The world’s population is expected to grow from about 7 billion to over 9 billion by 2050. That’s means we’re going to need more food. A lot more food.
To grow it, the world’s farms must increase production by about 60 percent, according to a report published last year by the World Resources Institute. That’s a tall order, made taller still when you consider that researchers expect shortages of water, fuel, fertilizer, and arable land to make it even harder to meet growing demands.
But Rory Aronson and his Farmbot are here to help.
Rory Aronson, founder of Farmbot. Image: Farmbot
One way to address our farming challenges is through practices collectively known as precision agriculture. Precision farmers use technology like self-steering tractors and aerial drones to more efficiently use water, fertilizer, and other resources. They can give plants precisely the right amount of water, for example, or apply pesticides only when and where they’re needed. These techniques aren’t a cure-all for the challenges we face, but a study by researchers at Purdue University and the National Institute of Agricultural Technology in Argentina concluded that precision agriculture can play an important role in sustainable farming.