On: Small robots may kill the tractor and make farming...

[MichaelMoser123]

how fast and of what size must such a robot be so that it becomes cost efficient?

[throwaway76543 → MichaelMoser123]

There are existing prototypes of laser systems for killing fast moving insects such as mosquitos. Imagine a device on a fence pole covering the surrounding acre.

There are plenty of slow moving pests, weeds and the like as well.

[ryacko → throwaway76543]

Or we could eat less fresh fruit, buy more fruit for baking and already canned fruit.

[mkl → ryacko]

Where do you think that canned and baking fruit comes from? It's grown just the same.

[Nzen → mkl]

Presumably, canned fruit could involve less organic waste as the canner can use ugly fruit that consumers may reject for long enough that it spoils.

I don't know enough to guess whether this is more energy 'efficient', given that we need glass or metal containers, in this case.

[ip26 → mkl]

Yes, but there's probably less loss & spoilage in the supply chain for canned/frozen/dried/etc.

[mkl → ip26]

Same pest/weed control, though, and that's what we were talking about.