can sustainable agriculture feed the world

What is the difference between conventional and sustainable agriculture?

Three words that define conventional agriculture are efficiency, uniformity, and maximization.

Can sustainable agriculture feed the world?

Our food production system is at the breaking point. Conventional farming yields large amounts of products for our use, but it uses resources faster than they can recover. If we continue this way, at some point we will have to face the moment when our lands will fail to produce enough food. Soils will be too exhausted.

How can digital technology help farmers?

Which crop should they plant? What seed should they use? What is the right planting density? Planting depth? Today, though, farmers rarely have enough information to make data-based decisions. Precision agriculture, based around the adoption of software and data tools on the farm, has the potential to optimize nearly every decision that a farmer makes. Digital tools can also help connect consumers more meaningfully to farmers, fostering understanding and support for the production methods they use.

What are water friendly crops?

Water-friendly, sustainably sourced, pesticide-free and reduced-fertilizer crops will have made their way into the market – and on a large scale. These types of crops will no longer represent a market only accessible to a fraction of consumers.

How do farmers get paid in commodity markets?

In a commodity grain market, farmers sell their crops at elevators, where they receive payments based on quantity produced (the market price per bushel). Their crops are then blended with other farmers’ crops, without regard to source, seed or the process by which they were grown. This system provides little incentive to farmers to invest in process or quality, as they are paid primarily for quantity. The result is an overall decrease in the quality of our food and the sustainability of our agricultural management practices.

Why are farmers incentivized?

In this paradigm, farmers are incentivized not only to increase yields, but also to deliver the types of sustainable and healthy crops that consumers value. Although this vision may seem farfetched for the entrenched commodity agriculture industry, there is already evidence that it can work.

Do farmers have enough information to make decisions?

Today, though, farmers rarely have enough information to make data-based decisions. Precision agriculture, based around the adoption of software and data tools on the farm, has the potential to optimize nearly every decision that a farmer makes.

Is global farming profitable?

In this future, global farmers are profitable and rural communities are reinvigorated. Consumers have access to the kinds of foods that are important to them, whether they are looking for nutrition, flavour or cleaner means of production.

Does vertically integrated supply chain work?

Although this vision may seem farfetched for the entrenched commodity agriculture industry, there is already evidence that it can work. The vertically integrated supply chains used in the coffee and cocoa sectors, for example, demonstrate the establishment of specialized markets that benefit both farmers and consumers.