How Bayer Crop Science Balances AI with Human Insight
Health for all. Hunger for none. Bayer Crop Science uses artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven solutions to transform agriculture in pursuit of this vision.
The Point Cloud caught up with Bob Reiter, Head of Research and Development, at the AIM for Climate Summit in Washington, DC. In the interview, Reiter discusses the company's innovation in pursuit of global challenges like climate change and food security - challenges that span across farms of all sizes and locations.
“That's a beautiful thing about innovation and ag,” he says. “ It works for a large scale farm and it'll make a difference on a small scale-farm in Africa as well.”
The Point Cloud is Agerpoint’s interview series featuring leaders at the intersection of climate, agriculture, nature, and technology. Watch and read highlights from the conversation below. You can also hear to the full interview as an audio podcast on your favorite platforms.
Unlocking the Power of Data
With an annual investment of over two and a half billion euros in research and development, Bayer Crop Science is dedicated to providing enhanced seed products and crop protection solutions to farmers worldwide.
Data, of course, is key.
“In our more sophisticated places where we have a lot of mechanization and it's easier to collect data, we're probably collecting over 250 data layers just on environmental data,” says Reiter.
“We're running sensors in our fields to collect data on how our plants are growing as we look at the various varieties that we're trying to develop,” he continues. “So lots and lots of data ingestion, but it's still a work in progress on how do you turn that into something that's value adding that makes a smart decision for the grower.”
Pro-AI and Pro-Human
Reiter stressed that while AI aids decisions, humans are still very much in the loop.
“We use artificial intelligence, for example, to help make breeding decisions,” he says. “But we always have a person that's still sitting there looking at what the AI algorithm is telling us and deciding is that ultimately really the right choice. Does that make sense?”
“I think we're going to be living in this world for a long time where we supplement with data and data analytics. But ultimately still there's a piece for the farmer in this, just like there's a piece for the scientist in this.”
And while Reiter’s team continues to innovate, he knows that Bayer Crop Science won’t achieve its broad vision without collaboration.
“We're just one piece of a very big system that has to come together to be successful.”
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