Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries around the world, and agriculture is no exception. Beyond chatbots and automation, AI is helping food producers improve efficiency, make better decisions and solve complex challenges. As the technology evolves, it is also creating career opportunities that didn't exist just a few years ago.

For Liza Burger, Artificial Intelligence Manager at Rainbow Chicken, combining agriculture with technology wasn't part of the original plan. It was simply the next step in a career built around solving problems.

Growing up on her family's farm in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, Burger developed a deep appreciation for agriculture from an early age.

"My mom is a farmer, so I grew up understanding the important role agriculture plays in food security. I didn't know exactly what I wanted to study, but after exploring my options, I found my way into food science."

Burger completed a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Food Science at the University of Pretoria before going on to earn an honours degree, laying the foundation for what has become a 17-year career in the food industry.

Her career began in quality assurance and compliance, where she discovered a passion for improving the way people work.

"Compliance involves a lot of paperwork and repetitive processes, so I started looking for technology that could simplify the work and make it easier for people to do their jobs."

Since joining Rainbow four-and-a-half years ago, Burger found many business processes were still highly manual, with duplicated information and limited structure around data management.

"I started looking at how we could simplify things using tools like SharePoint. We reduced paperwork, improved collaboration and tackled one problem at a time."

That mindset earned Burger Rainbow's Innovator of the Year Award after she developed digital solutions that simplified manual processes across the business, ultimately opening the door to a newly created role leading the company's artificial intelligence journey.

"I've never been someone who only does what's in my job description. If I see an opportunity to improve something, I like to get involved."

Since taking up the role earlier this year, Burger has continued investing in her own development, recently completing a course in Artificial Intelligence in Business through the University of California.

Although AI may sound out of place in a poultry business, Burger says the opportunities are enormous.

"On one side, we're helping people use tools like Microsoft Copilot to become more productive in their everyday work. On the other, we're looking at how AI can improve our operations by helping us collect better data and make faster decisions."

That includes using AI to automate processes, analyse operational data in real time and improve visibility across the poultry value chain.

She believes one of the biggest misconceptions about AI is that it will replace people.

"I don't believe AI will replace humans. The best results come when people and technology work together. AI can provide insights much faster, but people will always be needed to interpret them and make the right decisions."

Introducing new technology, however, is about more than the technology itself.

"One of the biggest lessons I've learnt is that change takes time. You need to build trust, partner with people and help them understand how technology can make their jobs easier."

Because AI is evolving so rapidly, Burger is committed to continuous learning.

"I spend a lot of time reading, following AI experts, attending conferences and learning from our IT teams. The technology changes so quickly that you have to stay curious."

For Burger, AI isn't just about technology. It's about strengthening the future of agriculture.

“We need to produce food sustainably while creating opportunities for people. I'm always thinking about how we build a better future for everyone."

Burger encourages young professionals to embrace opportunities that challenge them and build their understanding of the industry.

"My advice is to do the difficult jobs. I learnt the most by working on the ground, and that's where you earn people's respect. If you understand the business from the ground up, you'll become a much stronger leader."

Looking ahead, she believes AI will help agriculture produce more food, reduce waste and improve transparency across the value chain.

"The opportunities are endless. If we use technology responsibly, we can strengthen food security, improve productivity and create a better future for everyone."

As agriculture embraces the digital age, professionals like Burger are showing that the future of farming is being shaped as much by data and technology as it is by fields and chicken houses.