on the right , need panellist about the future of farming work . From left , Chris Thiessen of Burro , Dennis Donahue of Western Growers Association , Sandra Sanchez , California Community Colleges frailty chancellor of workforce and economical development ; Elizabeth Mosqueda , Madera Community College Agriculture Department teacher ; and Joani Woelfel of Far West Equipment Dealers Association .
This sense of optimism about the future of the farmworker was shared by Gabe Youtsey , chief design officer of UC ANR , who moderated a panel on the hereafter of agricultural work . " California as a whole has start discern the importance of creating the next generation of ag workers , " he find , " and schools and diligence have both taken notice . " Indeed , California community colleges have start working on new relevant programs that interpret directly to jobs , and the federal government has apportion $ 10 million go directly to Central Valley farming teaching and workforce evolution programme .
What ’s next?The assemblage also serve as a platform for launching new applied science initiatives . Youtsey , in coaction with our partner atUC Davis AI Institute for Food Systems , announced the2023 Farm Robotics Challengeat FIRA USA 22 ! We depend forward to Centennial State - hosting this issue !
It is unclouded that mechanisation and robotics will roleplay an increasingly crucial role in agriculture . Not only in come up to the say labor shortage in agriculture but by create new note value - creation chance related to resource efficiency , crop health , disease , harvest , and more .
" Our job at The VINE is to drive collaborationism between diligence , academia , and politics forward , " state Youtsey . " Robotics is proceed very tight , and there ’s a raw solidification of thespian descend into the space . UC Cooperative Extension advisors can convey startup and Farmer together in creative young ways during development and advance these solutions into commercialization faster . "
atomic number 27 - supporter of the league include FIRA , Western Growers , the University of California , Merced , California State University , Fresno , and the Fresno - Merced Future of Food ( F3 ) Innovation Initiative .
For more selective information : University of California Agriculture and Natural Resourceswww.ucanr.edu
