How Technology affects Food Production
Humans 🧠 working with Machines 🤖
We all eat and have an idea of where our food comes from, so a deep dive of what farming is can be skipped. I will however state that farming is not just an act of tiling the ground or planting seeds, it’s also not just about raising animals for milk or meat. There is a lot more involved in the process of making our food and technology has played an important role in making this easier over the years.
Agriculture is the world’s largest employer and drives activity in many other industries not limited to Logistics and Manufacturing. This is no surprise considering the importance of food beyond basic necessities like air and water.
The Role Technology Plays
The evolution of agriculture is intertwined with technology, increasing operational efficiency and profitability over the years. The transition from tilling the soil evolved from ‘using hands’ to ‘using hoes’ to ‘using tractors’, with prospects for more change in the future.
With technology, tracking crops and livestock facilitates better farm management which allows for more efficient production. Distribution is also easier to track which increases transparency and planning. These are just some examples of the role technology plays in powering food production!
Technology reduces the barriers of entry in agricultural sector. At the primary production level, driven by Growers, the challenge of suboptimal farm management is mitigated with data that tracks farm operations. Fewer people will have problem statments like “I can’t go into farming because I will be unable to sustain or maintain it”. With technology, simple but data proven steps can be carried out by a primary producer, a Grower, to maximise production and thus improve food secuirty. Gone are the days when data is hard to gather or ‘make sense of’! Technology has made it easier to connect producers with consumers or using traceable distribution systems. With technology, previously complex tasks can be completed with the simple tap of a button.
Despite the evolution of humans working with machines, technical illiteracy continues to be a gap in this sector. That said, the cost and ease of scaling technical literacy has never been lower.
At Farmz2u, we are building the operational engine for growers, suppliers and buyers. We believe in the power of technology accelerating value creation in the agricultural sector thus ensuring food security on the African continent.
