Читать книгу Zero Waste Cooking For Dummies - Rosanne Rust - Страница 44

Images of a man, clad in overalls and a straw hat, sitting on a green tractor may come to mind when you think “farming,” but times have changed. Changes in weather patterns, draughts, land availability, and population growth are just a few reasons it’s vital to be able to make the most of our arable land, human resources, and time.

The notion of high-tech tools for farming somehow makes people uneasy. Especially if you bring up bioengineering (see the nearby sidebar “GMOs and you”). Today’s farmers are scientists. Almost all of them have bachelor’s degrees in agricultural, like plant science, animal science, engineering, or agronomy (the science of soil management, crop production, and ecology).

They use technology both to benefit their own efforts and to benefit the planet. Sure, they still use tractors (women and people of all ages and races farm), but they also have a multitude of technological tools available, such as the following, to manage their land and improve crop yields:

 Seeds that have been modified to tolerate drought or resist pests

 Drones that fly over fields to check crops

 Water and soil management systems that use sensors that report soil conditions, pH, and humidity in real time

 Specialized software that analyzes the sensor data that can then determine whether the soil requires additional nutrients or water

 Specialized farming equipment, including autonomous tractors and combines that allow farmers to plant and harvest more efficiently using GPS

Many of these tools are managed from a smartphone or tablet that the farmer takes with them on the tractor or as they view their field from their home or barn. They use software to analyze the data and help create crop management strategies. The utilization of technology will likely be an important component of regenerative and sustainable agriculture in years to come. Efforts are in motion to make this technology affordable and available to more farmers across the globe.

Innovations in technology can also enhance sustainability efforts in animal agriculture. I was amazed to see the technology employed when I visited the dairy research barn at Penn State University’s animal science department. Each dairy cow is closely monitored with wearable sensors that provide information about their activity (a cow who isn’t moving a lot may have an infection or other health issue), body temperature, and milk production so they can more efficiently and accurately monitor their health and welfare.