Do we require Agriculture Technology? What is the Agritech Enigma? Part -1
Agritech is the use of technology and technical innovation in agricultural operations in order to enhance their efficiency and production. To put it another way, it’s the process of using technology to enhance every aspect of farming and growing.
Many distinct agricultural and technical breakthroughs may be found in agritech applications. In the end, the goal of all these agritech innovations is the same — an effort to grow more food in less land and/or with fewer resources.
Additionally, agritech helps farmers save both time and money by automating operations and replacing much of the labour required in an agricultural business.
New Approaches to Agriculture
A) Urban Farming
For commercial reasons, urban farming is the process of cultivating food in urban locations like cities, rooftops, or even underground. It is possible to grow food in urban areas in a variety of ways; urban and vertical farming are among the most popular.
The benefits of urban agriculture over conventional farming greatly vary depending on the approach used. In the first place, it may help communities improve their health by making locally farmed food more inexpensive and more nutritious than food that has to travel long distances before it can be consumed.
For the second time, some urban farms have been constructed solely for the goal of educating a local area. Because of it, the region’s economy benefits by creating new employment and increasing income.
B) Molecular Farming
For both the safety and the possible activity of the separated products, using plants for the manufacture of enzymes or other proteins influences. There are no human infections or endotoxins in plant production, which are key concerns in mammalian cell culture production methods (Commandeur et al., 2002). ‘Humanized’ glycosylation patterns may be created by manipulating protein glycosylation patterns in plant systems (Hanania et al., 2017; Mercx et al., 2017). In the case of glycoproteins like monoclonal antibodies or membrane proteins, where glycosylation may alter protein stability, subcellular localization, biological activity, and immunogenicity, this information is critical (He et al., 2014).
Additionally, plants have the capacity to generate enormous quantities of industrial chemicals. PMIs include cellulase and amylases for bioethanol synthesis, xylanases for animal feed, and oxidation/reduction enzymes such as laccases and peroxidases for paper making, among other examples (Van Der Maarel et al., 2002; Bailey et al., 2004; Clough et al., 2006; Shen et al., 2012; Hood and Requesens, 2014). Currently, bioethanol is made from maize starch, which is used in the production process. Enogen, Syngenta’s genetically modified (GM) maize, contains an enzyme called -amylase, which breaks down starch into glucose, enhancing this process (Que et al., 2014). Because corn is also utilised as food for animals and humans, it puts a strain on available farmland. More cellulose and hemicellulose might be utilised in the production of biofuels thanks to advances in plant biotechnology. Agrivida, a US business, enhanced ethanol output by 55% by engineering maize to produce enzymes that degrade cell walls (Zhang et al., 2011).
Agritech’s Latest Robotics and Machinery for Farming
A) Aerial farm management
Farmers throughout the globe have reaped the benefits of farm management from above in a short period of time. There are several agritech uses for drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that help farmers save time and money while increasing yields.
Images of fields from above may be captured using drones equipped with cameras, and data analysis can be used to detect crops that seem to be suffering from a disease. In addition to releasing herbicides and insecticides to control weeds and pests, this new technology may also be used to plant seeds in tidy rows without the involvement of a farmer.
B) Supplemental crop yield-boosting fertilisers
Achieving the goal of feeding the world’s population without chemical fertilisers would be substantially more difficult. These fuel-based fertilisers are also a primary source of salinization since they raise the salinity of the soil when used excessively, which is why they are known to have a detrimental influence on the environment.
Fertigation is an agricultural technique that has just lately gained popularity. In order to maximise crop yields while having the least negative effect on the soil and the broader ecosystem, it combines conventional fertilising methods with traditional irrigation techniques. In order to provide crops with nutrients, it depends on current irrigation systems.
“My grandfather used to say that once in your life you need a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman, and a preacher. But every day, three times a day, you need a farmer.”
Brenda Schoepp