To the editor:

Minnesota is facing a persistent problem with food security. Since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Minnesota found that food insecurity in parts of our state surged as high as 40%. While rates have since fallen, these persistent issues are pushing Minnesota’s agricultural industry to find new ways to boost efficiency and productivity to solve them. Fortunately, the revolutionary advancements in farming offered by new tools like artificial intelligence (AI) are providing our farmers with new ways to navigate challenges like climate change while bolstering productivity to meet food demand.

Fueling these advancements are collaborative initiatives between our state’s leading research institutions, state agencies, and industry partners. Through their combined efforts, we are discovering how AI can be leveraged to give farmers data-driven insights into factors like soil health, crop conditions, and environmental impact. These insights are invaluable in helping farmers use their resources more efficiently, increase crop yields, and adapt to rapidly shifting climate patterns.

Beyond serving their present needs, AI is illuminating a path forward for smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable farming. Ultimately, these data-informed practices will help our state’s agriculture sector mitigate the risks associated with climate variability and ensure a stable and resilient food supply for years to come.

With Minnesota Farmfest next week, lawmakers can learn about the transformation taking place in Minnesota’s agricultural landscape through tech innovation. As they address food insecurity or other issues facing the state, they must not hinder the advancements made through technology.

Eldred Bach

Henderson