How Gardening is Evolving with AI Technology

By George Newton

AI technology is becoming mainstream. After appearing and being featured in sci-fi movies for decades, we’re finally, and very rapidly, reaching a point in human history where intelligent computers are becoming integrated with the day-to-day operations and workings of human life. All industries are affected, and there are few areas untouched.

Global spending on artificial intelligence increased to over $300 billion in 2021, with the leisure, production, finance, and banking sectors accounting for half of global spending on AI-powered equipment and technologies.

However, with no field untouched, excuse the pun, the gardening and farming industry is a new and promising field where AI is being used, and in today’s article, we’re going to explore how this is the case and what the impact is going to be.

Why is AI Being Used in Gardening Projects?

Well, it’s not just in gardening, so to speak, but rather AI is being used in agricultural and horticulture industries together, both on a private, small-scale level and within large, commercial practices.

“Gardeners and farmers all over the world face issues like unwanted insects and pests eating their crops, not knowing which pesticide to use on their produce, not knowing when to plant a specific crop, not understanding the crop’s nutritional deficiency, and not knowing how to shop for farm equipment. In the absence of professional assistance, plants might contract airborne, waterborne, or soil-borne diseases that may go untreated,” explains Felix Verner, a tech writer at Originwritings and Britstudent.

Today, artificial intelligence (AI) can detect the real issue and assist in the preservation of the environment.

AI can also assist with tasks such as crop management and inspection, plant watering, and pesticide application.

What’s more, the world population is predicted to increase to 9 billion people by 2050, posing a future danger to food security for all. To ensure an adequate food supply, food production must increase by 70% while minimizing environmental effects and using renewable energy. 

Making AI technology for farming and gardening accessible and inexpensive to the general public will be another significant step forward for humanity.

The Future of AI in Farming and Gardening

Farming is still the most important and significant human discovery. Microsoft scientists are using a combination of data science, artificial intelligence, and big data analysis to revolutionize the way traditional farming is done. Indoors, they’re seeding, cultivating, and harvesting seeds at precise temperatures aided by data analytics and artificial intelligence.

There’s a ton of control when it comes to AI, especially when it comes to vertical farming. Vertical farming is basically the at-home process of growing food and plants in a managed environment, but since AI is doing the managing, the resources can be optimized beyond belief while delivering outstanding results.

Vertical farming is carried out indoors using 1 cm × 1 cm × 1 cm cubes interconnected by reusable plastic tubes. LED lights serve as a heat and light source in these cubes. A microcomputer is also connected to each of these individual cubes, which serves as the brain of each vertical farming unit. It regulates the amount of water in the tank, the humidity, and the development process.

“Thanks to AI, some of the resources that can be managed include things like nutrient dosing systems, oxygen level controls, cameras and live streaming software for constant, reliable monitoring, pH sensor monitoring, water level sensing, temperature sensing and controls, humidity sensor and control systems, light controls, and even chatbots with optimal feedback to growers and people,” explains Sarah Harper, a gardening blogger at Write My X and 1day2write.

And that’s not all the benefits it can provide. Using AI-powered farming and gardening in times of water scarcity will help save water. It is also a pollution-free method because it runs on solar energy. Intelligent agriculture maximizes return on investment, making it a wise financial decision.

Pesticides and herbicides can be used sparingly to kill pests in farm items grown at home. Restaurants can produce their own ingredients and use them within hours of harvesting.

Because plants will then be grown domestically, countries will not need to import food from other countries. Food production will become increasingly localized and experimental. People would be able to grow exotic plants and herbs instead of purchasing them on the market at exorbitant prices.

As you can see, there are basically endless creative benefits that come with using AI in the agricultural industry, and with time ticking and the population of the world booming, these kinds of technological advancements have never been more welcome.

George J. Newton is a technology and machine learning blogger and researcher at Academicbrits.com and Dissertation writing service. He has been married for ten years and loves traveling in his free time. He also writes for Do My Coursework.