Plant-Sensing Robots Use AI to Optimize Water Use in Agriculture
Affiliate Disclosure
Hey fellow impactful ninja ?
You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts.
Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click.
But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend.
Why do we add these product links?
First and foremost, because we believe that they add value to you. For example, when we wrote a post about the environmental impact of long showers, we came across an EPA recommendation to use WaterSense showerheads. So we linked to where you can find them. Or, for many of our posts, we also link to our favorite books on that topic so that you can get a much more holistic overview than one single blog post could provide.
And when there is an affiliate program for these products, we sign up for it. For example, as Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
What do these affiliate links mean for you?
First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you.
And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we won’t receive any commission but we’ll still be happy to have helped you.
What do these affiliate links mean for us?
When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it.
When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra costs to you).
And at this point in time, all money is reinvested in sharing the most helpful content with you. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself.
What does this mean for me personally?
You may have noticed by the way Impactful Ninja is operated that money is not the driving factor behind it. It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. However, it's a project in that I invest a lot of time and also quite some money.
Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. But that's still a long time to go.
Stay impactful,
At Impactful Ninja, we curate positive and impactful news for you. Follow us on Google News or sign up for our free newsletter to get these delivered straight to your inbox—just like our expert roundup below!
📰 The quick summary: AI-powered sensing robots can now monitor plant water needs autonomously using electrical signals from the plants themselves, helping address global food insecurity with precision irrigation.
📈 One key stat: Nearly 828 million people suffer from hunger worldwide, highlighting the urgent need for smarter, resource-efficient food production solutions.
💬 One key quote: “Our non-invasive sensing robot improves this process by enabling continuous and efficient monitoring of plant health, making automation more responsive and effective.”
1️⃣ The big picture: Researchers at Simon Fraser University have developed an innovative AI-powered sensing robot that can autonomously monitor plant water needs by interpreting electrical signals directly from tomato plants. This technology eliminates guesswork in irrigation by responding to the plant’s actual requirements in real-time. The system represents a significant advancement in precision agriculture, addressing both food insecurity affecting 828 million people worldwide and water scarcity impacting over two billion people. By optimizing resource use and reducing waste, these autonomous farming systems offer promising solutions for sustainable food production even in regions with limited arable land.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: The technology eliminates traditional guesswork in irrigation by responding precisely to plants’ actual needs, significantly improving water efficiency and reducing waste. This AI system contributes to sustainable agriculture by optimizing resource use while maximizing crop yields and plant health. For regions facing water scarcity, these autonomous systems provide practical solutions that can operate with minimal human oversight. The research team is working to make these technologies accessible to smallholder farms worldwide, potentially transforming agricultural practices in areas most affected by climate change and resource limitations.
3️⃣ What’s next: Researchers aim to scale this technology from controlled greenhouse environments to field applications across diverse agricultural settings. Making these systems affordable and simple to use remains a priority to ensure accessibility for farmers in various regions. International collaboration through cross-border research partnerships will accelerate the deployment of these smart agriculture solutions globally.
Read the full story here: The Conversation – Autonomous AI systems can help tackle global food insecurity
