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Too much water when you don’t need it. Too little water when you do. If there is one common hurdle all farmers must navigate, it is the long-term sustainability of managing their water resources. Water is essential to growing food. According to the Water Footprint Network, a pound of lettuce needs a whopping 15 gallonsRead more

Food companies universally dread a product recall. For good reason. A 2012 survey estimated that U.S. food companies racked up an average of $10 million just in direct costs for things like the logistics of product recall and disposal. Eighteen percent of those companies said they spent an estimated $30 and $99 million in directRead more

Agricultural productivity is a big concept with a global impact, but it starts with efficient on-farm management. How productive or efficient our global food production systems can become will significantly impact our future well-being. A high level of productivity in the agricultural sector ensures abundant and affordable food while fostering economic growth and food securityRead more

It’s no secret – modern agricultural systems could use a facelift. Although vast fields of corn and soybeans are a marvel to behold, alternatives to monocultures are increasingly popular among large-scale growers and smallholders alike. In the face of global challenges like natural resource scarcity, ecosystem decline, agricultural pollution, and rising input costs, many growersRead more

Sprinkler irrigation was initially invented for home lawn care and garden water use. Even today, the rhythmic ‘chk-chk-chk’ sound of an impact sprinkler is iconoclastic of hot summer days, green lawns, and children playfully cooling off in lawn sprinklers. But while spray irrigation technology was originally about personal use, it is such helpful technology thatRead more

“How do I increase crop yields sustainably?” In an era when supply chain disruptions, natural resource scarcity, and a growing world population threaten food security, this question has undoubtedly crossed every farmer’s mind. The answer to this question, however, is far from simple. The old logic – adding more fertilizers, more pesticides, more inputs –Read more

In recent times, the accurate and timely traceability of products and activities throughout the supply chain has become a key factor in food and agribusiness. More and more people around the world are demanding proof that food products are safe and of high quality. This often includes traceability, or the ability to track where aRead more

Globally, more irrigated cropland is in demand, driven by rising temperatures and intensified droughts caused by climate change. That demand, combined with new technological advances that make central pivot systems more water and energy-efficient, adaptable, affordable, and easy to use, is driving adoption. And while center pivot irrigation systems are more commonly associated with large-scale farmers, theRead more

Water use in food production is a growing problem in the face of climate change and a rising global population. Water is an increasingly scarce global resource, and agriculture is the biggest consumer of our planet’s finite water resources. Globally, agriculture uses 70% of the world’s fresh water supply and 95% of all water withdrawals in some developing countries.Read more

Humans account for only 0.01% of all life on Earth, yet our impact on the planet is profound. Though unintentional, human activities like transportation, manufacturing, and agriculture generate environmental pollution – a catch-all term that describes various types of introduced contaminants which can disrupt ecosystems, natural processes, and biological life. From air pollution to waterRead more