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Why farms are falling behind on autonomous technology

By Lauren Gilger
Published: Tuesday, May 24, 2022 - 1:11pm

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Graphic of farming and artificial intelligence
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Automated technology is becoming ubiquitous on the streets of Phoenix as Waymo cars zip around town testing the roads. But now, automated machines that disperse seeds, harvest vegetables and remove rocks from fields are being used on farms across America.

The technology comes as there is an ongoing shortage of farm workers in the country, and the need for food to be grown worldwide is only going up. But Rene Villalobos says it’s not pervasive enough in modern-day farming.

Villalobos is an associate professor of industrial engineering at Arizona State University, where he studies innovation in agriculture.

The Show spoke with him to learn about how new technology could benefit farming.

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