August 1, 2025|
AI
|4 months agoSwitzerland pioneers AI-powered crop protection system
Swiss agricultural research center Agroscope develops innovative AI-based scarecrow system to protect crops from bird damage, marking a shift toward smart farming solutions.
AI
Generated IllustrationKey Takeaways
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- Swiss agricultural research center Agroscope is developing an AI-based scarecrow system to protect crops from bird damage.
- The system is designed to deter corvids (crows and rooks) which cause significant damage to freshly sown maize and sunflower fields.
- Current crop protection methods like horns, traditional scarecrows, and balloons are largely ineffective as birds quickly become accustomed to them.
- The AI scarecrow prototype consists of a detection camera, a horn, and is powered by a solar panel.
- The project is financially supported by the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture.
They Said
"The crops are only at risk for a few weeks, but the corvids learn very quickly."