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International expert joins specialist panel examining impact of artificial intelligence on agriculture

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An international expert in robotics will join a panel assessing the impact of Artificial Intelligence on agriculture at the annual conference of a renowned Engineering organisation.

Professor Fernando Auat Cheein is among a panel of specialists from industry and academia who will be examining the impact of AI at this year’s Institution of Agricultural Engineers Annual Conference, which will be held online on October 22.

IAgrE President, Mark Moore, said: “The goal of this year’s conference is to equip the agricultural engineering community with a clear understanding of what AI represents for agriculture.

“As we look ahead, the key question is: how will AI shape our pursuit of sustainable food systems?

“This event will explore the current landscape and emerging opportunities for AI in farming.”

Throughout the conference, attendees will explore how politicians, academia, and industry can work together to harness AI and agritech more widely, particularly as both have been placed at the heart of the Government’s growth agenda in its recent Industrial Strategy.

Joining Professor Auat Cheein during the conference will be a host of industry experts:

• Jonathan Henry, Managing Director at Garford Robocrop, will demonstrate how the Robocrop system uses AI to combine colour, infrared, and depth data for precise crop and stem identification
• Allan Kildeby, Head of Camera Sensors at CLAAS, will share how AI and computer vision are driving innovation in agricultural engineering
• Morten Bilde, Managing Director of AGCO Innovation Centre in Randers, Denmark, will discuss how AGCO is integrating AI to enhance user experience and operational efficiency
• Kieran Fitzgerald, Vice President of Digital Services at DeLaval, will explore how emerging technologies are helping the dairy industry improve productivity and sustainability
• and Simon Pearson, Professor of Agri-Food Technology, will look ahead to the next two decades, highlighting the rapid adoption of AI-enabled technologies—from precision weeding and crop grading to semi-autonomous machinery.

In his talk, Professor Auat Cheein will set out some of the current trends and available technology which are at the heart of the use of AI and farming – as well as explaining what to expect in the years to come, and how ready we are for these changes.

He added: “I will assess the technology readiness levels (TRLs) of AI and robotics in farming, with a particular emphasis on the characterisation and phenotyping of specialty crops.

“Drawing on selected case studies, my talk will examine current adoption trends, highlight barriers to implementation, and address the challenges associated with scaling and generalising these technologies.

“Finally, it will elaborate on the future deployment and validation challenges of this technology.”

The conference will conclude with a live panel Q&A session chaired by Olivia Midgley, Editorial Director of Farmers Guardian.