AI and satellites transform rice farming

Dec 16, 2024
By Farms.com

New technology helps combat food insecurity worldwide

Researchers from North Carolina State University have developed a pioneering method combining satellite imagery with machine learning to improve rice crop monitoring. The innovation addresses food security concerns and ensures efficient resource use globally.

Focused on Bangladesh, the study tackles traditional challenges in rice yield estimation, such as time-consuming fieldwork and inaccuracies. “It is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process,” explained lead researcher Varun Tiwari. “They do not have this information in time to make decisions on exports, imports, or crop pricing.”

Using time-series satellite data, the researchers tracked vegetation health, water content, and soil conditions. The trained machine learning model delivered yield predictions with an accuracy rate of 90-92%, providing timely data for decision-makers to improve storage, transportation, and crop management

Bangladesh, where rice contributes significantly to the economy and diet, was an ideal starting point. Tiwari emphasized, “If we can get similar data sets from other regions, we can apply this same framework there.”

The research involves collaboration between NC State, USDA, and international organizations. Funded by the Gates Foundation and USAID, it marks a critical step in addressing global food security. Findings were published in PLOS ONE.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.