Applications of artificial intelligence technologies in agriculture: advantages, challenges, risks, prospects, and recommendations

Artificial intelligence has great potential in developing high-precision, low-cost smart agricultural technologies to meet the increasing demand for high-yield production agricultural enterprises worldwide. The article aims to examine the agricultural applications of artificial intelligence in recent years, determine their advantages for the producer, consumer, and the environment, review the difficulties and risks, make predictions, and offer solutions to the problems. Therefore, this study summarizes the most recent research and publications in research projects conducted and approved by researchers in different countries. Research conducted on this subject in the last 15 years was analyzed by examining scientific databases such as Web of Science, Scopus, and the National Thesis Center. In general conclusion, it can be stated that obtaining large amounts of high-quality data to create artificial intelligence-based models today and in the future is a source of concern for all enterprises. Artificial intelligence technologies in agriculture are expected to be among the most significant agricultural research topics of today and the future, as they provide most contributions to sustainability by monitoring conditions on farms, improving decision support, protecting soil, saving water, limiting carbon emissions, reducing greenhouse gas use, increasing productivity, facilitating and improving agricultural operations, and developing different solutions to pending problems.