Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[Pete Vukovich <pvukovic1@yahoo.com>]

 
http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/20090410/ap_on_hi_te/tec_robotic_gardeners

"Agriculture contributes a lot of damage to the land, the soil, the water and the environment," Rus said. "So if we can figure out a way of using robots and automation to deliver nutrients to plants — pesticides, fertilizers, water when it's needed — instead of sort of mass spreading them, then we hope we would have an impact on the environment."

Great quote from a guy whose never left the cement. Arrogant universities with self appointed experts do a lot more damage to the soil, land, and water Rus. Perhaps MIT should build robots to replace college professors and spread your pesticides there, you've already got an ample load of uncomposted fertilizer so you've got that covered. This was remniscent of the USDA's 1960's vision of farmer free farms, where buttons were pushed to make giant machines magically grow and harvest crops - allowing the farmer ample time to revel in the wonder of technology.  While were at it lets have farmers grow robots, this will eliminate the need for college generated technical experts - who would then be free to revel in the wonder of unmolested agriculture.