Agriculture and New Technologies
Agriculture and New Technology
Agricultural techniques and technologies have changed vastly over the last several decades contributing to significant improvements in productivity. Today, farming has become a knowledge intensive practice with more than 90% of the farmers across the world using scientific farming methods to minimize their cost and improve their yield. . The cost savings effected in terms of efficient use of fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides under precision farming are providing great profits for farmers who invest in such scientific methods. Genetic engineering and the emergence of GM farming have drastically improved crop yields across the world. There is no question of doubt that technology has had a significant positive impact on agriculture. Precision farming, no till farming, integrated farming and GM farming have all contributed to this positive impact.
Introduction
Global agricultural production has increased significantly over the last 50 years. The economic growth in U.S. agriculture is propelled by the increased yield per unit of land. This consistently increased agricultural productivity due to technological advances could be garnered from the fact that the total agricultural output in 2008 stood at 158% higher than the total farm output in 1948 suggesting an annual growth rate of 1.58%. [USDA, 2010] Technological innovations including the rapidly growing field of biotechnology, precision-farming approaches using satellite-based GPS guidance systems, inventive methods of soil fertility retention such as the low / no till approaches have fundamentally revolutionized agronomy. In particular, genetic engineering and GM crops have created a paradigm shift in agricultural practices greatly improving productivity and nutritional value of the crops. Advancements in GM farming and the development of pest resistant and herbicide resistant crops have considerably boosted agricultural productivity and minimized the need for the use of these toxic substances. Farms investing in these new technologies have benefited immensely in terms of increased yield and return on investment in so much that the average household income for farm households is now higher than the national average for non-farm households. Our knowledge-based farming has significantly improved the quality and quantity of the agricultural produce. A brief overview of these technological advancements and their impact on modern agronomy is discussed in this paper.
Modern Agriculture
Agricultural developments over the last 50 years have lead to literally doubling the production. However, the growing population of the world which is slated to reach a staggering nine billion by 2050 has created more pressure on agricultural scientists to create new and innovative approaches and on farmers to apply the scientific research recommendations into their farming practices. Today, more than 90% of the farmers use the scientific knowledge based approaches. As the United Nations Food and Agricultural organization predicts, agricultural production has to be doubled by 2050 to cater to the needs of the population explosion. Over 70% of this need, the UN predicts, could only be achieved by applying scientific production approaches, as the area of arable land is likely to remain the same. [Croplife, (2010) ]
(USDA)
Innovation, safety and sustainability are the key pillars of this modern agricultural philosophy. By applying innovative tools and techniques, farmers increase their yield significantly which not only provides them financial security but also keeps the food costs under control for the consumers. Also the safety of agricultural practices is critical as billions of lives depend on safe food production techniques. Farms have to ensure that their agricultural practices do not leave significant environmental imprints and for this they have to be abreast of the latest scientific solutions. Agricultural industry focuses on farmer education programs precisely to make sure that the latest in research reaches the farmers. Sustainable practices such as conservative tillage or low till farming, integrated farming and crop biotechnology are some of these innovative technologies that help farmers achieve these goals. [Croplife, (2010)]
Precision Farming (GPS guided systems)
Just as industrial manufacturing process has changed so much, the field of farming has also witnessed some dramatic changes. Particularly in the last decade, a new approach to farming known as precision farming has become popular. Today's farms are large and it becomes increasingly difficult for farmers to manage the entire region uniformly. For instance, the different activities from tilling to spraying and harvesting have to be evenly done across the entire farm in order to maximize crop yield. Satellite-based GPS guidance products are today available for the farmer to achieve this farming precision. GPS guidance can auto steer a farmer's tractor or tilling machine...
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