Growing crops in drought-impacted areas means striking a tricky balance between conserving water and ensuring crop yields. Israeli agritech company SupPlant has created an AI-enabled sensor, placed in the soil and on the plants themselves, that informs farmers exactly when and how much to water, based on an algorithm that calculates plant needs, soil moisture, climate conditions and weather forecasts. It is currently used by farmers in 14 countries, and tests in Mexico found it reduced water consumption for a mango crop by 15% while increasing yields by 20%, according to company data. —Aryn Baker
More Must-Reads From TIME
- Essay: The Tyre Nichols Videos Demand Solemnity, Not Sensationalism
- For People With Disabilities, Losing Abortion Access Can Be a Matter of Life or Death
- Inside the Stealth Efforts to Smuggle Starlink Internet Into Iran
- Natasha Lyonne on Poker Face and Creating Characters Who Subvert Leading-Lady Tropes
- How to Help the Victims and Community After the Monterey Park Shooting
- Why Grocery Staples Are So Expensive Right Now
- Quantum Computers Could Solve Countless Problems—and Create a Lot of New Ones
- Where to Watch All of the 2023 Oscar Nominees
- How to Be Mindful if You Hate Meditating
