Chinese scientists use AI in rice seed breeding

Chinese scientists had been using artificial intelligence in rice seed breeding to accelerate the pace at which research results are applied in agriculture.

Zhang Guangheng, a researcher at the China National Rice Research Institute had a goal to cross indica and japonica rice to produce a higher-quality variety. He and his AI team provided customized AI solutions for seed breeders from remote IoT monitoring to AR glasses for pest and disease identification, accumulating rich practical experience.

Currently, the team was working with manufacturers to design special wheels suited for muddy paddy fields and to refine walking control algorithms, aiming to have robots operating smoothly before the rice flowering season in March. The integration of modern technology with traditional agriculture is a microcosm of the development in the Nanfan seed breeding base.