Technology & Agriculture

Needs and limitations for Growing Food Air Light Nutrients/Soil Space Water Protection Weeds, pests, weather, disease

Soil is washed away 10 to 40 times faster than it is being replenished (Pimentel 2006)

Soil Erosion •As a result of erosion over the past 40 years, 30 percent of the world's arable land has become unproductive. •About 60 percent of soil that is washed away ends up in rivers, streams and lakes, making waterways more prone to flooding and to contamination from soil's fertilizers and pesticides. (Pimentel 2006)

Limitations for Producers Time Data, farm oversight Labor Transportation Material Cost Weather

Other challenges Land conversion & habitat loss. Wasteful water consumption. Soil erosion and degradation. Pollution. Climate change. Genetic erosion (loss of seed diversity)

The Green Revolution 1960s-70s High yielding seed varieties More efficient Increase in chemical fertilizers, and pesticides

Innovations of Today Genetic modification Geographic information systems (GIS) Robotics & IT

Genetic Modification pro gmo article

Nitrogen fixation in Non-legumes Rhizodium bacteria fix atmospheric nitrogen and deliver it to plant roots. Approaches “Teach” a plant to become a r. Bacteria host Transform a plant with nitrogen fixation genes

Precision Agriculture and GIS Precision agriculture (PA) is an approach to farm management that uses information technology) to ensure that the crops and soil receive exactly what they need for optimum health and productivity. ... PA is also known as satellite agriculture, as-needed farming and site-specific crop management (SSCM). What imput? Where? And When? Collecting alot of information across field and from different sources soil nurtriesnt presents of pest and weeds, greennes of the plants and weather forecast provide data that helps farmers monitor and optimize crops, and adapt to changing environmental factors

Geographic information Systems

GIS

Sensor Technology Optical Sensors- measure soil properties; clay, organic matter, moisture content Electrochemical Sensors; detect specific ions, determine pH and soil nutrient levels Mechanical sensors- detect mechanical resistance: or soil compaction Dielectric Soil Moisture sensors - change in electrical protories that demand electrical property that changes depending on the amount of moisture present Airflow sensors measure soil air permeability (compaction, soil type, moisture level) https://www.mouser.com/applications/smart-agriculture-sensors/ Optical sensors measure different frequencies of light reflectance in near-infrared, mid-infrared, and polarized light spectrums. Sensors can be placed on vehicles or aerial platforms such as drones or even satellites. Soil reflectance and plant color data are just two variables from optical sensors that can be aggregated and processed

Remote Sensing NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetative Index) Can predict yield midway through season “It permits adjustments of fertilizer rates based on projected nitrogen removal, and it permits adjustment of fertilizer rates..” (Johnson and Raun, 2003)

Robotics Harvesting and picking Weed control Autonomous mowing, pruning, seeding, spraying and thinning Phenotyping Sorting and packing Utility platforms

“Low-tech” changes Rotating crops and embracing diversity. “Sustainable agriculture is farming in sustainable ways (meeting society's food and textile needs in the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs) based on an understanding of ecosystem services, the study of relationships between organisms and their environment.” Rotating crops and embracing diversity. Planting cover crops. Reducing or eliminating tillage. Applying integrated pest management (IPM). Integrating livestock and crops. Adopting agroforestry practices. Managing whole systems and landscapes; riparian buffers or prairie strips link Rotating crops and embracing diversity. Planting a variety of crops can have many benefits, including healthier soil and improved pest control. Crop diversity practices include intercropping (growing a mix of crops in the same area) and complex multi-year crop rotations. Planting cover crops. Cover crops, like clover or hairy vetch, are planted during off-season times when soils might otherwise be left bare. These crops protect and build soil health by preventing erosion, replenishing soil nutrients, and keeping weeds in check, reducing the need for herbicides. Reducing or eliminating tillage. Traditional plowing (tillage) prepares fields for planting and prevents weed problems, but can cause a lot of soil loss. No-till or reduced till methods, which involve inserting seeds directly into undisturbed soil, can reduce erosion and improve soil health. Applying integrated pest management (IPM). A range of methods, including mechanical and biological controls, can be applied systematically to keep pest populations under control while minimizing use of chemical pesticides. Integrating livestock and crops. Industrial agriculture tends to keep plant and animal production separate, with animals living far from the areas where their feed is produced, and crops growing far away from abundant manure fertilizers. A growing body of evidence shows that a smart integration of crop and animal production can be a recipe for more efficient, profitable farms. Adopting agroforestry practices. By mixing trees or shrubs into their operations, farmers can provide shade and shelter to protect plants, animals, and water resources, while also potentially offering additional income. Managing whole systems and landscapes. Sustainable farms treat uncultivated or less intensively cultivated areas, such as riparian buffers or prairie strips, as integral to the farm—valued for their role in controlling erosion, reducing nutrient runoff, and supporting pollinators and other biodiversity.

How do we address challenges Land conversion & habitat loss. Wasteful water consumption. Soil erosion and degradation. Pollution. Climate change. Genetic erosion (loss of seed diversity) Sequestration of carbon in agriculture soils worldwide has the potential to sequester .4 to 1.2 billions tons of carbon per year” (5-15% global fossil fuel admissions)

Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmla9NLFBvU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=581Kx8wzTMc