There are an estimated 570 million farms of varying sizes globally, a number not expected to expand significantly. The world’s population, however, is predicted to grow (from almost 8 billion to nearly 10 billion by 2050) requiring farmers to produce 50% more food on those 570 million farms, a significant problem, unless there is change.

Farmers already lose 20-40% of their crops annually to weeds, pests, and disease; changing pressures caused by climate change and resistance are exacerbating the situation. Many current treatments to fight weeds, pests, and disease were developed over 30 years ago and today struggle against resistance. Farmers are resourceful and eager to find solutions but pests are nimble and persistent. North America’s corn rootworm, for example, has adapted to crop rotation. And Asia’s barnyard grass mimics rice plants to evade hand-weeding. Innovation is desperately needed to provide solutions.

So, how can we ensure there is sustainable, more localized, food production in a world where farmers face these challenges? Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a promising tool to address these challenges by efficiently turning data into actionable recommendations and solutions.

Take a page from pharma’s AI book

AI is revolutionizing many industries, from education to energy. While it’s still early in its impact, improving crop yields and bringing agriculture into the future is shaping up to be another industry AI is poised to disrupt. AI can help with on-field tasks like efficiently powering a sprayer. It can also help with in-lab tasks like accelerating the discovery of safer, more effective crop protection solutions.

Consider the pharmaceutical industry. AI is set to transform drug discovery by enabling the rapid development of vaccines and treatments to protect global health. Today, scientists can create annual vaccines for evolving viruses like COVID-19 and influenza while also advancing therapies for other common and rare diseases. AI is beginning to equip scientists with tools to navigate the vast diversity of chemical space, prescreening them for efficacy and then rapidly identifying the most promising molecules in the fight against disease. By analyzing data from sources like DNA-encoded chemical libraries, AI helps scientists pinpoint potential candidates from billions of options. Machine learning models further expand this exploration, unlocking chemical diversity from ultra-large, make-on-demand libraries.

Now, apply that approach to agriculture, because crops get sick too. In humid regions, fungi threaten yields, while in arid climates, insect infestations can destroy fields within days. AI-driven innovation in crop protection can help address these challenges with the same urgency and precision as in pharma research and discovery. Sifting through genetic and chemical datasets can help farmers tackle evolving threats faster and more accurately.

Traditional crop protection discovery is slow and expensive, typically taking more than 13 years to bring a product to market. AI-informed research can likely cut discovery time in half and ultimately generate higher quality leads.

A better way to support farmers

Beyond crop protection discovery benefits, the responsible use of AI in agriculture has the potential to transform global food systems, making them more sustainable and resilient in the face of challenges. With AI, farmers gain powerful tools to not only safeguard their crops but also to enhance overall productivity and sustainability.

AI can help farmers anticipate and respond to the effects of climate change, such as altered growing seasons, pest invasions, and extreme weather events. With predictive tools, farmers can make informed decisions about crop rotation, pest control, and irrigation, leading to improved outcomes while navigating unpredictable conditions.

Farmers can also harness AI to improve productivity while minimizing environmental impacts. AI-driven solutions can allow for precise monitoring of soil health, real-time weather analysis, and efficient resource use, ensuring that farmers apply water, fertilizers, and pesticides only where and when they’re needed most. This reduces waste, lowers costs, and mitigates the negative effects of overuse on the environment.

The long-term potential of AI in agriculture lies in its ability to boost productivity for farmers and foster more sustainable food systems that can feed a growing global population while preserving the health of the planet.

Looking to the future

AI is already making meaningful strides in revolutionizing agriculture and the potential is enormous. Enhancing crop protection and boosting productivity without the need for farmland expansion is only the beginning. The potential for breakthroughs is vast, with new solutions on the horizon that could significantly transform agriculture and drive further progress. By continuing to innovate and integrate AI into agricultural practices, we’ll reach new levels of sustainability and efficiency, ultimately creating a more resilient and productive food system to support the world. As these technologies develop, ongoing research, ethical considerations, and farmer education will be critical to ensure AI’s responsible integration into agriculture.

Jacqueline Heard,PhD, MBA is cofounder and CEO of Enko.