Farmers are facing an uphill battle with increasingly resistant weeds, turning to artificial intelligence (AI) as their new hope against these tenacious plants. Amidst growing resistance to chemical herbicides, AI offers a beacon of accelerated development for new, effective weed killers, according to an article in the Wall Street Journal.
Farmers are on the brink of losing the race against weeds, with many unwanted plants now resistant to multiple chemical treatments. As conventional herbicides falter, major agricultural companies like Bayer, Corteva, and Syngenta are betting on AI to speed up the development of new herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides. Bob Reiter, head of R&D at Bayer’s agricultural division, highlighted the urgency: “We’re getting a bit desperate. Our options are running out.”
Bayer’s AI system, internally known as ‘CropKey’, can rapidly search data for chemical molecules capable of breaking down the protein structure of weeds, potentially yielding better results in field tests than traditional methods. This innovative approach is a significant shift in an industry where the introduction of new herbicides has been stagnant for decades. Discovery to commercialization Syngenta estimates that AI could reduce the time from discovery to commercialization of a pesticide from fifteen to ten years, and cut laboratory and field tests by 30%.
AI’s role in agriculture extends beyond just speeding up chemical development; it also allows for early toxicity screenings crucial for pesticides used on crops for human consumption. This helps in ensuring environmental safety and cost-efficiency. The technology has enabled Bayer to develop a new herbicide, Icafolin, slated for a 2028 launch in Brazil – marking the first introduction of a new herbicide in over thirty years.
Sean Elliott, a sixth-generation farmer from Illinois, voices the necessity of such advancements: “It’s unbelievable how quickly weeds adapt. If we don’t come up with something new to keep them in check, we risk substantial crop losses.” Elliott’s concern is echoed by many in the farming community, who are witnessing firsthand the rapid evolution of weed resistance.
Critics, however, warn against a ‘pesticide treadmill’, where reliance on new chemicals may only exacerbate resistance issues, leading to even more potent superweeds. Jay Feldman, director of Beyond Pesticides, advocates for reducing chemical use, emphasizing that spraying new chemicals on rapidly adapting weeds could worsen the situation. Feldman and others argue for integrated pest management strategies that combine biological, mechanical, and chemical methods to sustainably manage weed populations.
As the agricultural sector grapples with these challenges, AI emerges not just as a tool for innovation, but as a crucial ally in safeguarding future food supplies against the growing threat of superweeds. The integration of AI in agriculture represents a promising frontier, but one that must be navigated carefully to avoid repeating past mistakes.