The agriculture industry is vital to human life and the supply chain. With it, grocery stores, restaurants and every other retailer operate smoothly. However, agriculture is not without faults. The industry is a top contributor to harmful emissions and greenhouse gasses. Environmental technologies like robots are now key to solving the harmful environmental impact of agriculture.
The Current Effects
In 2018, the agriculture industry contributed 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions. This percentage takes a significant toll on the environment and contributes to the climate crisis. From pesticides to machinery that runs on fossil fuels, farmers need better solutions.
The high costs of the equipment, chemicals and labor are also difficult to manage. In a time of crisis and elevated demand — like the COVID-19 pandemic — farmers feel significant economic pressure. Costs add to the responsibility to help the environment, which can lead to higher price tags, causing a repetitive cycle.
Thus, standard policies aren’t working. The 10% contribution of emissions will only increase with higher demands. Instead, farmers need a way to balance their economic needs with the responsibility to help the environment.
Agriculture tech is that balanced solution. Specifically, robots have skyrocketed into the center of the conversation as useful tools in the field. Integrating them is what will ultimately reduce emissions and save farmers money in the long run.
Robots for Change
Robots are versatile innovations. They could be something like a robotic arm that puts together products on a factory assembly line. They could also be autonomous vehicles that weed large plots of land. It’s robots like these that will bring agriculture where it needs to go.
With the power of artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and GPS, robots have progressed far enough that they can operate autonomously and carry out tasks that would otherwise take people a long while. Weeding, planting seeds and spraying chemicals and fertilizers can now happen in an instant.
With robots like “Tom” from Smart Robot Company or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), work that used to take hours can now take minutes. Drones can fly overhead and water crops while robots on the ground carefully remove harmful species around the plants.
The integration of these robots will lessen the need for bigger machinery that tends to pollute. Since robots run on battery and electric power, burning fossil fuels will no longer be necessary. Plus, robots can monitor and distribute accurate levels of fertilizers and pesticides. The 10% contribution of emissions from 2018 can decrease with robots in play.
The Bigger Picture
Climate change is a force that all industries must focus on. Whether it’s switching to renewable energy or using robotics, doubling down on green environmental technology is a major step in the right direction. Using robots as agriculture technology is how this specific field will play its part.
It’s a window into which direction the agriculture industry should head in. Automation is a necessity for balancing revenue and helping the environment. With it, farmers can focus on other pressing needs while the robots take care of the daily, repetitive tasks.
Of course, automation must offer stability. Farmworkers shouldn’t have to fear a robot replacing their role. Instead, robots must accompany human work and improve it in ways that humans cannot. This change will bring about a much cleaner industry.
Changing the Field
The environmental impact of agriculture is vast. The emissions that come from fieldwork and essential tools are too high to ignore. Making transitions to cost-effective robots that can carry out countless tasks throughout the day is what will ultimately steer the industry forward. Farmers will no longer have to spend excess money on machinery as well.
Agriculture technology is here to stay. Adapting now is what the environment needs.
