Leveraging edge artificial intelligence for sustainable agriculture

Effectively feeding a burgeoning world population is one of the main goals of sustainable agricultural practices. Digital technology, such as edge artificial intelligence (AI), has the potential to introduce substantial benefits to agriculture by enhancing farming practices that can improve agricultural production efficiency, yield, quality and safety. However, the adoption of edge AI faces several challenges, including the need for innovative and efficient edge AI solutions and greater investment in infrastructure and training, all compounded by various environmental, social and economic constraints. Here we provide a roadmap for leveraging edge AI at the intersection of food production and sustainability. Digital technology is increasingly being used to address food security issues against the backdrop of anthropogenic stressors such as climate change and resource scarcity. This Perspective discusses ways to effectively deploy edge AI in food production systems to improve agricultural sustainability.