Agriculture by aircraft

In the media, drones have mostly been associated with the military and spying,
plus the odd pizza-delivery publicity stunt. An annual competition in the United
Arab Emirates, UAE Drones for Good Award, acknowledges both this dark
reputation and that things are changing. Competition finalists this year pitched
benefits for unmanned aerial vehicles from conservation support to medical
deliveries, as well as farming help.
The Munich-based Quantum-Systems entry was a transition aircraft
combining capabilities of a multi-copter and fixed-wing model – vertical take-off,
plus fast forward flight like a normal plane. Quantum VRT design allows farmers to
adopt precise fertilization strategies via accurate flight-planning software with
evaluation of crop conditions, so reducing reliance on fertilizers and boosting yields.
Dubai plans to scale up agriculture drone technology usage in a bid to become self-
sufficient in food security by 2030. With 98 per cent imports, the emirate currently
outstrips Singapore.

Reference: https://www.raconteur.net/sustainability/top-5-tech-innovations-in-
agriculture
 Genetically Engineered Foods
Though controversial to some, scientists are hoping to create long term crop
solutions through modifying the genetic materials of crops. The hope is to give
farmers access to crops that produce more, have a decreased dependence on
pesticide, and are more drought resistant than what we see today.

Reference: https://www.randallreilly.com/agriculture-trends-to-watch-in-2018/
 Milking

Finally, we have seen a great development using collaborative robots to help

in the milking process on dairy farms. This case study by Universal Robots shows
how a UR5 can be used to spray disinfectant on the cow's udders in preparation for
milking. It seems certain that robotics will continue to revolutionize agriculture and
change the way that we think about producing food.

Reference: https://blog.robotiq.com/top-10-robotic-applications-in-the-agricultural-
industry
Updates in STS

Submitted by: Giemark D. Quillo, BSED-1-Science

Submitted to: Ms. Ma. Luisa Tejada