Legislative Matters

Legislative Matters:

THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE AND THE INVASION OF TECHNOLOGY– WHAT’S IN THE MIXTURE?

variety of threats to the food system. Beside the gene, there THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT IN A FARMER. IT IS IN THEIR DNA FROM BIRTH. MOST FARM FAMILIES HAVE ENDEAVORED TO OVERCOME THE MARKET OR SEASON LOWS AND HAVE LIVED TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY TO LATER FEAST ON THE HIGHS OF A GREAT CROP OR MARKET. THERE HAVE BEEN COUNTLESS WAYS THAT HAVE BEEN INVENTED TO MAKE FARMING MORE EFFICIENT AND SUCCESSFUL OVER MANY YEARS AND WITHIN A GENERATION. is blockchain development for food ingredient traceability. The consumer requires whatever technology adoption that will continue to support their ability to rely on the safety Reflecting on the application of of the food system. The United technology in every aspect of States has led the discussion. agriculture…ponder these, to Whether an individual farmer name a few: favors being an enterprise Farmer wellness is critical. business builder or an Managing risks of farming independent inventor/adopter creates stress and anxiety, of technology, both play a and no matter the strength of gigantic role in the future of self-reliance and perseverance, agriculture. Both will lead it is a challenge to overcome. younger and innovative farmers Telemedicine with the growth into the growing need to do of broadband has demonstrated this important work of feeding a key use of that technology. a nation. More access to broadband is This accentuates yet another necessary, for no other reason challenge where technology than connecting to health plays a role in the future of solutions. There are of course agriculture, which is to address many other reasons to work the challenges of labor. While toward connectivity. there is a vast amount of Stewardship of the environment familiarity of the need for a to reduce greenhouse gases strong H2-A program, robotics and maintain advanced waste continues to advance and be management practices is one applied to agriculture. Robotics of those renewable topics that has found its way into more will not go away. Agriculture and more production facilities. Now the changes are coming which makes our country the in the United States has never These advanced production even faster in all sorts of world leader in agriculture. forgotten the environment and tools will make agriculture dynamic ways for both small The existence of an innovative leads the world in technology more interesting to the farmers and large operations. It is that environment, coupled with adoption in this area. It may be of the future. entrepreneurial spirit that leads entrepreneurial spirit, will keep solar on the farm, conservation All these technology the charge of overcoming any challenge to make the farm successful. Those farms that keep a mindful eye on the technology changes, then weigh and measure the impacts the agricultural economy strong for the next generation. To create the best environment for all of this to come together, requires the right blend of individuals, science, policy easements, or treatment of soil containments, the farmer has always looked for the adoption of technology to improve not only the business bottom-line, but the environmental rewards. applications require sound policy to empower these technologies, and to get these policies in place. We all need good policy leaders that will listen to our farmers of adoption, may enjoy a leg up and industry will power. All Genetic mapping to strengthen voices. These voices must on individual competitors. ingredients are necessary to accomplish great change and a commodity for production and consumer safety has not remain amplified as they are yet another key ingredient in But there is an even bigger results. Technology applied to been without volumes of the mixture for the successful picture. The United States leads each of these ingredients will scientific study. The discussion future of agriculture as world innovation as a whole, make a big difference. will be ongoing due to a technology advances. ■