Full Circle Biotechnology is a company in Bangkok that farms insects to make animal feed. They use black soldier fly larvae, which eat leftover fruits and vegetables from food factories. These larvae are mixed with good bacteria and mushrooms to make a feed that is better for the environment than soybean feed. However, soybean feed is cheaper, so Full Circle is using artificial intelligence (AI) to find ways to make their insect feed cheaper too.
In Lithuania, another company called Cogastro is also working on AI for insect farming. They already have software that helps farmers collect and look at data. The new AI will help the system learn and make changes by itself. Cogastro's leader, Mante Sidlauskaite, says it takes time to make good AI and warns against companies that say they already have perfect AI.
Full Circle is getting help from an AI expert named Simon Christofides from Singapore. AI can help them learn faster because farming black soldier fly larvae is still new. The AI uses many sensors and lots of data to find things humans might miss. But some parts of insect farming, like breeding, still need to be done carefully by people because it involves the flies' social behaviors.
Original news source: The insect farmers turning to AI to help lower costs (BBC)
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– Article Timeline
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– Vocabulary Pictionary
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– Speed Summarizing
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– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Ask students to think about the following question: "What are the advantages and disadvantages of using artificial intelligence in insect farming?" Give them a few minutes to reflect individually, then have them pair up with a partner to discuss their thoughts. After a few minutes of discussion, bring the class back together and ask a few pairs to share their ideas with the whole group.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: In small groups, students will discuss and make predictions about the future of insect farming and the role of artificial intelligence in the industry. They should consider the potential benefits and challenges mentioned in the article. Each group will share their predictions with the class, and the class can discuss and compare their ideas.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
Full Circle Biotechnology farms insects to make animal feed.
The black soldier fly larvae eat leftover fruits and vegetables from food factories.
Full Circle is using artificial intelligence to find ways to make their insect feed cheaper.
Cogastro is a company in Lithuania that is also working on AI for insect farming.
The new AI will help Cogastro's system learn and make changes by itself.
Full Circle is getting help from an AI expert named Simon Christofides from Singapore.
Some parts of insect farming, like breeding, still need to be done carefully by people because it involves the flies' social behaviors.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Full Circle Biotechnology is a company in Bangkok that farms to make animal feed. They use black soldier fly larvae, which eat leftover fruits and vegetables from factories. These larvae are with good bacteria and mushrooms to make a feed that is better for the environment than soybean feed. However, soybean feed is cheaper, so Full Circle is using artificial intelligence (AI) to find to their feed cheaper too. In Lithuania, another company called Cogastro is also working on AI for insect farming. They already have software that helps farmers collect and look at data. The new AI will help the learn and make changes by itself. Cogastro's , Mante Sidlauskaite, says it takes time to make good AI and warns against companies that say they already have perfect AI. Full Circle is getting help from an AI named Simon Christofides from Singapore. AI can help them learn faster because farming soldier fly larvae is still new. The AI uses many sensors and of data to find things humans might miss. But some parts of insect farming, like , still need to be done carefully by people because it involves the flies' social behaviors.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is Full Circle Biotechnology and what do they do?
2. How do black soldier fly larvae help the environment?
3. Do you think it's important to find ways to make animal feed better for the environment? Why or why not?
4. What is artificial intelligence (AI) and how is Full Circle using it?
5. How can AI help Full Circle learn faster?
6. Do you think AI is a good tool for farming? Why or why not?
7. What is Cogastro and what are they working on?
8. Why does Mante Sidlauskaite warn against companies that say they already have perfect AI?
9. Do you think it's important for AI to learn and make changes by itself? Why or why not?
10. How can AI help farmers collect and look at data?
11. What are some things that AI can find that humans might miss?
12. Why do some parts of insect farming still need to be done carefully by people?
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