Comments on: Beware of robot farmhands? http://www.biofortified.org/2009/08/beware-of-robot-farmhands/ Stronger plants, stronger science, and stronger communication. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:17:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Hala http://www.biofortified.org/2009/08/beware-of-robot-farmhands/#comment-2306 Hala Sun, 06 Sep 2009 08:38:35 +0000 http://sandbox.geneticmaize.com/?p=164#comment-2306 <p>Robots have a more humane purpose that some may realize! Some agricultural engineers are trying to make ecological agriculture (organic farming) more practical and less labor-intensive. This is an agricultural practices that uses low inputs for high quality food, and does not use synthetics (pesticides, synthetic fertilizers..) because of their non-target effects. Non-target means when farm worker get cancer, birth defects due to pesticides, or when surface waters like the Gulf become anoxic (low on oxygen), because of the fertilizers that leached into them and caused an algae flush at the surface. As a result aquatic life was almost annhilated in this region. Organic farming, as defined by the UN's FAO, is also a socially responsible practice which rejects the inhumane treatment of animals. Organically grown animals are necessarily free-range. If organic farming became main stream, it will result in healthier environment on and around the farms, and healthier produce. Intensive labor however is a requirement fo organic farming, that some in the field of agriculture are working on eliminating, through the use of automation. Like some of you mentioned, no agricultural production should be based on the down luck of any social class or ethnicity. Engineers can innovative organic farming, through automation, software, alternative cultural practcies, so there's no need to resort to inhumane factory farms. You can read more on applying engineering to organic farming, and the definition of organic farming at www.bioagengineering.net</p> Robots have a more humane purpose that some may realize! Some agricultural engineers are trying to make ecological agriculture (organic farming) more practical and less labor-intensive. This is an agricultural practices that uses low inputs for high quality food, and does not use synthetics (pesticides, synthetic fertilizers..) because of their non-target effects. Non-target means when farm worker get cancer, birth defects due to pesticides, or when surface waters like the Gulf become anoxic (low on oxygen), because of the fertilizers that leached into them and caused an algae flush at the surface. As a result aquatic life was almost annhilated in this region. Organic farming, as defined by the UN’s FAO, is also a socially responsible practice which rejects the inhumane treatment of animals. Organically grown animals are necessarily free-range. If organic farming became main stream, it will result in healthier environment on and around the farms, and healthier produce. Intensive labor however is a requirement fo organic farming, that some in the field of agriculture are working on eliminating, through the use of automation. Like some of you mentioned, no agricultural production should be based on the down luck of any social class or ethnicity. Engineers can innovative organic farming, through automation, software, alternative cultural practcies, so there’s no need to resort to inhumane factory farms. You can read more on applying engineering to organic farming, and the definition of organic farming at http://www.bioagengineering.net

]]> By: Karl Haro von Mogel http://www.biofortified.org/2009/08/beware-of-robot-farmhands/#comment-2305 Karl Haro von Mogel Wed, 12 Aug 2009 07:54:33 +0000 http://sandbox.geneticmaize.com/?p=164#comment-2305 <p>Yeah I know what you mean about thinking in the field. I've run through a lot of news articles and other things in my head while out pollinating in my ranges. I only wish that I could also read while out there, because I inevitably run into a brick wall as I want to go on pubmed and find some papers to find out some info. My brain needs a 3G connection or something. :)<br/>I've also been working on a couple big projects during this time, some super-secret stuff that will be revealed in due time. Or until someone cleverly finds it with Google.</p> Yeah I know what you mean about thinking in the field. I’ve run through a lot of news articles and other things in my head while out pollinating in my ranges. I only wish that I could also read while out there, because I inevitably run into a brick wall as I want to go on pubmed and find some papers to find out some info. My brain needs a 3G connection or something. :)
I’ve also been working on a couple big projects during this time, some super-secret stuff that will be revealed in due time. Or until someone cleverly finds it with Google.

]]> By: Anastasia http://www.biofortified.org/2009/08/beware-of-robot-farmhands/#comment-2304 Anastasia Mon, 10 Aug 2009 12:23:20 +0000 http://sandbox.geneticmaize.com/?p=164#comment-2304 <p>Mary, I'm glad to hear you like your Roomba! I've been considering one, but with 2 cats and 2 dogs, I don't know how long it would last - it would need to be both chew-resistant and fur-resistant. I wonder what the reaction was when household tools like vacuums first came out. I have a feeling at least some people spoke out against them.</p><p>My classmate (who shared the article on robot farming with the students in my program) seemed to think that robot farmers shouldn't qualify as organic - but I think it would be a big mistake to reject them just because they are new.</p><p>Ha ha, Karl. I also redid my whole website and moved to a completely new blogging software during field season! And, I've been posting a lot on the <a href="http://atheistandagnostic.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">blog</a> of a club that I'm the president of. Once I get started in the field, I have so much time out there to think, actually think! In the lab, I have so many other things on my mind - this summer has actually been sort of meditative. Of course, it's also been some of the most demanding days of my life, but that's ok.</p><p>I too am interested in energy expenditure of creating these potential robots. Perhaps they could run on bio-diesel and/or solar panels.</p> Mary, I’m glad to hear you like your Roomba! I’ve been considering one, but with 2 cats and 2 dogs, I don’t know how long it would last – it would need to be both chew-resistant and fur-resistant. I wonder what the reaction was when household tools like vacuums first came out. I have a feeling at least some people spoke out against them.

My classmate (who shared the article on robot farming with the students in my program) seemed to think that robot farmers shouldn’t qualify as organic – but I think it would be a big mistake to reject them just because they are new.

Ha ha, Karl. I also redid my whole website and moved to a completely new blogging software during field season! And, I’ve been posting a lot on the blog of a club that I’m the president of. Once I get started in the field, I have so much time out there to think, actually think! In the lab, I have so many other things on my mind – this summer has actually been sort of meditative. Of course, it’s also been some of the most demanding days of my life, but that’s ok.

I too am interested in energy expenditure of creating these potential robots. Perhaps they could run on bio-diesel and/or solar panels.

]]> By: Karl Haro von Mogel http://www.biofortified.org/2009/08/beware-of-robot-farmhands/#comment-2303 Karl Haro von Mogel Sat, 08 Aug 2009 01:06:12 +0000 http://sandbox.geneticmaize.com/?p=164#comment-2303 <p>Somehow it seems more humane to have robots picking vegetables than migrant workers that don't get paid much for back-breaking labor. (But I wonder what the energy expenditures of robotic farming would be compared to the alternative. I also seem to remember from U.S. History that there was resistance in the South to mechanized farming that was getting popular in the midwest, in part because they were comfortable with slaves doing the work. Change comes in many forms, and although there is often resistance to change in and of itself, some changes are for the better, on the whole.</p><p>Hey Anastasia are you trying to set a record for the most posts <em>during field season</em>?</p> Somehow it seems more humane to have robots picking vegetables than migrant workers that don’t get paid much for back-breaking labor. (But I wonder what the energy expenditures of robotic farming would be compared to the alternative. I also seem to remember from U.S. History that there was resistance in the South to mechanized farming that was getting popular in the midwest, in part because they were comfortable with slaves doing the work. Change comes in many forms, and although there is often resistance to change in and of itself, some changes are for the better, on the whole.

Hey Anastasia are you trying to set a record for the most posts during field season?

]]> By: Mary http://www.biofortified.org/2009/08/beware-of-robot-farmhands/#comment-2302 Mary Fri, 07 Aug 2009 05:05:22 +0000 http://sandbox.geneticmaize.com/?p=164#comment-2302 <p>I don't have any problem with robots. I bought my first one recently (Roomba) and I'm very happy with it. I was a bit weirded out that it was my first appliance that came with a software license. </p><p>Now I keep telling my housemate that I want a lawnba. I imagine that with a little bit of setup (something like an electric fence) it should work fine.</p><p>I'm sure someone will find a way to claim that it doesn't meet organic standards, though...</p> I don’t have any problem with robots. I bought my first one recently (Roomba) and I’m very happy with it. I was a bit weirded out that it was my first appliance that came with a software license.

Now I keep telling my housemate that I want a lawnba. I imagine that with a little bit of setup (something like an electric fence) it should work fine.

I’m sure someone will find a way to claim that it doesn’t meet organic standards, though…

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