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Jun 01, 2023
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Farming dates back more than 10000 years, when humans started domesticating plants and animals. It triggered such a tremendous societal change that the development came to be referred to as the Neolithic Revolution.
The previous hunter-gatherer lifestyle that humans had been following was swept away and replaced by permanent residences with a reliable food supply. And from agriculture, civilization, and cities grew since crops and animals could be farmed to meet food demand.
The steady growth in human population over the years can be attributed to agriculture. The world’s population is estimated to reach 9.7 billion by 2050. While producing enough food for the entire population will not be easy, farmers need to return to the fields to counter the effects of hunger resulting from booming famine in many parts of the world. But this cannot be enough.
There is a need to leverage technology in agriculture to achieve sustainable farming continually. This article will discuss various roles technology plays in advancing sustainable farming practices and how they can ensure the world attains food security.
Precision Agriculture
Precision farming is an agricultural management technique based on observing, measuring, and responding to intra- and inter-field variability in crops. This farming method utilizes information technology to ensure that soils and crops get what they need for optimal productivity and health.
In addition to IT services, precision agriculture relies on specialized equipment and software. They help access the actual soil, crop, and air conditions data and any relevant information, including equipment availability and hyperlocal weather equipment. This real data is gathered using sensors that measure the moisture content in the field and the soil content surrounding the air. Robotic drones and satellites can provide farmers with actual images of individual plants.
There are more than half a million soybean farmers in the US. Soybeans are the top US agricultural export, accounting for nearly 18% of the total agricultural exports. So, if there is an area that needs attention regarding sustainable farming in the US, it has to be soy farming. Today, farmers around the country are utilizing precision agriculture to improve the efficiency, consistency, and quality of crops. The systems not only enhance environmental sustainability on the planet in the long haul but also enhance the economic sustainability of US soy farmers.
Production of GMO
The production of GMO products through biotechnology has dramatically impacted the farming sector in recent years. There has been a significant increase in food grain production and various modified plants compared to the past decades. Biotechnology has made it possible to reduce the usage of chemical fertilizers in farms and pesticides by producing crops that are highly resistant to disease and pests and can stand adverse weather conditions.
Biotechnology crops are modified to tolerate particular herbicides, making it easy and more efficient to control weeds. Consequently, the cost of weeding is reduced, and much time is saved. Farmers can therefore practice large-scale farming since it’s cost-effective.
Vertical Farming
Vertical farming is the growth of indoor plants, sometimes referred to as indoor farming. In this type of agriculture, you will use controlled growing, nutritional systems, and LED lighting instead of water and sunlight. Plants are stacked in layers vertically, and you will note that most farms look like warehouses filled with shelving units.
This farming method is considered one of the most efficient and sustainable ways of producing food today. In terms of water, you will use 250 times less water than a traditional farm would need. Automation is the key to its efficiency. Data science, software, and robotics are technologies used in vertical farms for crop monitoring and creating optimum growing conditions.
Currently, the cost of production is the biggest challenge impeding vertical farming. While rain and sun are free, powering LED lights, complex growing systems, and software are not. That notwithstanding, the global market for vertical farming is growing steadily. Statista estimates the niche will leap to $ 20 billion by 2026 from $ 5.5 billion in 2020.
Big Data Analytics
Big data in farming is based on using information, technology, and analytics to bring helpful information to farmers. It can be used to get information about the agricultural industry and can prove beneficial in efficiency matters.
Big Data utilizes data mining processes to find patterns in huge data sets, making condensing information into valuable forms easy. Also, they use various modern systems like machine learning, artificial intelligence, and statistics.
