The International Society of Automation (ISA) podcast, Podomation, curates and shares insightful discussions from top thought leaders in automation and industrial cybersecurity. Keep reading for a recap of one recent episode, Podomation 006 — Automation and Smart Agriculture.
What is Podomation?
Podomation is ISA's official podcast featuring top subject-matter experts in the industrial automation community. Its guests speak on wide-ranging topics that matter to automation professionals, including industry 4.0, digital transformation, manufacturing and machine control, connectivity and cybersecurity for operational technology (OT) and continuous and batch processing.
Some episodes were recorded live during ISA events, and others were recorded in studio. Regardless of where the conversation took place, however, each episode focuses on the vital role of automation in making the world a better place, and the great impact our community has.
Podomation Episode 006
Automation and Smart Agriculture
Farming is one of the oldest industries, but it faces some very modern opportunities and challenges in today's environment. Our panelists share how automation technologies can have a positive impact on farmers, and what cybersecurity measures those who work in the agriculture field should address.
Podomation 006 Panelists
- Leo Staples, Staples Farm, ISA Past President
- Jim McGlone, CTO, Automation Strategy and Performance
- Dr. Ali Dehghantanha, Founding Director, Cyber Science Lab, University of Guelph
The Future of Smart Agriculture
The panelists discussed how advancements in technology like GPS, GIS and the internet of things (IoT) have brought new possibilities to farming in recent years. Farmers are able to collect and use data to make decisions, where in the past, they had only instinct to rely on, or generalizations made from experience.
Even with such benefits, however, adoption has been a slow process — automated technology like drones or autonomous tractors can be expensive and difficult to acquire and maintain. Vendors and farmers need comprehensive education and training to realize the full potential of precision agriculture. Standardization may also help increase interoperability and reduce costs. (ISA recently published a position paper exploring these topics further.)
The podcast guests emphasized that smart agriculture cannot replace the role of the farmer. Automated technology can make these jobs easier, but — just as in every industry — automation depends on people.
To listen to the full discussion, including the speakers' thoughts on the intersection of farming, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, visit www.isa.org/podcast or search for "Podomation" wherever you listen to podcasts.
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