Agri-Tech: Robotics & Automation in Farming

The Department of Agriculture, Food, and Environment at the University of Pisa is a leading institution in Italy that has been focusing on the assessment and implementation of sustainable weed control strategies within conservation biological farming. The department also takes keen interest in research related to the viticulture sector. 
 
In recent years, there's been an increasing need for efficient food production due to rapid population growth and escalating demands for food. Hence, embracing technological advancements to enhance productivity, efficiency, and sustainability in agricultural practices becomes crucial. Currently, the application of robotics and automation holds considerable potential in revolutionizing farming methods around the globe. 
 
Robotic systems are being designed with capabilities such as selective crop harvesting, pest management, including diseases and weed control, monitoring crops' health status along with the overall farm environment, providing autonomous support for logistics operations related to agriculture, and aiding a faster selection process or phenotyping among crops. Such applications could be beneficial across multiple agricultural sectors like arable crop cultivation, horticulture practices, orchards and vineyards maintenance, along with landscape and urban green area preservation, as well as livestock industry development. 
 
In this light, the Department invites contributions addressing innovative technologies that aim towards boosting productivity while ensuring sustainability of farming systems. This includes precision farming techniques, digital technology applications, and advanced robotic system usage or automation implementations within the agriculture context. Submissions exploring integration possibilities between these novel technologies and existing conventional farming methodologies would be highly appreciated. Research papers discussing economic implications or environmental impacts associated with these technological integrations will also be welcomed. Further, case studies demonstrating successful deployment of these innovations are particularly encouraged. 
 
Experts and researchers from all over the world are invited to submit original research work, reviews, and opinion pieces relevant to themes addressed by this special issue. Submissions can be made online through www.mdpi.com by registering on it. Once registered, you can proceed further towards manuscript submission. All submissions passing pre-check would undergo a peer-review process. Accepted manuscripts get published continuously (as soon as approved) and listed together on the special issue's dedicated webpage. Research articles, review pieces, and short communications are all invited. For planned papers, a title along with a brief abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the editorial office for announcement. 
 
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published earlier, nor under consideration elsewhere. All submitted papers undergo a rigorous single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors is available providing relevant information about manuscript submission. Agronomy, an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal by MDPI, publishes these accepted submissions. 
 
Before submitting any manuscript, authors are advised to visit the 'Instructions for Authors' page. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Papers submitted must be well formatted and written in good English. Authors can avail of MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.