FEATURE
Advancements in Agricultural Robotics and Automation in MARDI
By Ten Seng Teik Khairul Anuar Bin Shafie Muhd Akhtar Bin Mohamad Tahir Badaruzzaman Bin Mohamad Noh Mohd Nadzim Bin Nordin Mohamad Hafiz Bin Hashim Ahmad Kamil Bin Zolkafli
FEATURE
Engineering Research Centre , Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute ( MARDI )
With the world population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050 , food production will need to increase significantly to sustain the current level of living . Therefore , agriculture needs to be modernised and expanded . Otherwise , it will be difficult to achieve the second Sustainable Development Goal of the UN , which is to eradicate hunger . In addition , problems , including the depletion of natural resources and lands , climate change , erratic weather patterns , and the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic , challenge humanity . Food security is a pressing worldwide concern as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic ’ s effects on agricultural food yield . To bring existing agricultural practices into the new era of Agricultural Revolution 4.0 with the use of Industrial Revolution 4.0 ( IR4.0 ) advanced technologies , especially agricultural robotics , to reduce labour force dependency , production time , increase productivity , and improve food security , MARDI ’ s research work aims to improve existing agricultural practices through mechanisation , automation , and the adaptation of advanced technologies . The following agricultural tasks have been developed by MARDI in terms of robotics and automation — planting , crop monitoring , pesticide applicating , harvesting and grading .
Currently , the COVID-19 epidemic is significantly impeding agricultural food productivity , resulting in a heightened global emphasis on guaranteeing food security . There has been a decline in the number of people working in the agricultural industry in Southeast Asia , affecting a total of 100.77 million individuals [ 1 ]. Furthermore , it is noteworthy that the average age of farmers in Malaysia surpasses 50 years , and there is a dearth of involvement from the younger generation [ 2 ]. Moreover , the COVID-19 pandemic has emphasised the necessity of converting the agricultural sector into industries to improve agricultural efficiency and guarantee food security in Malaysia . Thankfully , agriculture may be considered a type of industrial production that can make use of the progress achieved in successive industrial revolutions .
Smart farms are a clear sign of the onset of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the agricultural sector . Smart farms are similar to smart factories in that they seek to incorporate cutting-edge technology , such as the Internet of Things , robots , and advanced systems like artificial intelligence
43