## Growing More with Less

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**Canonical URL:** [Growing More with Less](https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2023/december/ai-in-practice-case-studies-horn.pdf)

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### Overview
- Artificial intelligence (AI) is applied across food and agricultural production chains: engineering new varieties of climate-resistant rice; providing data on soil; guiding drones for precision-spraying of fertilizers and pesticides; sorting, inspecting, and grading produce.
- “AI-driven smart agriculture provides tremendous potential for boosting food security and to reduce or even end hunger in many regions of the world,” said Channing Arndt, of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research.
- The article examines tangible benefits and raises questions about ethical considerations, policy lags, and training gaps associated with integrating AI into agriculture.

### Thailand: national strategy and programs
- In 2014, Thailand unveiled Thailand 4.0, a 20-year national strategy for advanced development with priority sectors including food, agriculture, and digital industries.
- Government-run Smart Farmer and Young Smart Farmer programs encourage adoption of precision agriculture technologies such as AI-controlled drones and intelligent targeted spraying.
- Thailand population: 70 million people.
- Thailand is the world’s 15th largest food exporter and the only net food exporter in Asia.
- Projected shipments this year: $44.3 billion.
- Thailand launched THEOS-2, the first Earth observation satellite jointly designed by Thai and British engineers, to gather data for smart agriculture.
- The Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA) manages the One Community, One Drone program with farmers in 500 communities sharing drone services.
- “Even farmers want technology, but the technology has to be simple enough for them to use,” said Preesan Rakwatin, executive vice president of DEPA.

### Use cases and private-sector solutions
- Ricult: founded in 2015 as a dual fintech and agritech firm. Its AI-driven app has more than 800,000 downloads in Thailand and provides tools to help smallholder farmers choose crop varieties and precision methods and assists with access to finance.
- Mitr Phol Group, the largest sugar producer in Asia, has partnered with IBM for AI-driven data solutions for farmers.
- Chia Tai uses autonomous drones made by XAG of China.

### Global context and food-security challenges
- Recent shocks—pandemic, war in Ukraine, and resulting disruptions—contributed to setbacks in food security.
- Estimated undernourished people in 2022: 735 million people (9.2 percent of the global population), according to The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World.
- Policymakers and analysts view digital technologies, including AI, as a way to increase productivity and make food chains more efficient amid migration of younger farmers to cities and rising demand.

### Policy, uptake barriers, and risks
- Obstacles to adoption include government micromanagement and siloed agencies that hinder uptake; Krithpaka Boonfueng (NIA) emphasizes nurturing the digital ecosystem.
- Some African governments have passed restrictive drone regulations, making licensing difficult, according to “Empowering Africa’s Food Systems for the Future” (IFPRI); however, countries such as Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania are building digital ecosystems and farmer digital literacy to provide online extension services, weather forecasts, market information, and financing.
- Risks highlighted:
  - “For all the promise, some researchers warn about risks. If the data are bad, AI’s results will be bad.”
  - AI can be programmed to increase yields while ignoring negative impacts on the environment.
  - “AI can be fine-tuned to match your goals. It is not perfect,” said Aukrit Unahalekhaka (Ricult cofounder).
- Policy recommendation from industry perspective: “Governments should be creators of policies and facilitators of funding for start-ups, innovators, and farmers. It is much more efficient to let the market work,” said Aukrit Unahalekhaka.

### Key statistics and dates (verbatim)
- 2014: Thailand 4.0 launched (20-year national strategy).
- Thailand population: 70 million people.
- Thailand: world’s 15th largest food exporter; only net food exporter in Asia.
- Projected shipments this year: $44.3 billion.
- Undernourished in 2022: 735 million people (9.2 percent of the global population).
- Ricult founded in 2015.
- Ricult app downloads in Thailand: more than 800,000.
- One Community, One Drone program: farmers in 500 communities sharing drone services.

*Source: "Growing More with Less," AI IN PRACTICE, F&D, December 2023.*

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_Source: https://www.imf.org/-/media/files/publications/fandd/article/2023/december/ai-in-practice-case-studies-horn.pdf_