INNOVATIONS IN AGRICULTURE FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE: PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES

The State of Food Security

One billion foodinsecure Rising/fluctuating foodprices Scarcity of land andwater Competition frombioenergy Climate change

Where are we?

What are the

Strengths and

Weaknesses of our current agricultural system?

Successes

abundant food supply in the developed world fresh fruits and vegetables available year-roundcheap food luxury foods such as coffee, tea, chocolate, and spices

easily available around the worldeffective food preservation technologies (refrigeration,

freezing, canning, packaging)convenience foodsmechanization produces high labor efficiency improvements in soil conservation

Problems

continuing soil loss food safety concerns (mad cow disease, food

poisoning outbreaks, antibiotic resistance, toxins and pesticides)

water pollution, air pollution (& odors), habitat loss, water depletion

continuing hunger – and rise of obesity failing farms, economic uncertainty and stress farm accidents, chronic diseases linked to agricultural

chemicals reliance on fossil fuels, global warming farmland loss to development, ugly countryside

Economically sustainable

Provides a secure living for farm families

Provides a secure living to other workers in the food system

Provides access to good food for all

Environmentally Sound

Preserves the

quality of soil,

water, and air

Cooperates with and

is modeled on natural

systems

Socially sustainable

Good for familiesSupports

communitiesFair to all involved

WHAT CAN BE DONE ?

Can being innovative help?

•No-till farming•Growing wind breaks to hold the soil•Incorporating organic matter back into fields•Stop using chemical fertilizers•Protecting soil from water runoff

SOIL

LandAs the global population increases and demand for food increases, there is pressure on land resources. Land can also be considered a finite resource on Earth. Expansion of agricultural land has an impact on biodiversity and contributes to deforestation. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations estimates that in coming decades, cropland will continue to be lost to industrial and urban development, along with reclamation of wetlands, and conversion of forest to cultivation, resulting in the loss of biodiversity and increased soil erosion.

Crop Rotation

Soil Amendment

Monoculture, a method of growing only one crop at a time in a given field, is a very widespread practice, but there are questions about its sustainability, especially if the same crop is grown every year. It is realized to get around this problem in local cities and farms which can work together to produce the needed compost for the farmers. This combined with growing a mixture of crops sometimes reduces disease or pest problems but polyculture has rarely , If ever, been compared to the more widespread practice of growing different crops in successive years with the same overall crop diversity. Cropping systems that include a variety of crops may also replenish nitrogen and may also use resources such as sunlight, water, or nutrients more efficiently

MonoculturePolyculture

Soil TreatmentSoil steaming can be used as an ecological alternative to chemicals for soil sterilization. Different methods are available to induce steam into the soil in order to kill pests and increase soil health. Community and farm composting of kitchen, yard, and farm organic waste can provide most if not all the required needs of local farms. This composting could potentially be a reliable source of energy.

Soil Streaming

Precision farming, which optimises the use of inputs and significantly enhances output

This technique focuses on utilising resources optimally to improve the quality and quantity of crops while lowering the cost of production.

It reduces fertiliser and pesticide use, prevents soil degradation, utilises water optimally and raises productivity.

Globally, this is done with the aid of modern, eco-friendly farming practices and technology, including satellite imagery and information technology.

This innovation can go a long way in tackling many of our country's farm ills, including excessive use of water and other inputs, which has hurt soil quality apart from making farming unprofitable as a profession

PRECISION FARMING

We need to know how much to plant in an area to get the best yield.

Spacing between plants is important.

Precision makes the difference. Each crop has a different geometry. You plant less, the yield is less. You plant more, the yield still falls due to crowding.

PRECISION FARMING

Correct assessment of the threat to crops from pests.

Earlier the farmers would spray pesticide without taking the kind of pests into consideration. It was a waste.

Now they look at the leaves and stem for symptoms and spray pesticide depending on the extent of the attack. They have saved money and farming has become eco-friendly

PRECISION FARMING Correct assessment of the threat to

crops from pests. Earlier the farmers would spray

pesticide without taking the kind of pests into consideration. It was a waste.

Now they look at the leaves and stem for symptoms and spray pesticide depending on the extent of the attack. They have saved money and farming has become eco-friendly

PRECISION FARMING In India it is the soil rather than the crop that is

irrigated. As a result, 70 %of the water is wasted. Precision farming, however, relies on drip

irrigation. With drips, we just wet the soil near the roots. How much water we use is determined by the climate, soil type, crop type and age.

The drip system is also used to "fertigate" the crop - disseminate soluble fertiliser - and the extent of fertiliser used depends on the soil's need.

WONDER FUNGUS It is about as thick as a strand of human hair. But its presence in the soil

increases crop yield by up to 25 per cent. It also re-energises dead soil. It helps plants assimilate water, minerals and other nutrients. Mycorrhiza, as it is called, is a fungus which once occurred naturally in Indian soil, but the rampant use of chemical fertilisers has almost wiped it out.

In the last decade, however, scientists at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Delhi, after years of research, have succeeded in cultivating Mycorrhiza. Their process has since been commercialised and six Indian companies now produce and market the fungus. It can be used to stimulate the growth of a variety of crops such as wheat, potato, onions and garlic. Its use is already making a difference.

The country also has 55 million hectares of fallow land and wasteland which can be reclaimed with its help. Mycorrhiza has even been adopted overseas - it is one of the first bio-system technologies that went to the United States from India.

THE WAY AHEADSOIL HEALTH CARD: Latest innovative

initiative of our Prime Minister. Help ascertain how much fertiliser the soil will need before planting our crop. This will help save fertilisers thereby reducing use of fossil fuel

A more enabling environment could help. Incentives to tackle initial capital costs and flexibility in the banking system to provide the higher working capital precision farming needs is critical.

THE WAY AHEAD The government also needs to create an enabling environment that

will trigger development and adoption of technology. Technology can help take precision farming to the next level.

Controlled environment agriculture. Urbanization presents a myriad of challenges for the agricultural industry and introduces new environmental considerations associated with food production and distribution. One way of addressing these issues is by finding ways to cultivate food within city limits. Urban agriculture practices can take a variety of forms, from greenhouse farming to vertical farming in unused indoor spaces to rooftop gardens and so on. Urban agriculture can reduce risks associated with weather and spoilage. Indoor climates are predictable and controllable, thus droughts and cold snaps pose no threat. Shorter transport distances to markets reduce the fraction of food lost to spoilage and the carbon footprint of products.

Conclusion

Agriculture has accomplished muchThere are still many problems to solve, both

old and newWe need to continously evolve and innovate

to try and solve these problems – without creating new ones.