行业新闻

当前，人工智能和其他信息通信技术在我们的沟通、学习、生活、生产等方方面面都扮演着日益重要的角色。在新冠疫情期间，信息通信技术让学生们可以待在家里进行在线学习，在线办公和网络会议室也让很多公司得以正常运行。在农业领域，信息通信技术的运用也越来越广泛。例如，在现代技术的支持下，联合国教科文组织与联合国粮农组织共同开发了世界土壤地图 (http://www.fao.org/soils-portal/soil-survey/soil-maps-and-databases/faounesco-soil-map-of-the-world/zh/ )。

在中国，联合国粮农组织正在积极采取行动，探索人工智能和其他信息通信技术在农业领域的应用，以更好地应对21世纪农业领域的新挑战。但同时，人工智能在农业领域的应用也面临着挑战，例如，如何更广泛地应用这些新技术，如何更好地整合资源和有效利用，以及如何使小农户能够负担得起这些技术并从中受益等。

当人工智能遇上顶尖农人，谁能更胜一筹？今天，由中国农业大学和拼多多联合举办并由联合国粮农组织提供技术支持的第一届”多多农研科技大赛“正式开幕，参赛者们将利用先进的人工智能或精湛的种植技术，在云南高原挑战草莓种植。在为期四个多月的比赛中，来自全球农业领域的顶尖好手将通过“人机竞赛”，切磋出适宜本土化推广的种植方法。

到2050年，全球人口将达到90亿，根据联合国粮农组织的统计，这意味着粮食生产必须提高70%才能够满足需求，同时还要考虑到环境保护和适应气候变化等问题。这需要我们充分利用创新与科技，共同努力，实现零饥饿和其他可持续发展目标。

Nowadays, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) are playing an increasingly important role in our communication, learning, life, and production.  During the COVID-19 period, ICTs allow students to stay at home and learn online. Telework and virtual meetings allow companies to keep running. In the field of agriculture, the use of ICTs is becoming more and more widespread. For instance, with the support of technologies, UNESCO and FAO jointly developed the Soil Map of the World (http://www.fao.org/soils-portal/soil-survey/soil-maps-and-databases/faounesco-soil-map-of-the-world/zh/ ).

In China, FAO is taking actions in exploring the use of AI and other ICTs in agriculture to better tackle the global challenges in the agriculture sector in the 21st century. But the use of these technologies in agriculture still faces challenges. For example, how to apply the new technologies more widely, how to integrate the resources and use them more effectively, and how to make these technologies affordable to and benefit smallholder farmers.

When AI meets top farmers, who will win?  Today, co-organized by China Agricultural University and Pinduoduo and technically supported by FAO, the first "Duoduo Smart Agriculture Competition” officially launched. Participants will take the challenge to use AI or proficient planting skills to grow strawberries in Yunnan plateau.  In the four-month “human-machine” competition, the most suitable cultivation methods will be chosen for local promotion.

According to FAO, the food and agricultural sector is going to face enormous challenges to feed a growing population of 9 billion people by 2050, with the need to increase the food production by 70% while preserving the environment and adapting to climate change. To face the challenge, we need to work together to use innovation and technologies to achieve Zero Hunger and other Sustainable Development Goals.