BOISE, ID —There has been a noticeable change in the agricultural industry due to a growing understanding of environmental concerns and the importance of sustainable farming methods. Farming sustainability refers to growing crops and raising livestock in an environmentally conscious way. Sustainable agriculture reduces ecological destruction, provides food to a growing world population, and improves the long-term health of farmers and their communities.
The United States Census Bureau projects the world population will reach 10.2 billion by 2060, resulting in a need for increased food production that meets safety requirements and minimizes environmental damage. Therefore, new agricultural technologies and trends are vital in shaping agriculture’s role in humanity’s future.
Let’s examine technological advancements in sustainable agriculture, focusing on organic crop development, improvements in biofuel processing, and state-of-the-art electric machinery.
Organic Crop Development
One of the core principles of sustainable farming is embracing and implementing organic farming. Although public demand for organic foods is rising, farmers face significant challenges transitioning to sustainable agricultural practices. Some of those obstacles include:
- Pests and insects
- Weed control
- Production and livestock costs
- Water availability
- Lack of market access
- Finding organic seeds and varieties
- Managing crop nutrition and soil fertility
The following emerging technological tools and trends can assist farmers in addressing and overcoming some of these issues.
AI Pest Monitoring and Laser Scarecrows
Pest management is critical to a successful and certified organic farm. Whereas traditional farmers use pesticides to protect their crops, organic farmers cannot do the same. Therefore, organic farmers must address crop production threats creatively and sustainably. Agricultural technology now provides alternatives to using chemicals to remove destructive birds, mice, and insects through artificial intelligence (AI) pest monitoring and advanced data analytics.
These AI-driven tools provide farmers with access to real-time pest identification and monitoring of their fields. A computer dashboard or app lets farmers identify pests, monitor them, and assess climatological metrics. Farmers can now determine what pests are damaging their crops in real time. Knowing the potential pest problems before or when they begin puts farmers in a far better position to reduce operating costs and crop loss.
High-tech motion sensors in fields are the new scarecrows of agriculture. Laser scarecrows that emit green light, a color birds are sensitive to, use motion sensors to keep birds from destroying crops. Humans cannot see the light during the day, and it reaches 600 feet to startle birds, forcing them to move before they can damage crops. A University of Florida and University of Rhode Island study found that in many cases, a single laser scarecrow in an open field will drive birds away from the crops. This tech option is humane and cost-effective, saving farmers money normally spent on less sustainable pest control options.
Mechanical Weed Control
The most common form of preventing the growth and spread of weeds is mechanical weed control, which undercuts crop roots and penetrates the soil. Precise weeding, the process in which a laser beam burns weeds using flame control methods, uses AI algorithms and high-tech mechanical equipment to manage weed growth.
These mechanical options include autonomous field robots, which save farmers valuable time by speeding up the weeding process. Vision systems can determine the difference between plants and weeds and correct weeding tools. This system enables faster use of autonomous platforms and speeds up tractor-driving processes.
Livestock Farming Technology
Livestock technologies provide critical data to farmers that allows them to improve animal care, boost productivity, and employ better farm management. Some prominent examples include:
- Automated feeder systems that provide the exact amount of food and food mixture animals require.
- Automated dairy installations to milk cows without human intervention and sensors to monitor milk quality.
- Non-antibiotic treatment via acoustic pulse technology (APT) to treat and prevent bovine mastitis, a cow disease that costs farmers billions in losses annually.
- Automated cleaning systems that remove waste, creating a cleaner farm environment.
Many farmers employ these tech solutions for raising and managing livestock through AI technology, big data, and robotics.
Drone Technology
Drones are more commonplace in various areas of society, but regarding agriculture, they can help farmers track crop growth and identify nutrient deficiencies in a faster, more effective manner. This information is vital to a farm’s success because it can guide farmers in making critical farm management decisions that will impact the amount and quality of their crop now and in the future.
Independent row crop farmers typically oversee thousands of acres of land, and success often lies in noticing critical factors happening to the crops, such as pest infestations, plant nutrition, genetics, and soil health enhancement. Drone-based monitoring can quickly provide this information to farmers, allowing them to make those key decisions in time to prevent crop damage and loss.
Drip Irrigation Systems
Water availability is always a concern for farmers, and water management technologies can now help. Irrigation provides water to farmland that has insufficient rainfall. Many farmers use traditional irrigation tactics that waste over two-thirds of their water. Overwatering through flood irrigation can affect crop growth as well. Tech-driven drip irrigation systems use sensors that measure temperature, sunlight, soil moisture, and humidity to determine the amount of water plants require with little water lost to evaporation.
These systems can also deliver nutrients and other compounds while ensuring that weeds cannot access water. Although this type of technology is a large upfront expense, the long-term cost savings make it worth the investment.
Breakthroughs in Biofuel Processing
Biofuel processing reduces the use of fossil fuels as an energy source and plays a critical role in the relationship between biofuels and sustainability. The benefits of biofuel usage range from reducing emissions to using low-value feedstocks and improved energy efficiency. Derived from biological sources, biofuels include organic waste, plants, and algae. There are many varieties of biofuels, including:
- Bioethanol: Comes from starch-rich crops like sugar, sugarcane, and corn. These crops transform into alcohol during fermentation and can be used in pure form or combined with gasoline to allow for cleaner combustion and fewer greenhouse gas emissions
- Biodiesel: Is synthesized from animal fats and vegetable oils. Biodiesel can be substituted or blended with traditional diesel fuel, reducing emissions.
- Biogas: Develops from the anaerobic digestion of organic materials like sewage, agricultural residue, and animal manure. This process releases methane and carbon dioxide gasses and then captures them for use as sources for electricity generation, vehicle fuel, and energy.
Although biofuel processing appears to be a core component of modern agriculture, it has some drawbacks, such as high production costs, lower fuel economy, and increased food prices. However, the demand for biofuels is rising, and farmers can use technological tools to raise and process their crops and waste into this renewable resource.
Breakthroughs in sustainable biofuel processing for agriculture include precision and digital agriculture. This agricultural program provides GPS, drones, and automated equipment powered by biofuels, which can reduce a farm’s carbon footprint. In combination with precision agriculture for site-specific biofuel crop planting, biofuels promote higher crop yields and improve feedstock quality.
Cutting-Edge Electric Machinery
Electric machinery is changing the agricultural industry for the better. Traditional machines rely on fuels and contribute significantly to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Switching over to electric machinery reduces carbon footprints and improves agriculture’s overall efficiency and sustainability.
Electric harvesters, plows, and tractors provide farmers with a cost-effective alternative to diesel-powered equipment. For example, technological advancements such as fast charging and high-capacity batteries make electric machines a logical, cost-saving choice, especially for large-scale farming operations. These machines are environmentally friendly and lower a farm’s operating costs. Additionally, a federal tax credit for electric vehicles, up to $55,000, provides another opportunity for farmers to adopt electric vehicles and save money.
Many electric farm machines, such as tractors, include GPS-guided systems and sensors that optimize planting, fertilizing, and harvesting crops. Autonomous electric machinery is another emerging and attractive sustainable option for farmers. This technology uses self-driving features alongside AI and machine-learning algorithms to navigate the fields and perform farming tasks, improving sustainability and saving time and money for farmers.
Technology and Sustainability Work Together for Farmers
The adoption of these emerging agricultural technologies will lead to a decrease in environmental damage caused by traditional farming methods and improve the overall productivity and efficiency of agriculture. Farmers must embrace sustainable practices and tools to ensure our food systems can meet the growing demand while minimizing the environmental impact on our planet.
– Indiana Lee
