Agricultural extension and advisory services increasingly employ artificial intelligence for crop recommendations, pest management, and resource optimization. This transforms advisory work that required extensive local knowledge and experience, potentially improving farming outcomes while displacing agricultural advisors.
Research shows 60% of jobs in wealthy nations and 40% globally will be affected by AI. Agricultural advisory positions likely see significant impacts as AI provides crop guidance. Some advisors appear among the approximately 10% using AI to enhance recommendations, though many face displacement from AI advisory systems.
Young workers entering agricultural advisory services face changing requirements as AI handles crop recommendations and pest identification. Entry-level positions traditionally involving field visits and basic advice may diminish. This affects pathways into senior agricultural extension roles.
Experienced agricultural advisors built expertise through years of observing local conditions and outcomes. AI systems can now provide recommendations based on vast datasets, potentially exceeding local human knowledge. While relationship aspects may remain valuable, the core advisory function transforms.
Governance of agricultural advisory AI involves accuracy in recommendations, liability for crop failures, and ensuring small farmer access. International development cooperation increasingly includes agricultural AI, though contexts vary so dramatically that universal approaches prove challenging.
