Smart sensors: the key to precision agricultural production

摘要

According to the United Nations, 9.6 billion people will live on planet Earth by 2050. Feeding these mouths will require simultaneously meeting three great needs: quantity, environmental, and cultural. The World Resources Institute (WRI) forecasts that we will have to close the gap of approximately 70% between the amount of food we have today and the amount needed by 2050. We will also need to reduce agriculture's impact on climate, ecosystems, and water. Finally, we will need to ensure that agriculture supports inclusive economic and social development. For IBM Researcher and Distinguished Engineer Ulisses Mello and a team of IBM Research - Brazil scientists, the answer to these daunting challenges lies in real-time data gathering and analysis. They are researching how "precision agriculture" techniques and technologies can maximize food production, minimize environmental impact, and reduce cost.