According to forecasts, by 2050 the population of the planet will reach 10 billion people. In conditions of global warming and growing population, the issue of providing all people with food becomes more and more relevant. Now almost 800 million people are starving, and a third of the population is not sure of their next meal. However, new technologies in agriculture can play a key role in solving this problem.
History and future of agricultural technologies
Over the past decades, the level of hunger in developing countries has decreased from 33% to 12%. However, since the beginning of the pandemic, progress has slowed down, and hunger indicators began to grow again. Climate changes, fever and extreme weather conditions complicate the work of farmers. Many technologies that previously helped reduce hunger now contribute to climate change. For example, chemical fertilizers and equipment on fossil fuel throw greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
To create a world without hunger, the fourth agrarian revolution based on stable technologies is necessary. Here are three areas that can lead to this revolution:
New selection methods
Modern methods of selection, such as CRISPR, provide scientists with tools for accurately changing the plant genome. These technologies allow you to create cultures resistant to adverse conditions, such as drought, pests and illnesses. For example, with the help of CRISPR, scientists from Tel Aviv University have developed tomatoes who need less water, and at the University of California, Davis, created a rice variety resistant to fungal diseases. Boosted Breeding Developed by the OHALO startup, increases the genetic variety of plants, which makes them healthier and productive. This technology has already shown an increase in potato yield by 50-100%.
Exact agriculture
The use of drones: drones, such as DJI AGRAS T50 and T25, are capable of flying autonomously above the fields, collecting data on the state of cultures in real time. They can spray water and chemicals accurately up to the size of the drop, which allows you to reduce the use of chemicals and minimize the effect on the environment.
Autonomous tractors and equipment: John Deere, a leader in agricultural machinery, develops autonomous tractors that use GPS, sensors and AI for accurate sowing and processing fields