Farm robots: ecological utopia or dystopia?

Trends Ecol Evol. 2021 Sep;36(9):774-777. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.06.002. Epub 2021 Jul 13.

Abstract

Farm robots may lead to an ecological utopia where swarms of small robots help in overcoming the yield penalties and labor requirements associated with agroecological farming - or a dystopia with large robots cultivating monocultures. Societal discussions and policy action are needed to harness the potential of robots to serve people and the planet.

Keywords: Agriculture 4.0; agricultural robots; biodiversity; ecology; farm diversity; monocultures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Agriculture
  • Biodiversity*
  • Farms
  • Humans
  • Robotics*
  • Utopias