Tech to transform rice farming

Thailand's rice industry is undergoing a transformation as the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (Nectec) applies artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision technology to reduce risks from unpredictable environments, allowing for a precision farming approach.

- SUCHIT LEESA-NGUANSUK

Digital technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data and AI are helping to promote precision farming, enhancing efficiency through automation and reducing risks from unpredictable environments, said Teera Phatrapornnant, a senior researcher at Nectec.

Nectec harnesses advanced computer vision technology to automate and accelerate the process of rice variety improvement, he said.

One of the technologies is the 3D morphological rice traits analyser to study plant responses to environment. The analyser performs a wide range of precise measurements, some of which are difficult to manually quantify.

By automating the acquisition of the comprehensive data through 3D reconstruction and machine learning, the technology can significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of agricultural research, particularly concerning the genetic improvement of rice in response to environmental factors.