http://westernfarmpress.com/blog/honey-bee-robots-coming-agriculture

Could a robot honey bee actually pollinate an orchard or crop field? With a carbon fiber body and titanium wings, researchers say a mechanized honey bee is leading a microbot charge toward real world applications — agriculture included.

In a time of genuine bee crisis — CCD, neonicotinoid pesticide questions and varroa mite — the promise of mechanized bees is tantalizing, yet seemingly farfetched, even in an age of nanotechnology and genetic modification. For some, the idea of robotic insects carrying out nature’s perfect pollination system is agricultural heresy.

Heresy or not, researchers at the Harvard Microrobotics Lab believe they are close to bringing robot honey bees into action, maybe within a few short years — honey making is out, but pollination services are in.

The Microrobotics Lab has been working on the development of the “Robobees Project” since 2009. The prototype bee design, called a Mobee (Monolithic Bee), is built in “pop-up book” fashion, with layers of lightweight material forming the body. As described by Harvard: “In prototypes, 18 layers of carbon fiber, Kapton (a plastic film), titanium, brass, ceramic, and adhesive sheets have been laminated together in a complex, laser-cut design. The structure incorporates flexible hinges that allow the three-dimensional product — just 2.4 millimeters tall — to assemble in one movement, like a pop-up book.”

The Mobees barely have a physical shred of resemblance to bees — more like a tiny box with wings, but their structure is aimed toward functionality and not looks. Could the Mobees be programmed to autonomously fly from flower to flower as artificial pollinators? The Harvard team thinks so and the Mobees frame is built for sensory modification. “Now, I can put chips all over that. I can build in sensors and control actuators,” says Mobee designer Pratheev Sreetharan.

The weight, flight and control potential of the Mobees make for fascinating and hopeful conjecture, but far from a laboratory, could a robot bee function in an almond orchard? And even if functional, would the possibility even be financially viable? If robot bees are developed to a functional stage integrating flight control and sensory ability, the Harvard team likely will have created a miniature drone. An NPR report draws a direct line between robot bees and surveillance: “The real question hanging in the air, so to say, is how the bees themselves might be used once they’ve been endowed with the power, sensor and control mechanisms needed to fly and operate on their own. The obvious answer is surveillance of all types, whether it’s for the military in combat or scientists tracking changes in the environment or spooks keeping tabs on their targets.”

It’s easy to scoff and cast off the idea of industrial-scale production of robotic insects as the realm of dreamers, but lessons learned from technological advances over the past 100 years should mute such criticism. It’s far better to let time be the judge.

In connection with national Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Species Awareness Month, CDFA is making a new mobile app available for Californians interested in helping to keep an eye out for invasive species. The app is called “Report a Pest,” and it enables people to take photos of a suspected invasive insect or plant and send them to CDFA for evaluation. The app includes an option for GPS coordinates of the find, just in case a rapid response is necessary.

For now, the app is available for Apple iPhones and iPads and may be downloaded for free from the Apple App Store. An Android version is under development. The mobile app is an extension of the Report a Pest link on CDFA’s web site, which features more information on submitting photographs or even live samples of invasive species.

CDFA’s Divisions of Plant Health and Pest Prevention Services and Information Technology Services worked together to develop the app. The Division of Plant Health works to protect California’s food supply and environment from invasive species.

The next segment in the Growing California video series, a partnership with California Grown, is “Teen Harvesters,” a story about a farm putting young people to work and, hopefully, grooming them for future careers in agriculture.

As we celebrate Earth Day today, I would like to take a moment to talk about the future. In agriculture, we find ourselves considering a future that will include explosive population growth between now and 2050, along with projections that food demand will double. While that represents opportunity for our farmers and ranchers, the challenge they will face is meeting that demand with fewer natural resources. So agriculture is engaged at many levels evaluating efficiencies and conservation techniques that will establish a new paradigm.

At CDFA, we believe a key component is recognizing the value derived from working agricultural lands – the multiple benefits that come from farming and ranching. We call this Ecosystem Services, and it’s a recognition that that the management decisions and conservation practices of farmers and ranchers enhance open space, wildlife habitat and environmental quality; provide recreation opportunities; and offer social benefits. In our work to develop the Ecosystem Services concept, we recognize it will also inform us how we can improve environmental stewardship and enhance sustainability. Ultimately, we would like to identify how incentives can be applied to help growers with implementation costs, such as market-based trading systems. An example of this is in Michigan, where the Nature Conservancy has partnered with other organizations to offer financial incentives to farmers for groundwater recharge.

Rice growers provide an example of how Ecosystem Services work within a particular crop. Many of them are committed to conservation work on bird habitats in rice fields, enhancing the overall environmental quality of the landscape while sustainably producing a viable crop.

Looking ahead, people from different disciplines can find themselves part of the Ecosystem Services discussion. Engineers might work on water quality in agriculture to provide clean water for multiple uses. Bee experts might evaluate native pollinators and work closely with a habitat conservationist in agricultural lands to provide native pollinators to a specific region. This sort of environmental thinking will continue as our younger generation of farmers and ranchers prepares to lead us.

I am very optimistic about the next generation of farmers investing in both yield improvements and Ecosystem Services since they have grown up hearing about issues that intertwine the environment and agriculture. They will benefit from a foundation of environmental stewardship already established by their predecessors. I see future generations embracing tools that will help them effectively grow their crops while at the same time enhancing the environmental quality of their working lands. That is truly what sustainability is all about, as well as our recognition of Earth Day.

The next segment in the Growing California video series, a partnership with California Grown, is “Farmers Markets.”

Guangzhou, China

Guangzhou was the perfect end to our trade mission to China. This vibrant city of 12.5 million in the Pearl River Delta exhibits a unique character that is full of energy and committed to business and economic development.

We visited the Jiangnan Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market , which is the largest wholesale market for produce in not only China, but all of Southeast Asia – 80 percent of all imported fruits and vegetables pass through this market. Thailand and Chile are the top foreign importers, followed closely by U.S. products. During our visit we had a great opportunity to see California crops from the Central Valley and a diversity of products from the around the globe.

We also had the opportunity to visit with a number of media outlets that focus on food and lifestyle stories. California cuisine is of great interest to our media friends because of the flavors, high-quality ingredients, and culture that the Golden State represents. Working with local representatives of California agricultural boards and commissions, we were able to bring a “Taste of California” to Guangzhou and it was truly experience that the media enjoyed.

As we left China, we heard some thoughts and impressions from some of participants traveling with us on Governor Brown’s trade mission:

John Weisz, Driscoll’s, “The meeting with the State Forestry Administration stood out as the example of the importance of this type of mission – providing access to national officials and support in moving the needle on key issues.”

Chris Rosander, Raisin Administrative Committee, “The speed of development and growth of the middle class really stood out for me- an incredible opportunity to sell raisins”

Melissa Poole, Paramount Farming/Roll Global, “This was a fascinating experience – the difference in between regions, the aesthetics and culture. I learned about the challenges and opportunities within this market.”

Michael Rue, Rue & Forsman “I was surprised by the amount of infrastructure on one hand and the lack of infrastructure on the other. When you see this 300 million-person middle class – you see what this really means for the agricultural sector.”

David Ahlem, Hilmar Cheese Company, “Every time I come to Asia the opportunity strikes me – the vastness, the size of this opportunity. The brand equity we have in California products and lifestyle, the ability to leverage this along with our strength and reputation in food safety is critical. The importance of knowing your customers and the differences between the regional markets also stood out.”

John Harris, Harris Farms, “The enormity of wealth and new construction – dedication to high end growth. We have problems with some products like beef, but for others there seems to be strong and genuine consumer demand. American/California food is a brand and desired by Chinese consumers. Encouraging market.”

This trip showed us once again the promise and the possibilities of the China market. As I told the trade delegation during our trip, working in this market requires patience and a long term strategy for building relationships. In China it is called “guanxi.” The Governor’s mission was an important step in the process

Agricultural trade is vital to California. I look forward to working with California’s farmers and ranchers to expand our exports and introduce new products to foreign markets.

Many organic farmers have dreams of a conservation project they would love to tackle: a multi-purpose hedgerow; an efficient, water-saving irrigation system; a comprehensive plan to build organic matter; a hoop house to extend the local growing season. But the day-to-day demands of farming can leave those dreams stuck on a back burner.  However, help is available to help organic and transitioning farmers get cooking on those projects, utilizing technical and financial assistance from USDA’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Over 200 Californians are already participating. The deadline to apply this year is April 19, 2013.

“I simply didn’t know about EQIP or NRCS,” says Bill Jessup who grows organic citrus in Thermal, CA. NRCS is Natural Resources Conservation Service, the branch of USDA that runs EQIP and helps farmers develop and sometimes fund conservation plans to enhance their farms or ranches.  “I was interested in using hedgerows and windbreaks but I wasn’t able to tackle it,” says Jessup. “My buyer suggested I contact NRCS.  The process was painless. Sam, the local conservationist, came to my farm and gave me ideas, but it’s your choice.  I ended up including not only the hedgerow in my conservation plan but also nutrient and residue management—and NRCS helped me plan and fund it.”

Currently California has $3.5 million available for 2013 for organic and transitioning farmers who apply for EQIP, says Alan Forkey, NRCS Assistant State Conservationist for Farm Bill Programs in California. Organic producers can receive up to $20,000 per year or $80,000 over six years through the special EQIP funding available only for organic producers and those transitioning to organic. The assistance targets over two dozen core conservation practices, including conservation crop rotation, cover crops, nutrient management, pest management, prescribed grazing and more.

Forkey says that there may be some confusion this year because some 2008 Farm Bill provisions, such as the cost share assistance for organic certification, expired at the end of 2012 and are not available this year.  The conservation programs, however, remain in effect—but the window for funding is closing quickly. Assistance is available and applications are taken at all 55 NRCS offices throughout California. To find the office nearest you go to http://www.ca.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/.