3 minute read
Farming Goes High-Tech: The Latest Advancements in Agricultural Technology
By: Raul Jason Obrence
Agriculture has come a long way from traditional farming methods, with technological advancements leading the way to increased productivity and sustainability. From precision agriculture to genetically modified crops, these six technological innovations are transforming the way we farm and manage our resources (based on Science Direct).
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Precision Agriculture
Precision agriculture is one of the most widely used technological advancements in agriculture, with farmers benefiting from higher yields, better soil health, and improved environmental impact. By using GPS and other technological tools to collect data on crops and soil, farmers can optimize inputs like water and fertilizer, reducing waste and saving money.
Industrial Automation
Industrial automation has allowed farmers to increase yields of agricultural produce by increasing efficiency on farmlands. With the use of drones, farmers can map crops, monitor crop growth, and improve irrigation systems. Robotics have also allowed for the development of machines that can milk cows and
Automated Irrigation System
Automated irrigation systems have changed how water is supplied to crops, improving water allocation and agricultural production efficiency and amount of irrigation. Advanced irrigation systems provide water when it is needed more without wasting any resources, and for better water distribution and better crop yields
Remote Monitoring of Crops Using Sensors
Remote monitoring of crops using sensors such as drones and satellites is becoming increasingly popular, allowing farmers to monitor their fields from home and catch problems earlier. With this technological advancement in agriculture, farmers save on labor costs and increase their crop yields, making it possible to end food scarcity.
Genetically Modified Crops
Genetically modified crops offer many benefits for farmers and consumers alike, including increased resistance to pests and diseases, tolerance to herbicides, better nutritional value, and resilience to adverse they’re a safe and valuable tool for farmers, helping preserve soil, reduce carbon emissions, and conserve water.
Merging Datasets
Finally, merging datasets is another technological advancement in agriculture that is helping to improve agricultural production. By combining genomic data with other types of data, such as weather information or soil composition, scientists can develop new ways to improve agricultural production. With better data management, information can be shared more easily, making finding answers and solutions for agricultural problems easier.
In conclusion, the impact of technology on agriculture is undeniable, with engineers and researchers continuously working hard to develop new technologies that solve farming, crops, and livestock management problems. These technological advancements are creating new opportunities and transforming how farming is done, leading to more efficient methods of resource management and better crop yields. With the continued development of new technologies, the future of agriculture looks promising, with the potential to end food
Food production is often blamed for its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, but the problem goes beyond livestock farming. Plant-based agriculture practices such as fertilizer use, soil management, and plant supplements also have a significant carbon footprint. The food a greener alternative. Researchers from Tokyo Tech have developed a noble-metalfree nitride catalyst, which contains a catalytically active transition metal (Ni) on a lanthanum nitride support that is stable in the presence of moisture. This catalyst presents an inexpensive option for reducing the carbon footprint of ammonia production provides a prime source of secondary phosphorus that can be recovered and recycled. Recycling phosphorus from wastewater, biosolids, and sewage ash starts with methods such as chemical precipitation and using microorganisms for enhanced biological phosphorus removal. Biological treatment processes are the most popular in the literature followed by physical methods and chemical methods. Struvite precipitation is an increasingly popular method to remove phosphate from wastewater, but its phosphorus recovery potential is low. The challenge is getting the recovered phosphorus back in a usable form, especially when targeting existing fertilizer classes. Traditional fertilizer production pathways have limited applicability to turn recovered materials into drop-in market products. Phosphorus recycling technologies can have large energy requirements that need to be managed, including intensive drying or concentration steps. Despite these challenges, various methods to make fertilizers out of sewage sludge or sludge ash are in an advanced stage of development. In conclusion, achieving sustainable agriculture requires a multifaceted approach to reduce the food system’s greenhouse gas emissions. While livestock contributes to emissions, plant-based agriculture practices such as fertilizer use, soil management, and plant supplements are also significant contributors. Developing greener methods for ammonia production and phosphorus recycling offer promising solutions for sustainable agriculture. However, these solutions require extensive research and development to overcome their challenges and become economically feasible for widespread adoption. system alone generates around 13.7 billion metric tons of CO 2 equivalents, which is a cause for concern as the world population continues to grow. The use of nitrogen for fertilizers is expected to increase, and traditional ammonia production methods emit significant carbon dioxide. Fortunately, there is hope for