Life on the farm 100 years ago looked
vastly different compared to today and
it will continue to change to meet the
needs of the world. Cutting-edge
innovations in agriculture are being
developed with a purpose to overcome the
challenges we face in providing food,
fuel and fiber for a growing population.
Some technologies are emerging while
others have been adopted globally. Here
are a few examples. Have you seen any of
these innovations in action? Autonomous
Robots. Agriculture requires a
significant amount of manual labour. What
do you think a robot could do? Autonomous pickers identify and pick ripe fruits
and vegetables. Other specialized robots
could also find and eliminate weeds and
pests that damage crops. Agriculture
Sensors. When it comes to nutrient
management, watering, pest management and harvest, too early or too late doesn't
cut it. When it's time to take action,
high-tech sensors located in fields send
alerts to farmers through an app on
their phone. Aerial Crop Imaging. Aerial
images taken with drones, satellites and
planes can help farmers map their fields
and use the land to its greatest
potential. Drones could perform crop
monitoring, planting and even spraying.
Agriculture Data Systems. Say goodbye to
notebooks. Farm data such as annual crop yield, market forecasts, soil nutrients
and weather can be collected and stored
electronically to give farmers valuable
information. Global Positioning Systems.
GPS-based applications are being used
for farm planning, field mapping and more. The farmer is always present, but the
tractor can drive itself to ensure
perfect rows while the farmer can
program precise application of seed and
fertilizer. Vertical and Indoor Farming.
Growing crops up instead of out - now
that's a good idea!
Vegetables and fruits tend to work the
best in vertical farming and it's ideal
where land isn't available. It can even
help to repurpose abandoned structures.
Livestock health and activity monitors.
The livestock industry utilizes
technology to ensure animal health,
safety and welfare. For example, smart
collars are used like a personal Fitbit,
tracking daily activity, behavior and
health. Breath analysis allows farmers to
evaluate potential health problems and
diet. Thermal imaging and 3D cameras
analyze an animal's body muscle and
weight to advise the farmer when to sell
their livestock. Fish farms and
Aquaponics. Specialized fish farms
involve raising fish and tanks or in
closed ponds. Aquaponics systems are a
unique way to grow fish and plants
symbiotically. Waste from the fish is
cycled through the system serving as a
source of nutrients to grow the plants.
Insect protein, meat, milk and eggs are
common sources of protein in our diet,
but what about bugs as a source of
protein? Insects are affordable and
require fewer natural resources. Would
you eat them? Cultured meat. Another
alternative protein source is cultured
meat. It isn't meat in the traditional
sense, as it doesn't come from processing
an animal. It's formed in a lab using
animal cells and tissues are engineered
to form a meat alternative. New seed
varieties. Genetically modified organisms
or GMOs and CRISPR technology edit genes in plants to overcome a challenge such
as a disease. A lot of time and money is
required to produce a GMO plant. It takes
approximately 13 years to research and
ensure its safety and can cost around
136 million dollars. After looking at
these emerging technologies it's easy to
see that farms of the future may look
very different than they do today. Will
these technologies help feed the world?
Surely they will make a difference, but
each innovation must be understood for
the benefits and limitations it brings.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution
in agriculture.
Innovative technologies will be part of
the solution to meet the needs of a
growing population, but there are complex challenges that will need to be
addressed.
What technologies
can be implemented in developing nations
to secure a more sustainable food supply?
How do consumer food choices impact the
sustainability of our food supply?
Most importantly, what can each of us do to be
part of the solution? All of these
challenges will require critical
thinking and creative solutions.
What ideas do you have to help feed the world?
