Advancements in AI and computing are revolutionizing our understanding of plants and their interactions with the environment. The team at Axiom wrote a great piece that AI is offering new tools for breeding resilient crops and planning for future agricultural challenges. As the global population grows and climate change impacts agriculture, these innovations are becoming increasingly vital.

AI isn’t new to plant science, but recent tools have significantly enhanced our capabilities. Robots equipped with AI now roam fields, detecting plant diseases and analyzing traits to collect precise data. Machine learning algorithms predict which genetic combinations yield drought-resistant or disease-resistant plants without reducing productivity.

A major breakthrough comes from AI tools like AlphaFold, developed by Google DeepMind, which can predict protein structures. For plant biology, this means unraveling complex molecular interactions that were previously hidden. For example, AlphaFold has increased the known structures of proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana, a model plant species, from less than 2% to over 60%.

At Michigan State University, AI is helping create a digital twin of an apple tree, using sensors and generative AI to simulate future conditions and help farmers plan. However, challenges remain, such as the availability and quality of data and the need for scientists skilled in both biology and computer science.

AI is also being developed to understand DNA and protein languages, which could streamline breeding by identifying desirable traits directly from seeds, saving time and resources. These advancements promise to make agriculture more efficient and sustainable in the face of evolving climate challenges.