2019 saw record temperatures around the world. In the UK, they have had a significant impact on farms of all types (arable, pastoral and mixed). At the same time, last winter was one of the wettest on record, submerging vast areas of land, meaning farmers were unable to plant spring crops and creating problems for those in the field. 'occupy cattle. It looks like 2020 will be a UK record, with the country enjoying its hottest August day in 17 years as temperatures topped 36°C (96,8°F). in the south-east of England. Unusually warm weather continued in other parts of the UK over the following weekend. These events are not expected to be unique either, and the Met Office previously forecast that once every 100 years, extreme weather events would become once every 50 years over the next 25 years. The increase in extreme weather incidents is not the only issue worrying the country's farmers. This year, like many other industries, agriculture has been marred by the Covid-19 pandemic. Apart from the complications caused by social distancing, the agricultural industry has also had to deal with how the Covid-19 pandemic has restricted the movement of people, which meant a shortage of seasonal workers to pick fruits and crops. crops. Many of these workers tend to come from other European countries.
China Solutions
Of course, the UK is not alone in wanting to fend off extreme weather conditions and other shock factors and events. China, as a traditionally agricultural nation, also faces similar challenges. However, thanks to cloud computing, technology is merging with tradition to optimize the efficiency of agriculture. Today, Chinese farmers have a better chance of recovering from extreme weather events, and their experiences may shed a ray of hope for British farmers and the growing challenges they face. Over the years, many Chinese farmers have benefited from cloud-based technology solutions that have been developed to help farmers build more productive farms and keep animals healthier. At the same time, cloud-based technologies are helping farmers reduce their labor costs and maximize the return on investment in agricultural solutions, giving them an even more competitive advantage in an industry where efficiency is high. and productivity are critical to maintaining profit margins. Specifically, some cloud and data intelligence companies are offering remote sensing technologies, such as satellites, to help farmers monitor crop growth more effectively. By using artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze satellite images of crops, farmers can assess their maturity and come up with a more efficient harvest schedule based on smart farming data. With accurate information at their fingertips, farmers can allocate the right amount of resources needed and start planning effectively. Again, the ripple effect is increased efficiency through better data-driven planning.Large-scale planning
In addition, there are benefits that go beyond the individual farmer and his farm; With easy access to up-to-date geospatial information, low cost of IT infrastructure, less labor and easy configuration, modern tools can not only help farmers but also the Ministry of the Environment. for Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to effectively manage the planning of large-scale projects. This access to up-to-date information can also be a great advantage in the event that one or more farms experience a disease outbreak in their livestock; this makes response management easier and much more efficient. For years, Chinese consumers have demanded better quality natural products and livestock. To help farmers meet this requirement, some tech companies have been hard at work revolutionizing the farming industry. They integrated various artificial intelligence programs, such as visual recognition, voice recognition, and real-time monitoring of environmental parameters, to ensure healthy growth of cattle in a well-maintained environment. By processing farm data and training algorithm models based on machine learning technology, these solutions give farm managers the ability to monitor the farm and animals in real time and remotely. The end result for the consumer is a better product with consistent quality.Technology solutions for the UK
In the UK, farmers could greatly benefit from two of these technologies in particular, especially in sheep and cattle farming. Farmers can now use image recognition technology to understand the growth stage of sheep, including wool growth and body weight. This accurate information is essential to help farmers decide their next steps, instead of manually checking them one by one; not only is it time consuming, it can also be error prone. In addition, the technology has the ability to monitor cattle for disease through image and sound recognition technology. It can also be used to minimize feed waste by grading and adjusting feed and also to produce good quality milk with lower labor and operating costs. Various counters are installed to collect farm data in order to increase productivity, optimize the herd growing environment and reduce human error in the breeding process.Preparing for the future of agriculture
As technologies continue to evolve, humans are becoming more and more knowledgeable in modern times to embrace another agricultural revolution, with the help of artificial intelligence and cloud computing technologies. Products and solutions created for farmers in other parts of the world could provide a benchmark for the UK to implement similar measures to counteract the impact of extreme weather events and other impact factors. so that farmers can be better prepared for the future. And, with a world population expected to reach 9,7 billion by 2050, farmers around the world will need to operate with renewed efficiency if they want to be able to deliver produce consistently and year-round.- Zeng Zhenyu, Managing Director of Data Intelligence, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence.