Autonomous robots cultivate mushrooms

Artificial intelligence (AI) is gone in the agricultural sector in British Columbia. In addition, In the north of the Okanagan valley. Meanwhile, the 4AG Robotics company has been on the sails since it has developed robots capable of harvesting mushrooms independently. Therefore,

Located in Salmon Arm. However, the 4AG company (pronounced foragein English) Robotics says he has seen his turnover soaked since the marketing of his autonomous robots in 2024.

Thanks to theIArobots use cameras and suction cups to pick, cut and pack the mushrooms that are cultivated commercially.

[Les champignons] are cultivated inside, in large industrial facilities explains the chief of operations, Chris Payne. For example, The robots roam the shelves on which they are installed and identify the mushroomshe autonomous robots cultivate mushrooms continues.

He claims that robots are now as efficient as humans.

From Australia to Europe via North America. Similarly, 4AG Robotics has already sold around fifty of his aircraft abroad, mentions Chris Payne.

On July 29, the company collected $ 40 million in venture autonomous robots cultivate mushrooms capital investments. She hopes that this sum will allow her to bring to 100 the number of robots which are able to work without interruption. 24 hours a day, within a year.

An industry lacking workers – Autonomous robots cultivate mushrooms

L’IA is increasingly gaining momentum in the agrifood sector while industry has come up against a shortage of labor for several years.

In 2022, the Canadian Federation of Agriculture provided that this shortage would reach 15 % of the food industry by 2030.

According to Chris Payne. the cultivation of mushrooms is a particularly difficult sector, since it requires working in dark and humid warehouses.

The agricultural sector. as a whole, is struggling to find labor, but this is particularly the case to [la culture] mushrooms, because it takes place inside, in fairly difficult conditionshe says.

Find balance

In this context. Professor Sean Smukler, from the Department of Agriculture and Environment at the University of British Columbia (UBC), says that the use of theIA in the agricultural sector autonomous robots cultivate mushrooms offers possibilities exciting.

As part of a research project led by Dalhousie University in Halifax. Nova Scotia, he is interested in the use of theIA To analyze soil properties and thus identify the nutrients that are necessary to optimize plant growth.

The more effectively we use inputs. the less resources we lose, the more the farmer harvests profits.

Despite these advantages, the professor calls for caution. He believes that a company reflection is imposed on the responsible use of theIA in the agricultural sector.

I would really hate that agriculture become completely robotic. because in reality, many farmers love their profession, and the role of agriculture is crucial in our societyhe said.

[L’intelligence artificielle] could worsen the situation. or it could be used to allow farmers to work autonomous robots cultivate mushrooms much more rewarding and profitable … But we do not want to leave this decision in the hands of technologists. It is above all a societal questionconcludes Sean Smukler.

With information from Jacqueline Gelineau and the program Daybreak South