Modern agricultural methods are hard on the environment – and are also increasingly affected by climate change. Extreme heat and a lack of water is making it more and more difficult to grow crops and raise livestock in many parts of the world. And yet, a growing population and changing food requirements mean demand is rising all the time.
We have to find ways to reduce the impact of agriculture on our environment and help farmers thrive in our changing climate – while still managing to feed everyone around the globe. We have to get smarter about producing food.
Getting smart
Called agritech, or agtech, the use of smart tech in agriculture could hold the key. Agritech supports all stages of the agricultural supply chain with clever innovations that lower waste and improve productivity, efficiency, yield, and profitability – sustainably. It uses technology like hydroponics, robotics, the internet of things, drones, artificial intelligence (AI), and vertical farming to help farmers do more and do it better, while using less.
There’s tons money going into this area – globally, agritech investment was sitting at around $31 billion in 2020. The World Bank Group has committed to working with countries to help boost climate-smart agriculture that achieves what it’s calling ‘the triple-win of increased productivity, enhanced resilience, and reduced emissions’.
We can all do our bit, too. Cutting down on meat and dairy, being careful not to waste food, and eating locally and seasonally all help to lower the carbon footprint of our food. What each one of us eats, and how it gets onto our plates, matters.