Future of agriculture: AI as the key to increased yield and animal welfare

Future of agriculture: AI as the key to increased yield and animal welfare

On July 26, 2025, an important event took place at the Catholic University of Eichstätt-Ingolstadt, where the Johann Helfenzrieder Transformation Prize was presented to the innovative start-up FeldSchau GmbH. Mayor Dr. Michael Kern and economics officer Georg Rosenfeld highlighted the important role that artificial intelligence (AI) plays in everyday agricultural work. The company has specialized in the AI-supported recording of plant characteristics, with a particular focus on breeders and farmers. This support could represent a critical advantage in a changing agricultural industry where accurate data is becoming increasingly important.

The business forum also stimulated deeper discussions about leadership, strategic directions and the regulatory challenges companies face. In this context, Veronika Müller, HR manager at PROSIS GmbH, emphasized the importance of support offers for employees in crisis situations, be it physical, psychological or financial. This shows that the human factor should not be neglected in the advancement through technology.

Leadership and networking in focus

In addition, Julia and Fritz Peters from Gebrüder Peters gave insights into their experiences with leadership and emphasized the importance of role models for the personal development of employees. The positive effects of female leadership on employee satisfaction were also examined by Dr. Madlen Schwing and Prof. Dr. Harald Pechlaner addresses the issue. This makes it clear that gender diversity plays a key role in leadership positions.

Another focus of the forum was tax complexity in Germany, which was discussed by Prof. Dr. Reinald Koch was illuminated. This topic emphasizes the need for clear action strategies in corporate management, especially in the context of integrating AI into business processes. The platform also offered numerous opportunities for networking between science and business as well as between companies and municipal partners.

Artificial intelligence in agriculture

The importance of AI goes beyond the corporate forum. Artificial intelligence is also revolutionizing agriculture by helping farmers make informed decisions that affect both yield and animal health. AI systems are able to process a variety of data that can be used to optimize fertilizer use and crop protection measures. These applications have been established in agriculture for years and are supported by advanced sensors that increase the efficiency of the machines.

• Einsatz von Fütterungsrobotern, die automatisch Futterkomponenten mischen.
• Modernste Melkroboter, die den Milchprozess optimieren.
• Erzeugung von Ertragskarten zur effizienten Düngung anhand von Sensordaten.

Still, farmers face challenges that can hinder the effective use of AI, such as inadequate cellular coverage and privacy issues. The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture is funding numerous research projects that aim to further expand the possibilities of AI in agriculture.

This presents companies and farmers with the challenge of actively shaping digital change. This not only includes adapting to technological developments, but also creating a support environment for employees in order to exploit the potential of AI. A look at the technologies and their use cases shows that the path to an AI-supported future has already been paved.