Food production is struggling to keep up with the world’s ever-growing population. Because of this, the world is facing issues with global warming as we are trying to mass-produce foods in an unsustainable way. However, there are many sustainable methods that farmers should consider to mass-produce homegrown foods without destroying the environment, thanks to modern technology.
This article will explore the future of the farming industry and whether other methods can feed the world without destroying it.
What Is The Future Of Farms?
As the population continues to grow, there are growing concerns regarding food supply. The solution for this in the past used to be industrial farming; however, the concerns regarding global warming don’t work hand in hand, so industrial agriculture doesn’t seem to be the right solution for many.
It is believed that farmland covers over 30 times more land than urban cities, and with the use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides, they are proving to be much more damaging to the environment.
Many countries are living off this system, which has shaped the future of many countries. If so many countries rely on industrial farming, how can we find a quick solution for those farms to make them more sustainable?
Now, there have been some solutions that are on the horizon however, they cannot compete with the level of farming we have today. For example, vertical farms and lab-grown meat have been proposed but they don’t have the capabilities of mass-producing food to the level that could be in the future.
A hybrid approach is the solution for many countries worldwide, allowing modern technology to transform our farms while embracing the little technology that the current farming system requires.
Examples of What The Future of Farming Could Look Like
Soilless farms are the future of our current farming system. This includes the use of hydroponics and aeroponics. The only issue with this is that it isn’t capable of mass-producing foods to the level we can do it at today. Let’s look at some of the newer farming methods and how they can be incorporated into the modern world of agriculture.
Vertical Farming
Vertical farming has been around since the late 1990s; thousands of vertical farms worldwide exist. A great example would be Fischer Farms, a UK-based vertical farming company. This specific company focuses on leafy greens and the nutrients required for these plants to grow are provided from the water solution of hydroponics. These plants don’t need soil in the hydroponics, so they use perlite or rock wool.
The conditions are carefully controlled in the vertical farms so they can remove the synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides that are usually part of the production process. The whole point of vertical farming is that other crops can be placed above others.
Vertical farming proves to be more efficient than the traditional farm, as 1 acre of vertical farming crops at Fischer Farms can produce the same amount of food as 250 acres of field-grown crops. We can see more of this production level in the future to grow crops.
Data-Driven Hydroponic Farms
Other types of hydroponic farms are used to grow vegetation and rely on data to be more efficient. Some farms can reduce water usage by 99%, making them far more efficient. It also helps reduce water pollution, which has been a concern for many years. Additionally, these data-driven hydroponic farms help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide required and provide adequate light.
Undoubtedly, hydroponic farms are highly beneficial and can produce large crops by reducing the amount of land we need. The only issue is the energy required to supply these farms with the needed power.
Carbon Neutral Animal Feed
Carbon-neutral animal feed is another step forward for modern farming. They do this by providing carbon-neutral feed with insect protein. This will then be fed to insect larvae before they become food for hens, fish, and pigs.
There are several benefits to this. Firstly, there will be little farm waste, and it won’t be left rotting away. It is like the water cycle but reduces the amount of waste on farms and uses it for animal feed.
Final Thoughts
New technology has transformed the world of farming, making many people invest in commercial property and use it for artificial farms that consist of hydroponics. For example, a commercial property for Sale in Hull can be wholly transformed into a building entire of hydroponic basins, which can then be used to grow crops. This uses much less land compared to a traditional farm.
Farming is changing because of the growing concerns about sustainability and the lack of food supply for a population that continues to get bigger. The issue with this is that we need the land for those properties to use this new farming method.