Czech President Petr Pavel, visiting the country's largest agricultural fair, Země živitelka ("Land, the Provider"), said that climate change is now being felt far more strongly in the farming sector than in the past. According to him, farmers have always known that some years bring good harvests and others don't, but weather fluctuations are becoming noticeably more extreme.
"Unforeseen events — whether heavy rainstorms, late frosts, or drought like this year — are getting stronger, and there will be more of them," the president said.
Pavel also pointed to the rapid development of modern agricultural technology. He noted that artificial intelligence is opening up possibilities that no one could have imagined just a few years ago — including the ability to treat literally every centimetre of soil with precision.
The use of drones, the president added, already makes it possible to monitor soil and crop quality. "Agriculture is becoming a science, but it's encouraging that all this science and technology is being made user-friendly — so that a farmer doesn't need a university degree in artificial intelligence and computing to start using this equipment right away," Pavel emphasized.
This year, the Země živitelka fair has put the spotlight on innovation and new technology. Visitors can see, among other things, a new harvester with a cutting width of up to 11 metres, get acquainted with new breeds of cattle and horses, and learn about a method of treating seeds with high temperatures. The Czech Republic's largest agricultural fair is also showcasing the use of drones and the potential of artificial intelligence in the farming sector.
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Source: ekolist.cz