There is an urgent need for sustainable farming systems that will assure food security for everyone due to the growing global population.
Adopting technologies for sustainable farming systems is essential to achieving this. Farmers can do this to raise their produce while cutting expenditures.
To secure a sustainable farming system, this article will examine the various technological adoption strategies.
Humans are desperately looking for more sustainable ways to produce food to assure the survival of the population because of the world’s population growth.
By 2050, the United Nations projects that there will be 98 billion people on earth.
We need to increase the global food supply if those projections come true.
In contrast to most African countries, the risk to food security is not as significant in industrialized nations like the United States, Britain, France, Germany, etc.
We must use technical breakthroughs to enhance our farming system to guarantee global food security. Some of the most common are:
1. Cloud Computing
Unbelievably, cloud computing has a significant role in the future of food production and sustainable farming. Given the enormous volumes of data handled by farmers, scientists, manufacturers, etc., it is simpler to envision how the agriculture sector will function once cloud computing is widely used.
Agribusinesses would be free to efficiently manage various technology solutions and other business intelligence tools on a single platform if cloud computing were to be adopted in agriculture.
2. Satellite Data
Satellite data is increasingly being used. Due to its high efficiency and low cost, industries worldwide are implementing this technology.
With a fully operational satellite, you can get more detailed photographs of your farm with more information about each pixel and higher resolution images that don’t rely as heavily on pricey sensors.
Farmers may receive data such as air pressure, soil temperature, soil nutrients, etc., through satellites.
3. Drones and Robots
Robots are permitted access to the central vaults where the majority of the gold held by the US Federal Reserve is located, which is not breaking news. This demonstrates the effectiveness and safety of automated machinery and robots.
Robots built well can undertake repetitive activities like mowing, mulching, and watering plants. Robots continue to be a valuable tool in creating a sustainable farming system. Still, many people have expressed concerns about the number of jobs lost if we were a mechanized society.
4. Renewable Energy
A significant decrease in dependency on fossil fuels is necessary to achieve a sustainable farming system. Using renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, hydro, etc., is one surefire way to create a sustainable agricultural system.
A healthier, more effective, and more sustainable farming system that can guarantee food security for everyone will be made possible with the aid of a fossil fuel-free food business.
Areas in which Sustainable agriculture can be incorporated
1. Agriculture Urbanization
Agriculture and rural life have historically been connected. There are several opportunities for large-scale agriculture production in the countryside due to its vast open spaces and rich biodiversity.
Urbanization of agriculture is necessary to modernize practices and localize the food chain.
The most significant barrier to the expansion of farming in urban settings is a lack of suitable land.
However, the problem has practical solutions, including backyard farming, gardening, rooftop farming, greenhouses, and indoor hydroponic farms.
Urban agriculture is an innovative approach to lessen dependency on rural areas for food production. The other vegetative plants will provide new, organic textures to any concrete jungle’s desolation.
2. Transition to organic farming
Chemical pesticides have long been used in conventional farming. Farmers can use them to grow crops because they are highly automated and significantly less expensive. Industrial pesticides, however, have several detrimental effects on crops. These are what they include:
- Food adulteration
- Ecological damage
- Causing life-threatening diseases like cancer
- Soil degradation
Organic farming might offer a practical solution to these problems.
Because organic farming is more biologically focused and free of synthetic pesticides, it helps farmers reduce their emissions of dangerous pollutants like nitrous oxide and methane into the environment.
Furthermore, research has shown that consuming organic food is better for one’s overall health and the health of the environment, wildlife, and farmers.
For agriculture to be sustainable, organic farming will be crucial.
3. Agroforestry
The concept of agroforestry is the artificial growth of an entire forest ecosystem on agricultural land. Due to the time, it takes for forest coverings to spread fully, the procedure itself is time-consuming. However, the results of this operation could be gratifying.
In this method, trees are liberally planted to provide a comfortable atmosphere in undesirable locations for cultivation.
Due to significant improvements in soil quality and stabilization, the area can sustain either a single crop or several crops, depending on the demands.
Farmers can also find new sources of revenue from fruits, wood, and mushrooms in a new biodiverse area. Agroforestry can be used to improve the quality and sustainability of agriculture.
4. Hydroponic Agriculture
Hydroponic agriculture substitutes soil with aquatic sources of nutrients for cultivation using cutting-edge technology. Since no solid ground is used, farming can occur all year without being impacted by weather and climate patterns.
Hydroponic agriculture has year-round cultivation, which results in much higher yields than traditional agriculture.
Similarly, the aquaponic system uses the same water sources to raise aquatic animals like fish.
The hydroponic system is rehydrated using recycled water from the aquaponic process, highlighting the complementary nature of the two systems.
The hydroponic and aquaponic systems are crucial industrial innovations that support the diversification of farming practices and boost their commercial viability.
Conclusion
The only way to ensure the survival of a population is through food security. We can struggle for existence without proposing and accepting better and more effective farming techniques and technology.
There is still more to learn about agricultural technological breakthroughs than what has been covered in this essay. By the time you finish reading this essay, we hope you will be even more interested and join the effort to create a sustainable farming system.