Organizers of an upcoming two-day workshop aim to engage key agricultural industry stakeholders to address many of the important risk, policy, and community-related issues with new digital farming technologies like robots, autonomous field equipment, and other labor-saving devices. Scheduled for Nov. 9-10, the Safety for Emerging Robotics and Autonomous aGriculture (SAFER AG) workshop will be hosted by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering in cooperation with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and other industry, university, and government partners. Participants will develop future research recommendations on agricultural autonomous robotics on issues such as safety, insurability, regulation and policy, and required workforce skills. The organizers are encouraging broad participation from industry, farmers, ranchers, researchers, government, and extension personnel to help develop recommendations.
Over the past few years, agriculture has seen advances in autonomous robotics that will impact future production practices, business management, and safety practices. The progress of digital technologies like artificial intelligence now enables fully autonomous machines like full-sized tractors to till fields, machines that control weeds, and robots that milk cows and feed calves. These machines depend on sensor-based information and have prompted important questions for the ag sector regarding safety protocols, risk management, implications for rural communities, and changes in the agricultural workforce.
Dr. Salah Issa, PhD, assistant professor at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Agricultural & Biological Engineering Department says, “The introduction of mechanization in agriculture in the early 1900’s transformed farms and surrounding communities. We expect digital technologies to lead to a similar transformation on farms and in many rural areas.” Issa continued, “Labor cost and availability is driving the increased interest in these machines to care for animals and conduct some of the routine field work now done by people. Industry is announcing new products every day. University research hubs are buzzing with new applications for autonomous systems.”
Each new labor-saving device brings a different set of potential concerns – as well as opportunity. “This astonishing rate of tech advancement in agriculture is exciting and will likely lead to improvements in production, efficiency, and sustainability,” said John Shutske, workshop co-chair and UW-Madison Department of Biological Systems Engineering professor and extension specialist.
“If we substitute some of the human labor done on farms with new machines, there is potential to improve safety for farmers, ranchers, and hired workers. However, the lighting-fast rate of change means that designers, operators, insurance companies and others might struggle to keep up with the unanticipated safety issues these technologies might create. This is especially a concern when farm-sector stakeholders don’t have an opportunity to weigh in on the benefits or challenges,” Shutske continued. “Our workshop will give insurers, lenders, engineers, producers, manufacturers, educators, policy makers, community leaders, and others partners the chance to voice their thoughts on what these changes mean – and how we can best work together in the coming years.” While safety and risk are focal points of the workshop, organizers will also examine issues connected to the impacts of tech on rural economies, changes needed for worker training, and new needs in vocational education.
Dr. Issa in Illinois will host and chair the workshop along with co-chair Shutske of Wisconsin. Both Issa and Shutske have active research programs in agricultural automation and related safety needs. The event will feature experts from equipment companies and specialists who focus on injury and safety as well as those who will speak about how newly adopted agricultural technologies might impact community systems. The workshop includes a full-day working session to identify needs and barriers. Priorities for action will serve as a roadmap for future research, outreach, education, and partnerships. Summary reports will be made available in 2023.
For full details, registration, workshop location and information about discounts for farmers, ranchers, and other ag producers, go to https://go.illinois.edu/SAFERAG.
