How would Google farm?
Abstract
If Google were to enter farming, it would likely start by finding and amassing all available data – without biases or preconceived notions – and let the data dictate how to make on-farm management decisions. Google’s self-driving car can see, hear, read, understand, decide, and act – just like human drivers do. We now also have tremendous data collection capabilities for situational awareness of the crops we are growing. As Google revolutionizes how we think about mobility, we have the same opportunity to exploit big data in agriculture. We are learning how to combine the latest advances in precision agriculture and plant genetics with big data and advanced artificial intelligence. As the world’s population continues to grow rapidly, merging these technologies is critical to maintaining an adequate supply of food and fiber.