The food and tech industries might seem like two things poles apart. In fact, if you ask about food, there is a high chance that you will see people discouraging the use of technology. Blame it on various factors, especially taste, and the obsession of consuming organic food. However, over the years the hype of organic food has led us to serious consequences without fail.
The recent event of the Sri Lankan government trying to ban the use of technology and agriculture led to food shortage, which eventually led to serious consequences as well. This might seem like an example out of context but in real life, these simple factors can push a whole population into food shortage eventually leading to serious consequences.
As the population is on the rise and we will be becoming a big family of more than 8 billion in 2024, WHO is expecting most of the countries to have a food shortage soon. Add lack of technology, inflation, and climate change into the rising population and you will be pushing half of the world’s population to rely on one meal a day while a third quarter to starve.
To deal with this issue specifically, it is high time to make technology accessible for all. One of the biggest hurdles in this category is price because most small farmers have a very restricted budget, which eventually plays a very important role.
However, currently, more Agri-tech companies are stepping up their game by introducing simple, smaller, and portable versions of agriculture machines. Since these machines are small, they are also affordable and you just need to automate these machines by using a good internet connection like Xfinity Internet. By connecting these machines to the internet, you will be able to track everything and if there is any abnormality in the situation, you will be notified as well.
Top 7 Ways Technology Is Helping In Covering the Food Shortage
1. Drip Irrigation System
Water shortage is becoming one of the biggest threats to the food industry and it is raising a lot of questions about the food shortage as well. With drip irrigation, the water requirement of a plant or crop is calculated and the water waste is reduced as well.
2. Crop Monitoring System
Crop monitoring is one of the most challenging parts of ensuring that your crop can produce the right quality and quantity of food. Moreover, with crop monitoring, you can ensure that your crop is not affected by any pest attack or disease. This might take a long time via manual process and you will be required to dedicate resources as well.
However, with an automated crop monitoring system, you will not have to work hard or dedicate any resources. The process is much simpler and you will be able to cut operational costs as well.
3. Remote Spraying System
Whenever there is a pest attack, farmers have to take instant measures not just to prevent the pest attack from becoming worse but it prevent it from ever happening again. However, to cover the patch of land, people would hire airplanes.
This was one of the most expensive and so far the most draining process as it requires a great deal of agricultural understanding. Too much spray and you will end up killing the crop, too little and it will not have any effect. With a remote automation system, you will be able to calculate everything precisely and then spray it by using an automated drone spray system.
4. Environment Control
Although seed plays a very important role in determining the quality, quantity, and taste of the food you produce but environment is equally important. Crops produced in warm places are much better in taste and bigger as well.
Within technology, the environment of the place will stay, as you want. NASA to grow food in space uses this same technology. By using the control environment system, the quality, taste, and quantity of food can be improved.
5. Seed Preference
Seed preference can singlehandedly dictate the kind of food that will eventually grow. It does not just determine the size but also taste and the quantity of food as well. In recent years, food companies have invested heavily in seed selection that can help them produce more food without occupying a lot of land.
With seed preference, you cannot just get the best and most healthy seed for planting the new crop but also you can generate better quality seed.
6. Shelf Life Improvement and Fortification
Food grown in different soil, with different water, and in different environments has completely different taste and nutrition factors. In hotter climates where the sun shines bright, the food tastes much better and it has a high nutritional value as well.
On the contrary, food grown in colder climates does not have the same impact. To deal with this contradiction and to improve taste and nutritional value, food companies are investing heavily in the fortification of food. Even things as simple as water is fortified with fluoride in some countries.
7. Food Printing
This might seem like an outrageous way to cover the food shortage but it works. With food, printing you can stay in full control of food, texture, and every other detail as well. Just recently, NASA printed a pizza in space by using a food 3D printer.
The best thing about this pizza was that it was designed for people who cannot chew food properly. This can be a pivotal point for medical sciences and the food industry as people will be able to enjoy food regardless of the circumstances.
Bottom line
To sum it all up, technology will not just help in improving the food quality and taste it will help with reducing the world hunger issue. The above-mentioned ways are some of the notable factors to consider in this domain.
