When most people think of agriculture and farming, technology isn't the first thing that comes to mind. However, as the global demand for organic, healthy food increases, the tech and agricultural worlds need to collaborate more than ever to meet the needs and wants of consumers all over the world.
As demand grows, farmers are directly impacted. Small farms can't keep up with this increase on their own, which is why agriculture tech is being used to maintain and increase supply across the planet.
Why Is Global Demand Increasing?
To better understand the importance of agricultural tech, it's essential to know why there has been an uptick in global demand, especially when it comes to food.
With more conflicts leading to food shortages, people around the world are struggling to obtain enough food to ward off malnutrition. Healthy, organic food is also in high demand because people have a deeper desire than ever to practice self-care and protect themselves in safe, effective, natural ways, and also have a desire to protect the environment.
This rise in interest could, in part, be attributed to the pandemic. In 2020, Nielsen Insights published six consumer behaviour thresholds of concern connected to COVID-19 including proactive health-minded buying, reactive health management, and pantry preparation. These factors tie into the increased demand for organic and healthy foods because many consumers became significantly more concerned with their overall health during this time period.
These behaviours are still seen today because people want to take care of themselves and their families now and be prepared for the future.
How Agricultural Tech Is Helping
Agricultural tech refers to any type of technological advancement that can help increase crop output – and it has already made significant strides in helping farmers meet growing demands. Many agricultural tech methods involve using a combination of data analysis and hardware to reduce waste and increase crop production.
For example, precision agriculture refers to a specific farming strategy where sensors are placed throughout a field to gather different types of data important to food production – such as water and fertilizer applications, amount of sunlight a plant receives, and other factors. This data is then analyzed and applied so farmers can manage their fields in a way that increases crop yields, reduces pesticide and fossil fuel use, and optimizes the use of resources such as water and seed placement. In short, this method uses data to help farmers make better decisions about how to manage their fields in the most efficient way possible.
Many other technologies are also tied in with precision agriculture, and may be used in addition to, or instead of, this technique. Artificial intelligence (AI) is one such case. This technology is being employed in precision crop protection applications. For example, some smart spraying equipment is equipped with both image recognition and AI software. The software allows the spraying equipment to only spray crops when it is needed, as opposed to on a specific timer or other interval. This in turn can help cut back on water waste and ensure the crops are properly cared for while reducing their risk of being overwatered or underwatered.
The Internet of Things (IoT) can also be used in this way. IoT technology refers to physical items and devices that have sensors in them, which are then connected to a main network, allowing these devices to communicate with one another. In agricultural tech, these items could be things such as irrigation hoses, tractors, or livestock animal collars. Farmers can use these inexpensive sensors to keep track of relevant data. For instance, they could use the data gained from livestock animal collars to determine where the animal is using GPS data, or if the animal is healthy, by collecting data such as respiration rate and heart rate.
In addition, these types of advancements are becoming increasingly important in a world impacted by climate change, where conventional growing strategies and seasonal planting are often at odds with the extreme weather and temperature changes that are occurring as the earth warms.
While these advancements are becoming more prominent, it's clear that they won't make a notable difference until the infrastructure around the globe is strong enough to handle them. Some countries where most of the population relies on farming do not have access to this technology, so it may take some time to see changes around the globe.
The Positive Domino Effect of Ag Tech
There's no question that we've experienced a multitude of supply chain interruptions throughout the last few years. The pandemic wreaked havoc on supply and demand within many industries — including food production.
While we're entering a post-pandemic economic order and freight markets are beginning to normalize, some of those effects continue to linger, and it's essential to come up with effective solutions that will mitigate future disruptions. Agricultural tech can help by making it easier for farmers to maintain a steady supply. Some of the best ways farmers can prepare for these issues include:
- Developing a contingency plan;
- Mitigating supply stock;
- Managing demand volatility;
- Maintaining safe working conditions.
All of these practices can be done more effectively by analyzing supply chain data surrounding crises versus regular seasons. Data analytics allow farmers to understand demand trends, see current inventory and open order allocations, and develop a forecast for the future.
This is not to say that agricultural tech is not without its risks. The more that the industry relies on this technology, the more likely it is to be vulnerable to cyberattacks. For instance, ransomware attacks are increasingly being targeted at small to medium-sized businesses, and can easily shut down a business' tech capabilities. If small farms are using agricultural technology to improve their crop yields, they must take the time to protect themselves from cybercriminals.
However, when agricultural tech is used properly and with specific safeguards in place, you can help create a resilient supply chain and maintain a healthy stock of food no matter what the world is going through.
Technology plays a bigger role in agriculture than most people realize. Not only will agricultural tech be the thing that helps farmers keep up with increasing global demand, but it can also help with food scarcity issues in the future, especially if we face another global crisis.
Guest blog written by Ainsley Lawrence
Ainsley Lawrence is a freelance writer who lives in the Northwest region of the United States. She has a particular interest in covering topics related to good health, balanced life, and better living through technology. When not writing, her free time is spent reading and researching to learn more about her cultural and environmental surroundings.
Header image from unsplash.