Crop protection is one of the major issue facing farmers today. In order to improve their profit margin, farmers are showering huge amount of pesticides on crops to safeguard against pests and keep their crop disease free. In the bargain they are contributing to water pollution and rapid rise in diseases like cancer.

Recently we have seen emergence of few companies which are using emerging technology such as AI to target plant killing agents with precision, in an environment friendly manner.

Enko Chem, a Connecticut-based crop protection startup, uses AI after scanning through a database of plant and disease compounds, targets the unique compounds found in a specific disease or insect while sparing crops and the rest of the ecosystem.

Other companies, such as Canada-based Precision AI use drones and AI to map out exactly which parts of a farm need to be sprayed with crop protection products. It also measures how far the product will be sprayed.

By mapping specific areas of a farm that need treatment, drones can deliver crop protection products only where necessary, reducing chemical use and minimizing drift to unintended areas. This targeted method not only saves resources but also helps safeguard nearby crops and ecosystems.

These AI-driven innovations represent a shift toward more sustainable farming practices by improving pest management accuracy.