Urban Farming

 Innovative Agricultural Practices That Are Changing the World-

Digitization in the modern age means that almost every contemporary field or industry is becoming more and more reliant on hardware connected to and, in some cases, controlled by software. These industries are being transformed from the inside out by innovative technology and practices, and even traditionally analogue ways of life are finding it difficult to resist disruption.

Agriculture is a prime example of one of these industries, with the experts at Maryville University actually including it as one of "ten on fire" fields for up-and-coming software developers.

“The agriculture industry has experienced a massive technological shift of late,” they write. “Precision agriculture involves big data, drones, sensors, and farm management software …  Environmental controls, cellular agriculture (micro farms), smart packaging technology, gene manipulation, and e-grocer businesses have also pushed the entire agricultural business world into the computer age.”

These innovative practices and technologies may very well prove to be more than just the future of farming and agriculture — they may be the very keys to the survival of the human race.

Here are some innovative agricultural practices and technologies that are changing the world.

1. Urban Agriculture, Smart Design, and Vertical Farms

The big advantage that urban farming touts is the innovative reimagining and utilization of space. Urban farms might be as humble as your traditional, outdoor community garden. On the other hand, they might be as complex and futuristic as well-regulated, self-contained, environmentally controlled pods that are stacked on top of each other.raditional farmers could take a lesson from vertical farmers in their buildings and design, adopting the tenets of smart design to reduce waste and increase yield. 

2. The Drones & the Bees

Climate change is a massive problem for human beings that, perhaps, hasn’t been fully realized yet — but it’s no secret that we’re on an extremely destructive path.

“If climate change continues to worsen, food shortages could drive prices higher even in more developed countries like the U.S., leading to a public health crisis in the form of global food shortages and waves of hunger,” write the universoty of rheoton in their blog. “As such, public health officials should turn their attention to exploring efforts to shore up food reserves and alternative forms of agriculture.”

3. Artificial Intelligence, IoT, and Automation

When we think about the future of driving, we generally think about cars on the road and commuters that aren’t required to keep their hands on the wheel — because A.I. is doing the driving. What we generally don’t think about, however, is driverless vehicles on the farm. Nevertheless, a company called Smart Ag has announced functional driverless tractor technology in the form of “AutoCart” software, according to Mathhew J. Grassi.

“This software application fully automates a grain cart tractor, which provide farmers much needed assistance during the demanding harvest season,” he writes. “Colin Hurd, the founder and CEO of Smart Ag, said the innovative technology will allow farmers to automate their existing equipment and maximize its efficiency and capacity – regardless of manufacturer.”

4. Blockchain Technology

While most people know the blockchain for its application in cryptocurrency finance, the agricultural world is beginning to get to know this innovative new technology in another capacity.

Commodity traders Louis Dreyfus Co. (LDC) recently completed the first blockchain-powered agricultural trade, selling and delivering 60,000 tons of soybeans to China in December 2017. This trade represents how the blockchain will likely be used in agriculture early on, with decentralized transactions and self-executing smart contracts.

5. CRISPR and Genetic Editing

Scientists have recently begun utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 to do precise genetic “surgeries,” so-to-speak, allowing them to target and alter the genome of an organism by cutting out or replacing specific parts of a DNA strand’s genetic sequence. Medical News Today reports that genetic editing via this avenue has been shown to lower chlorestrol in monkeys , and could be used to eradicate the herpes virus in humans.

Now, CRISPR is being used to change a cow’s gut microbes to try and reduce the amount of methane they are producing as well as how large they get.

“Given that methane has roughly 25 times the heat trapping ability of carbon dioxide, reducing cows’ methane production could also have a serious impact on the environment.”