Image by Richard Bell, from Unsplash

Tavant Launches AI Solutions To Optimize Farming And Food Supply Chains

• Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
• Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

Tavant is bringing artificial intelligence to the agriculture and food industry with a new suite of AI-powered tools designed to streamline farm operations, supply chains, and sales.

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

• Sales Assistant lets farmers order supplies via email, chat, or messaging.
• Virtual Agronomist provides AI-powered, 24/7 crop management advice.
• AI automation streamlines farm supply chains, reducing manual effort and delays.

The company announced on Tuesday the launch of its AI Agent accelerators, built using Microsoft Copilot Studio, which aim to improve efficiency, reduce manual workloads, and support data-driven decision-making across the agricultural sector.

The initiative introduces two AI-driven solutions: Sales Assistant and Virtual Agronomist. These tools target long-standing inefficiencies in farm management by automating essential processes and providing real-time insights.

Sales Assistant is designed to simplify the way farmers purchase seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and other essential supplies. Instead of relying on traditional marketplaces or cumbersome order management platforms, growers can now place orders directly via email, chat, or messaging services with their preferred agri-retailers.

On the back end, AI automates order processing, cutting down on manual work for farm co-ops and retailers while enabling faster fulfillment and real-time tracking.

Virtual Agronomist, on the other hand, functions as an always-available AI consultant for farmers, providing expert guidance on crop management. By processing vast amounts of data and generating AI-powered insights, the system helps farmers make informed decisions about their crops, improving efficiency and responsiveness to changing conditions.

Emerging technologies like AI are reshaping modern agriculture, but they are not the only innovation transforming the industry. Scientists at MIT are developing robotic insects designed to assist in artificial pollination, potentially addressing declining bee populations.

These tiny flying robots, weighing less than a paperclip, use advanced wing designs and artificial muscles to perform precise flight maneuvers.

While still in development, their ability to support crop pollination in controlled environments could complement AI-driven farm management tools, offering a glimpse into the future of high-tech, sustainable agriculture.

Meanwhile, researchers at the University of Sydney have introduced SwagBot , an autonomous cattle-herding robot designed to improve pasture management. The bright red robot now incorporates AI and sensors to assess pasture health and monitor livestock.

It autonomously herds cattle to the most suitable grazing areas, preventing overgrazing and improving soil quality. SwagBot is part of a broader trend in agricultural robotics, where AI-powered systems reduce manual labor and enhance sustainability.

Microsoft has also highlighted the potential of AI to reshape agriculture. “AI has the potential to fundamentally transform the agricultural industry, and Tavant is well positioned to bring this transformation to life,” said Pepijn Richter, General Manager of retail, consumer goods, and agriculture at Microsoft, as reported by Business Wire .

With plans to expand its AI Agents Accelerator Library, Tavant expects to roll out additional AI-driven tools aimed at improving productivity, profitability, and long-term sustainability across the agricultural sector.

Photo by Predrag Pesic on Unsplash

Trump Administration Launches ‘Self-Deportation’ App for Undocumented Immigrants

• Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
• Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

The Trump administration rolled out an app called CBP Home this Monday to allow illegal immigrants in the United States to “self-deport” and avoid arrest and detention amid the government’s push for deportation.

In a Rush? Here are the Quick Facts!

• The Trump administration has launched the CBP Home app, encouraging undocumented immigrants to voluntarily report their intent to depart the U.S.
• This initiative is part of a $200 million “Stay Out and Leave Now” campaign.
• CBP Home replaces the previous CBP One app, shifting its function from facilitating legal entry to promoting voluntary departure.

According to the official announcement , Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem explained that the new platform, launched by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), will show users an option to “submit their intent to depart.”

The initiative is part of the Trump administration’s new $200 million advertising campaign “ Stay Out and Leave Now ” announced on Monday—to encourage immigrants to leave the country.

CBP Home automatically replaces the CBP One app—launched under the Biden administration to allow immigrants to schedule appointments for legal border crossings—which was shut down shortly after Trump took office.

“The Biden Administration exploited the CBP One app to allow more than 1 million aliens to illegally enter the United States,” said Noem. “With the launching of the CBP Home app, we are restoring integrity to our immigration system.”

The new app version is already available for free across multiple mobile app stores.

“The CBP Home app gives aliens the option to leave now and self-deport, so they may still have the opportunity to return legally in the future and live the American dream,” said Noem. “If they don’t, we will find them, we will deport them, and they will never return.”

According to the BBC , the app also asks migrants if they have “enough money to depart the United States” and if they own a valid passport from a different country. Through CBP Home users can also manage I-94 entry and exit cards and book certain inspections at US border crossings.