Two agricultural engineering students from Khon Kaen University have made history by winning a prestigious international competition for their innovative use of AI to manage weeds in sugarcane fields.
Mr. Kanin Kamma and Ms. Thirathada Kaewphiphob, both fourth-year students in the Faculty of Engineering, secured first place in the Information Technology category of the CIGR Engineering Student International Competition. The event, organized by the Italy-based International Commission of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (CIGR), founded in 1930, saw thousands of teams compete from countries including India, Indonesia, Brazil, Spain, the United States, and Sri Lanka. The Khon Kaen University team was the first and only one from Thailand to achieve this level of success.
Their award-winning project, “Comparative Study of Weed Detection in Sugarcane Field Using Machine Learning and Deep Learning Models with UAV Imagery,” uses artificial intelligence to analyze high-resolution aerial images captured by drones. The system can accurately identify and classify different types of weeds in real-time, a significant improvement over time-consuming and error-prone manual inspections.
The technology allows for precision spraying, where herbicides are applied only to targeted weed-infested areas. This method drastically reduces chemical usage compared to conventional blanket spraying, lowering production costs for farmers and minimizing environmental contamination of soil and water sources.
The project was deeply personal for both students, who come from farming families. Kanin’s family are major sugarcane growers in Loei province, while Thirathada’s family has long been involved in the sugar industry. This firsthand experience with the challenges of sugarcane farming, such as high costs and heavy chemical use, was the primary motivation for their research.
“I grew up on a sugarcane farm and saw my parents work hard, facing high costs and using a lot of chemicals,” said Kanin. “When I learned about AI at university, I knew exactly what my project would be. I’m thrilled that this knowledge can now help my family and other sugarcane farmers.”
Under the guidance of their advisor, Associate Professor Dr. Khwantri Saengprachatanarug, the students dedicated a full year to the project, which involved advanced work comparable to a master’s or doctoral thesis. Dr. Saengprachatanarug praised their dedication, noting that they developed the concept, wrote the code, and conducted extensive field tests on a real-world scale.
“What makes this project stand out is its novelty and creativity,” Dr. Saengprachatanarug stated. “It’s a clear demonstration of how AI can be practically applied in the agricultural industry to reduce chemical use, benefiting both society and the environment.”
The success has already attracted attention from major players in Thailand’s sugar industry, who have expressed interest in developing the technology for wider industrial application. Kanin noted that this could significantly elevate the standards of Thai sugarcane production toward international sustainability goals.
Reflecting on the win, Thirathada described the emotional moment she heard the news. “I cried tears of joy, thinking of all the late nights, the failures we had to overcome, and the friend who fought alongside me for a whole year,” she said. “This award belongs to everyone who was part of this journey.”
The achievement is seen not only as a personal victory but also as a testament to the capability of Thai agricultural engineers to compete on the global stage, placing Khon Kaen University and Thailand on the world map for agricultural innovation.
Article : JIRAPORN PRATOMCHAI (PR KKU)
