Signal 87% of US agriculture businesses used AI in some form in 2021

Summary

This signal shows how widely AI has already entered farming. Some 87% of American agricultural businesses were already applying AI in one way or another by 2021. As weather becomes less predictable, AI models are advising farmers on the best times to plant. The report adds that AI can help develop crop varieties that withstand climate stress up to five times faster than traditional breeding. Combined with sensing, automation and robotics, AI is also helping farms use less energy, water and chemicals and cope with labour shortages. The figure suggests agriculture is one of the earliest sectors where AI is being applied to climate adaptation at scale.