Have you ever wondered how the food on your table impacts our planet? The journey from farm to fork isn't just a matter of logistics – it involves critical issues like soil exhaustion and water consumption.
Shockingly, the agriculture and food industry are responsible for over 20% of global CO2 emissions. Apart from environmental damage, obsolete agricultural methods contribute to food insecurity and leave farmers 10-20 years behind competitors who have already adopted the new farming technology.
Agricultural technology can be the way out – but only if used correctly. Curious about what "correctly" looks like? Let's explore the world of connected farming through real-world examples and see how it can revolutionize farmers’ approaches to agriculture.
![future of farming](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/60100d26d33c7cce48258afd/66698b865394daf44f709a15_2001.jpg)
From Green Revolution to agritech: The evolution of farming
How did humanity come to the point where we can’t survive without technology? As you know, the sharp population growth started in the 21st century and paved the way for the farming revolution. Let’s take a small dive into history:
- The 1960s brought about The Green Revolution, which involved new plant breeding, irrigation, and management techniques that boosted crop yields and battled food scarcity.
- In the 1970s, herbicides were developed, and the first machinery for automated farming, such as the rotary combine, contributed to the industry's transformation.
- The 1980s shined with the first genetically modified plant cell in 1982, and genetic engineering of crops with insect and disease resistance greatly decreased crop churn.
- In the 1990s, things were getting hotter. The rise of precision agriculture, GPS guidance, and satellite mapping started to shape the modern look of farming technology.
- The 2000s further accelerated this course, with agri-everything-tech becoming mobile, drones for watering and collecting plants, and real-time data monitoring of crops and farms down to the square meter.
- In the 2010s, agritech companies began to use big data analytics, digital platforms, and genomics to optimize operations.
- What about the 2020s? With the rise of AI, machine learning, IoT devices, and cloud computing, software companies have become reliable partners for farming businesses that want to optimize operations, resource allocation, and overall efficiency.
As you see, the evolution of agricultural technology is only natural. Just as the first farmers started to use a wheel or metal spade to improve their performance, you should consider implementing smart farming technologies.