Innovating Agriculture and Fixing the Food System
Among the many challenges facing the world today including climate change, the growing global demand for food, increased need for nutrition, and economic hurdles facing rural communities, no industry is as uniquely positioned and equipped to positively impact all these areas on a large-scale as is agriculture. The World Resources Institute (WRI) estimates that farmers will need to provide enough food to feed nearly 10 billion people by 2050. At the same time, and in order to meet this goal in a way that does not completely decimate the environment, agriculture will need to drastically lighten its environmental footprint. It is imperative that our food system be restructured in order to improve the long-term health of people and the planet while still considering economic viability and growth. The WRI refers to the challenge of adequately meeting these competing needs as achieving a "sustainable food future."
“Innovation in farming technology, systems and strategies to make agriculture more economically viable, while also environmentally sustainable are a win-win for farmers, communities, and consumers. ”
In particular, "Agtech", or agriculture technology, is an emerging economic sector with the potential to completely revolutionize agriculture around the world, increase food productivity while reducing emissions and waste, use land in a more environmentally responsible way, and provide a business model for sustainable growth. Agtech is quickly gaining recognition, momentum, and financial support everywhere and is especially important to rural areas that have historically relied on agriculture as the backbone of their economy. More than 70% of the world's population living in poverty can be found in rural areas, where agriculture is generally depended on as a primary source of income. In low-income countries, agriculture accounts for nearly 30% of gross domestic product and is at least a part-time source of income for nearly 2 billion people worldwide. Innovation in farming technology, systems and strategies to make agriculture more economically viable, while also environmentally sustainable are a win-win for farmers, communities, and consumers.
“Agriculture is at least a part-time source of livelihoods for more than 2 billion people.”
Protected agriculture is one form of agtech that we utilize at Kentucky Fresh Harvest that can be applied to farming at all scales and in all locations to empower farmers with the capability to greatly extend food production. It is a long-term vegetable production strategy to support environmental sustainability, resiliency in the food system, equity amongst farmers, and to achieve prosperity for rural areas. The value of protected agriculture comes through cultivation of an indoor environment that is in harmony with the optimal natural environment for our crops in order to extend the growing season, achieve a consistently high yield, and ensure food safety and quality. Protected Ag can carry the industry forward while breathing new life into struggling communities through increased economic opportunity and providing reliable access to fresh, local, and healthy food. High-tech greenhouses, such as ours in Stanford, Kentucky, allow for year-round growth close to our consumers, removing the dependence on international distribution and resulting in a product that arrives in the market much more quickly and reliably. The innovations, advancements, and complex systems we use to assist our growing process will be discussed in greater detail as part of our "How We Grow" series of blog posts.
If the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us anything, it is that we are one sweeping disruption away from the collapse of the food system, local businesses, and entire economies, posing an overall threat to public health. Lockdowns, job loss and loss of steady income, interferences in food growth and distribution, and for many children the lack of a consistent meal at school can present serious challenges to obtaining adequate food and nutrition. The world needs agriculture to positively contribute to social and economic development to help reduce poverty and achieve equity so that the challenge of attaining a sustainable food future can be overcome. Growth in the agricultural sector can help meet fundamental human needs and overcome challenges to hunger by localizing food production, generating a means of income for families, reinforcing the resiliency of our food system and enhancing food security across the globe.
