05.05.2022

BGN 3 MILLION FOR INTELLIGENT AGRICULTURE

The Council of Ministers approved BGN 3 million for the development of intelligent animal husbandry and plant growing in the country. The funds are allocated for activities under two national research programs of the Ministry of Education and Science - "Intelligent Animal Husbandry" and "Intelligent Plant Breeding", which are implemented since 2021. The programs create innovative methods for building modern farms to work with less human resources and reduced environmental impact.

In the first year of the Intelligent Animal Husbandry program, prototypes, patents, three-dimensional models, profiled intelligent animal husbandry services were developed, and articles were published in specialized journals. In the upcoming second year, the planned BGN 1.5 million will be allocated, which will be used to continue the activities for robotization of the livestock sector, development of models for monitoring and managing productivity/breeding, etc.

Research on the application of artificial intelligence in agriculture is being prepared under the national program "Intelligent Plant Breeding". Ways are being sought to reduce costs for farmers, improve soil management and water quality, reduce the use of fertilizers and pesticides and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Biodiversity is improved and a healthier environment is created. In the second year, with the planned BGN 1.5 million, work will continue in the direction of automating the crop sector.

The additional funding is within the estimated funds for science in the central budget. The money is allocated from the budget of the Ministry of Education and Science for 2022.