Embracing technology in agriculture

Agriculture is continuously changing through innovation in science and technology. As such, the agriculture industry continues to be called upon to produce more with finite resources. A major way to improve traceability, sustainability, and quality of goods from a farm is through the adoption of technology, including an integrated farm management platform. For a long time now, agriculture has been seen as a dirty job and has been left for rural communities, but with the impact of technology in agriculture, that notion is changing. There are several ways in which the agricultural industry has been impacted by science and technology.

Farmers can now, with the help of advancements in agriculture, maximize land and water resources while delivering the most nutritious food to the world’s ever-growing population.

Also, modern farming technologies have eased the burden of hard labour for many farmers worldwide. However, many of the world’s farmers – mainly small-scale farmers – still lack the technology to efficiently reap their crops. From a single farmer in Namibia servicing his local community to the overarching need to meet the demands of the world’s growing population, farming technologies are crucial to the evolution of the farming industry. But what does this evolution of both farmer and industry entail? Modern farms and agricultural operations work far differently than those a few decades ago, primarily because of advancements in technology, including sensors, devices, machines, and information technology. Today’s agriculture routinely uses sophisticated technologies such as robots, temperature and moisture sensors, aerial images, and GPS technology. These advanced devices and precision agriculture and robotic systems allow agribusinesses to be more profitable, efficient, safer, and more environmentally friendly.

To meet these challenges will require a concerted effort by governments, investors, and innovative agricultural technologies. Agriculture will no longer depend on applying water, fertilizers, and pesticides uniformly across entire fields.

Instead, farmers will use the minimum quantities required and target very specific areas. Agricultural operations will have to be run very differently, primarily due to advancements in technology.

These advanced devices and precision agriculture and robotic systems will allow farms to be more profitable, efficient, safe, and environmentally friendly.

Technological innovations have greatly shaped agriculture throughout time. From the creation of the plow to the global positioning system (GPS) driven precision farming equipment, humans have developed new ways to make farming more efficient and grow more food. We are constantly working to find new ways to irrigate crops or breed more disease-resistant varieties. These iterations are key to feeding the everexpanding global population with the decreasing freshwater supply. The increased use of technology does have a downside. One of the major challenges of science and technology in agriculture is that it can lead to a substantial environmental effect.

It causes pollution like the addition of toxins and other chemicals to the water and environment. Even though these chemicals have a positive impact on crop production, they harm the environment

Also, the use of heavy machinery and tilling equipment on the soil can cause soil erosion and degradation of the environment.

Another challenge of science and technology in agriculture is that most farmers are illiterates and find it difficult to adopt modern agricultural methods.

I guess nothing good comes without a downside; it’s a price we have to pay for success. –