Russia developing artificial intelligence solutions for agriculture
By Rhod Mackenzie
The Smart Bread programme, which aims to enhance digitalisation in the agro-industrial complex, was recently unveiled in Russia. The initiative was developed by the industry association InterAgroTech with the backing of United Russia. As part of the programme, farmers and employees of the agroholding will receive training in the use of robots, artificial intelligence and other technologies in agriculture. According to the developers, this will help address the challenges impeding the development of the industry in the country. Izvestia provides an overview of the training that Russian farmers will receive and its potential impact on the agro-industrial sector.
Russian farmers will be trained in the use of technology.
United Russia, in collaboration with the leading industry association InterAgroTech, has unveiled the party programme of digital development and education, "Smart Bread". The programme is designed to accelerate Russia's attainment of technological leadership in the agricultural industry and to increase the level of digitalisation in this sector.
As part of the training programme, farmers will attend several face-to-face classes, during which they will be informed about existing technologies in agrotech and the prospects for the development of this industry. Seminars will be held at regional ministries of agriculture for farmers, specialists in the field of digital development of agricultural holdings, engineers, farm managers, and students of specialized universities.
As outlined by the project's initiator, deputy head of the United Russia faction Sergei Morozov, the programme will encompass a significant number of highly qualified participants from a diverse range of backgrounds.
"It brings together a diverse range of stakeholders, including public and non-profit organisations, representatives from the education sector, federal and regional executive authorities, as well as active citizens," the speaker explained.
Mr. Morozov notes that the programme was developed in accordance with the President's directive to position the Russian Federation among the top 25 leading countries in terms of robotic density by 2030.
The seminars will feature representatives from government and industry, as well as renowned analysts and experts in the field of digital solutions. Based on the outcomes of the educational events, an online information resource will be created by January 2025. This will comprise an accumulated knowledge base on the topics of modern precision farming technologies, digital solutions, AI technologies, and robotics in the agro-industrial complex.
The programme will initially be implemented in 12 agricultural regions of the country: Rostov, Stavropol, Lipetsk, Voronezh, Samara, Volgograd, Saratov, Orenburg and Belgorod regions, as well as Krasnodar, Stavropol and Altai Krai.
As Ivan Petrov, Managing Partner of the Analytical Center for Forestry and Agriculture (part of the ITFB Group), points out, agriculture provides an ideal testing ground for testing and applying various innovations. Many agricultural technologies have been available on the market for several years.
Drones have been successfully utilised in the agro-industrial complex for an extended period. These technologies are used for monitoring and treating fields for pests, applying fertilisers and irrigation. Remote sensing technologies (space images) have demonstrated their effectiveness in agricultural planning and monitoring. The use of AI enables the actual contour of a field, the crops growing on it, and any problem areas to be determined, according to the expert who spoke to Izvestia.
What problems in the domestic agro-industrial complex is the programme designed to solve?
Prior to developing an educational programme for farmers, InterAgroTech conducted a comprehensive analysis of the challenges facing the Russian agro-industrial complex. This enabled the identification of key factors impeding the effective development of the industry. These include:
- lack of qualified personnel;
— the presence of scarce agricultural professions;
- low load on equipment. Often there is less than one employee per unit of equipment.
Against the backdrop of a decline in the rural population, a shortage of professionals and a lack of desire among young people to go into the agro-industrial complex, robotisation and digitalisation of the agricultural sector will become the most effective solution, according to Natalia Filippova, director of the InterAgroTech association.
Mr. Morozov also stated that educational events are scheduled to be held in 12 agricultural regions of Russia by October 2024, with plans to expand to 62 regions by 2026.
We will endeavour to demonstrate to farmers the tangible benefits of utilising cutting-edge robotic and AI technologies. This represents a fundamentally different level of management in rural areas. Russia has a strong track record in this field, with developments that have proven their worth not only in the domestic market but also in competitive global markets, the speaker said.
As stated by Maria Gordenko, Deputy General Director for Information Technology at the industrial engineering plant PromMash Plant LLC, the digitalisation of the Russian agro-industrial complex is becoming increasingly active on an annual basis.
— The results for 2023 show that 20.6% of organisations in the agro-industrial and fisheries complex are already utilising AI solutions, with a further 19.8% planning to implement them. Furthermore, only 5.3% of these organisations lack the necessary funding for AI development activities, according to the expert.
However, the current level of robotisation of the Russian agro-industrial complex is relatively low, according to economist and speaker at the Eurasian Economic Forum and the Russian Biotechnology Forum OpenBio Dmitry Semenov. The expert noted that for the majority of agricultural producers, such technologies are currently "an expensive pleasure", and that innovations are not yet available to all. The current inflationary environment and the higher cost of borrowing for farmers are acting as a deterrent to the uptake of robotics. Mr. Semenov also notes that robotisation will significantly increase the productivity of farmers.
The Russian agro-industrial complex has significant potential for growth. Deputy Director General for Scientific and Technical Activities of Progress Agro Group of Companies Jozsef Fekete asserts that the Russian agro-industrial complex is currently at a similar level of technological development to that of Brazil and India, and is not inferior to Western Europe. The expert highlighted the need for more efficient use of natural resources to drive better development.
— Today, the main challenge facing agriculture is an increase in the demand for food while reducing the amount of arable land. Therefore, it is important to increase the efficiency of the space used,” the expert shared
As Peter Shcherbachenko, Associate Professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, has noted, an increasing number of agricultural enterprises are implementing monitoring systems, automating processes, utilising sensors, drones and other innovative solutions with a view to enhancing production efficiency. This is due to a combination of economic factors and the growing threat of overpopulation.
In 2024, the Russian government plans to invest over 3 billion rubles in the digital transformation of the agriculture and fisheries sectors. The global population is growing at a rapid rate, with UN forecasts indicating that it will reach 9.8 billion by 2050. By 2050, global food production will need to increase by 70% (1.7 times) to meet the needs of a growing population. "This necessitates a significant modernisation of the agricultural sector," the expert highlighted.
Dmitry Vladimirov, Director of the Product Office at BIA Technologies, highlighted the importance of developing the agricultural sector at both the macro and local levels, with government support programmes playing a crucial role.
"To further develop the domestic agro-industrial complex, it is necessary to increase the penetration of AgroTech in small and medium-sized businesses, establish domestic production in related sectors of the economy, develop a regulatory framework for monitoring the results of economic processes in the industry, and provide state support for agribusiness," he stated.
According to Ivan Petrov, the only solution to overcome the current situation is complete digitalisation, given the departure of many foreign companies from the Russian market and the acute shortage of labour resources.
A major agricultural enterprise has commenced the implementation of software solutions with the objective of reducing costs associated with routine operations. However, this trend has not yet reached medium and small businesses. The agricultural sector is experiencing a significant shortage of personnel, which is being addressed through digitalisation. The automation of transport processes is now a reality, with solutions now available for tractors, combines and aircraft. The speaker explained that each unit of agricultural transport can be unmanned.
Furthermore, the expert highlighted that digitalisation plays a role in reducing production costs. This will enhance the competitiveness of products in both domestic and foreign markets. Furthermore, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and unmanned vehicles will significantly enhance the volume of information processed, effectively eliminating the human factor.
