Precision farming is revolutionizing agriculture. So much so that most industry pundits consider the advance of precision agriculture as fundamentally disruptive to sustainable agriculture and food production as was the invention of the John Deere steel plow in the mid-1800s. Already the inclusion of new data-collection tools and the Internet of Things (IoT) combined withRead more
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By all accounts, organic agriculture is soaring in popularity. Consumers are increasingly shifting their food choice priorities to a focus on foods they perceive to be healthier for themselves and the environment. U.S. organic sales reached record heights in 2020, reaching nearly $62 billion and for the first time, surpassing more than $60 billion inRead more
With eight billion people currently existing on our planet and a population predicted to continue to grow into the future, we no longer have the luxury of unlimited, untapped natural resources. Therefore sustainability, or the idea of maintaining the resources we do have so we have them in the future, has become integral to theRead more
Agtech is the future of farming. It is revolutionizing farm practices at a time when the world desperately needs new technologies and partnerships to grow more food. Everything from cars to phones to our homes are going ‘high tech’ making our lives easier, more productive and more connected with practical, everyday applications of robotics, machineRead more
A farmer without a market is like a crop without water — doomed. This fact is nothing new for modern growers, who must develop marketing plans that are proactive, comprehensive, and diversified. One common feature of such plans is contract farming, also known as “outgrower schemes” — a type of mutually-beneficial partnership between producers andRead more
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
