Two distinguished professors from the Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT) Department of Electrical Engineering and the TUT AI Hub, Anish Kurien and Nico Steyn delivered a guest presentation on emerging technologies for precision farming on 8 May 2024. The event was hosted by the Poultry Practice at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg.
The Poultry Practice, renowned for its comprehensive services to the commercial poultry industry, provided a fitting backdrop for the collaborative exploration of AI in farming.
Attendees, who included veterinarians, pharmaceutical industry representatives and broiler farmers, delved into the latest advancements in precision farming. The line-up of expert presenters offered diverse perspectives on leveraging AI technologies to enhance various aspects of broiler farming - from feed management to disease monitoring.
Profs Kurien and Steyn, alongside their peers, shed more light on the transformative potential of AI in optimising poultry operations. Through data-driven insights and predictive analytics, farmers are enabled to make informed decisions that could drive productivity while minimising environmental impact.
"We are witnessing a significant paradigm shift in how we approach broiler farming," said Prof Kurien. "By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, we have the opportunity to transform traditional farming practices into highly efficient, data-driven operations."
Prof Steyn echoed this sentiment, emphasising the need for collaboration between academia, industry and technology providers to realise the full potential of AI in agriculture.
"TUT’s research aims to bridge the gap between theory and practice, ensuring that cutting-edge technologies benefit farmers and consumers alike," he said.
TUT's Prof Anish Kurien and Nico Steyn.
Dexter, TUT residential robot, brightened up the event.