Artificial Intelligence (AI) is fast opening up a world of new possibilities in multiple areas – and a lot of questions too. For food and farming, a big question is whether and how it can help us reduce emissions faster, in what is a critical decade for tackling climate change.

Alongside this though, it also raises other issues for discussion, such as; are there risks of using AI in agriculture, and might there be unintended consequences and trade offs? It also begs the question – what needs more attention, resourcing and research to ensure we can make the most of AI while also guarding against any risks and negative outcomes?

We have three speakers to take us on a whistle stop tour of what AI might mean for crop and livestock production. Please come ready with questions and a spirit of open debate – AI is an emerging technology and we may need to raise more questions than we answer.

About Andrew:

Andrew French is a professor of Computer Science at the University of Nottingham, where he leads the Computer Vision Lab. He has worked closely with plant scientists on a wide range of image-based data analysis challenges for nearly 20 years. Of course, today this means developing an array of AI-based approaches to image analysis of plants and crops. Andrew also leads the AI in the Biosciences community building network, along with a team of co-leads from around the UK.

About Paddy:

Paddy Tarbuck is Innovation Lead in Agri-Food Sustainability at UK Agri-Tech Centre, where he drives sustainability towards net zero and biodiversity goals by fostering collaboration across academia, industry, and the third sector. With a BA in Politics and an MA in Climate Change, his career spans civil society, finance, trade associations, and the UN. Before joining the UKATC, he co-founded two seaweed ventures in Southeast Asia, embedding sustainability principles and securing funding. Paddy’s expertise includes carbon and nature markets, regenerative farming, and climate finance. He is passionate about addressing the climate and ecological emergency by focusing on evidence-based, holistic solutions for sustainable agri-food systems and land use.

About James: 

James Strong is a Research Software Engineer at Aberystwyth University, currently working on the Miscanthus AI Net Zero project, where his role involves investigating how AI models can support plant breeders in selection and breeding processes. His research background lies in bio-inspired AI, exploring how biological systems can inspire innovative approaches to navigation and problem-solving.

About the webinar series:

This webinar is part of a monthly series run by AFN Network+ which explores net zero in the UK agri-food system with leading movers and shakers. Expect deep and varied insight from across the sector, including farmers, scientists, policy analysts, community leaders, retailers, politicians, businesses and health professionals. The series is organised by Jez Fredenburgh our Knowledge Exchange Fellow, and Prof Neil Ward, AFN Co-lead and Professor of rural geography. Jez and Neil are based in the School of Environmental Sciences, and the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, at the University of East Anglia.