What technologies help in sustainable agriculture?

A vast majority of people depend heavily on agriculture and allied activities for their livelihood, and any disruption in the established order can have detrimental effects.

Technological solutions are the best way out of this issue.

Introducing innovations such as farm management software, smartphone apps, and machine learning (ML) in phases into the current system can make these technologies more accessible and affordable.

The agricultural industry in several parts of the world has already deployed these technologies to curb carbon emissions and increase farmers’ incomes and profitability.

(1) Drones The use of drone technology, powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and digital sensors, has opened up many new avenues in precision farming.

As a sustainable agriculture technology, drones play a crucial role in crop production, disaster risk reduction, and early warning systems.

(2) Smart irrigation One of the most widely publicised and adopted forms of irrigation is drip irrigation.

Also known as localised irrigation, drip technology is devised to supply water close to the roots of plants, thereby enhancing water-use efficiency.

(3) Biotechnology A 2022 report by Copenhagen Economics (CE) revealed that switching to biosolutions, such as biofertilisers and biopesticides, can reduce 8% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030.

Furthermore, the magic of biotech is increasing the consumption of plant-based proteins and progressively reducing the intake of animal-based proteins.