Are you aware that 10 billion people are expected to populate our planet by 2050? This means an increased demand for food of around 56%. On the other hand, there will be less capacity in terms of human resources – between 2018 and 2023, the number of available workers in agriculture will have fallen by 30 %.
Added to this are global climate change and the reduction in farmland. The pressure to develop more environmentally friendly and sustainable cultivation methods is enormous. At the same time, productivity needs to be increased in order to meet the growing demand for food. These complex issues cannot simply be brushed aside and send out a serious signal.
It shows the need for new approaches in which farmers, researchers, manufacturers and governments work hand in hand in the best possible way. Innovation and a spirit of research are also required – a topic in which automation and the use of intelligent robotics will make a valuable contribution.
Automation & robotics for a livable agriculture
This is precisely where the company Farm-ING, founded by engineer Gregor Witzmann, comes in. It specializes in making the world sustainable through smart agricultural technology and increasing the productivity of agricultural machinery and equipment. The aim is to make agriculture more livable and, above all, more profitable. In the long term, the company aims to become the market leader in Europe in the field of digital agricultural technology for vegetable and herb cultivation.
At a time when consumers and politicians are increasingly focusing on sustainability, smart agricultural technology is opening up new opportunities.
Farm-ING combines three effective components in this area:
1. artificial intelligence & automation
2. mechanical agricultural machinery & mechatronics
3. use of autonomous field robots
Farm-ING products can be used in a variety of ways – both on the tractor and directly on the soil tillage implement. Depending on the application and size of the farm, a suitable solution can be selected.
Stress-free and, above all, precise driving is achieved with the automatic steering system from FJ Dynamics, which can be retrofitted to any tractor. This increases productivity and saves valuable resources, time and money.
For soil cultivation with conventional hoeing implements, Farm-ING offers the ShiftING shifting frame. This is combined with the existing cultivator to automate row guidance. The device is equipped with the latest technology in terms of AI-supported plant recognition and is also suitable for use in very weedy row crops. When manual steering becomes a challenge, the ShiftING shifting frame makes a significant contribution to more productive weed removal.
For the fully automated hoeing process, Farm-ING also offers its self-designed In-RowING hoeing unit, which makes an effective and environmentally conscious contribution to weed control. It has been specially developed for sugar beet, vegetables, herbs and spice crops. The hoeing unit is available from 2 m width with 3 rows and can be equipped modularly for up to 18 rows. The AI-based camera system enables high-precision work and recognizes the plant even when it is heavily weeded and at earlier stages of growth. The all-electric drive ensures precise, quiet and clean operation with a long service life.
Looking to a promising future
Farm-ING still has big plans for the future. While the company is proud of the initial advances in automation and robotics in the field, it remains convinced that the entire agricultural sector is only at the beginning of sustainable digital development. The full potential will only become apparent in the coming years. In any case, it is worth taking this change seriously and getting to grips with the topic at an early stage.
The next robot from Farm-ING is already in the starting blocks: the FJD Vidar robot was designed for arable farming and is intended for smaller farmers. It can be used for automated spraying, fertilizing and sowing. Farm-ING would like to invite you to become a demo customer. Please feel free to contact us.
Together we are shaping the future of agriculture and making a valuable contribution to our planet.
