By collecting data on plant growth, AI can help produce crops that are less prone to disease and better adapted to weather conditions. With the help of AI, scientists can identify the best-performing plant varieties and crossbreed them to create even better hybrids.
By CEO, Steve McLean, UK Agri-Tech Centre Our ambition is to make the UK the best place to start, grow and scale agri-tech businesses. But that only matters if technologies are proven in real-world, commercial environments – and adopted at scale. Our strategy is built around helping agri-tech businesses move from innovation to commercial reality …
One year ago, Direct Driller covered the launch of the ADOPT funding scheme from Defra’s Farming Innovation Programme with Innovate UK. ADOPT supports farmers in testing new ideas, products or practices on farm, providing project grants of £50-£100k over 1–2 years. 70 farmer-led projects have now started. With a total initial funding commitment of £20 …
When you walk into Cereals in 2026 (if you can get in past all the influencers who are going to descend on Diddly Squat), it will be immediately clear this is no longer just a machinery show. Gone is the really big kit, with combines and tractors lined up in neat rows. But look closer …
Where Innovation Gets Real: The Evolution of Cereals 2026 Read More »
We’re constantly told that artificial intelligence (AI) is going to transform farming. There’s no shortage of tech companies, startups, and big ag players developing AI-powered solutions for farmers. But very few people have stopped to ask: what do farmers actually want or need from AI? More importantly, what tools already exist, and how can we …
As farms across the UK grapple with mounting labour shortages, rising input costs, and tighter sustainability expectations, automation is becoming less of a novelty and more of a necessity. Leading the charge is US-based agri-tech firm Carbon Robotics, whose latest developments in autonomous tractor control and laser-based weeding solutions are rapidly redefining how arable operations …
New Standard for On-Farm Autonomy and Laser Weeding Read More »
Erdal Ozkan; Professor and Extension State Specialist—Pesticide Application Technology; Department of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering; The Ohio State University Direct Driller Note – this is the most comprehensive guide to different types of drone spraying and although is written in the US, they are also significantly ahead of the UK in terms of adoption …
Drones for Spraying Pesticides—Opportunities and Challenges Read More »
With increasing regulations and the development of resistance, alternative technologies are becoming more and more important in the crop care sector. HORSCH works intensively on various alternatives and carries out its own tests. Theo Leeb gives an overview of the methods and the tests that are carried out. Herbicide – SpotSpraying In the sector of …
Alternative technologies in the crop care sector Read More »
John Deere See & Spray uses AI machine learning and computer vision to identify weeds during each pass precisely. Early adopters in the US of See & Spray say they’ve increased savings, reduced herbicides and reached ROI faster than expected. Which is rare in the ag tech sector. Farmers know spraying applications can vary from …
More Farmers Are Adopting John Deere’s See & Spray in the USA. Here’s Why… Read More »
Drone technology is unlocking the potential of traditional crop trials and helping to bridge the gap between detailed laboratory studies and field trials. Drones were used to assess an oilseed rape trial this spring at a site in Yorkshire, gathering data that hasn’t been possible before. The trial is a collaboration between Envirofield, Agrii and …
Written by Syngenta Syngenta and the pioneering artificial intelligence (AI) company TraitSeq are combining forces to use the full power of AI for the development of innovative, high-performance biostimulants. Syngenta, a world leader in developing the next generation of biologicals products for agricultural use, will use its extensive knowledge of crop biology to complement TraitSeq’s …
