For AI in Agriculture, the Quality of Data Is the Key to Success
During the keynote address at Tech Hub LIVE, Greenpoint Ag CEO Jeff Blair explored how advancements in automation, AI-powered decision tools, and precision application systems are already reshaping ag retail.
At the recently concluded 2025 Tech Hub LIVE event, held in mid-July, all things ag technology were on display and being discussed at length. Not surprisingly, artificial intelligence (AI) received the lion’s share of debate, write Eric Sfiligoj at CropLife.
In his keynote address, Jeff Blair, President/CEO at GreenPoint Ag, pointed out that AI can be an effective tool for ag retailers and their grower-customers to utilize in today’s agricultural world.
“What I hope you take away from this is that when we talk about technology and I think this really relates to agriculture, you have to understand we talk about data all the time,” said Blair. “And the good news in today’s world, we’re getting more and more things that can take data and turn it into information. But you then have to take information and put it in context to drive intelligence, and it is that intelligence which drives decisions.”
However, calling to mind the old computer axiom “Garbage In, Garbage Out,” he warned that today’s AI will only be as effective as the data it has access to.
MORE BY CROPLIFE
A Return to ROI: Raven Industries’ Ben Sheldon on Tech Adoption in Uncertain Times
“Information is intelligence – the intelligence gathered from multiple sources of information,” he said. “You’ve got to connect those multiple sources of information in order to have [AI] work properly.”
And that’s where the people part of the AI equation will come into play, added Blair. People will ultimately be tasked with entering the data that AI systems source to create their predictive modeling and recommendations.
“This is still a people business; that’s not going to change,” he concluded. “And I predict that AI won’t replace people in our industry. But people who aren’t using AI WILL be replaced.”
Subscribe Today For
