Agricultural TechnologyUp scaling

Lecture 2: Agro-technology Development

FPE 3203FPE 3203

Problems in agriculture

1. Nutrient runoff promotes algal blooms

Problems in agriculture2. Pesticides and ecosystems

- Deformities, sex reversals in amphibians - Declining pollinator populations - Compromised immune systems in dolphins, seals, whales

Hayes et al. Atrazine-induced hermaphroditismat 0.1 ppb in American Leopard Frogs (Ranapipiens): Laboratory and field evidence. 2009.

Problems in agriculture3. The treadmill effect - Continually need to apply more chemicals to achieve desired effect

Synthetic fertilizers Chemical pesticides

Problems in agriculture4. Wild biodiversity loss: Insecticides - Impacts to pollinators, predators of pests

Problems in agriculture5. Climate change

100% increase No change100% decrease

Cropland in 2050: Percent change intime spent under drought conditions, relative to 2000

Adapted from GornallJ, Betts R, Burke E, et al. Implications of climate change for agricultural productivity in the early twenty-first century. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 2010;365(1554):2973-2989 .

Wheat crop during drought

Problems in agriculture6. Resource depletion - Fertile soil - Groundwater - Fossil fuels - Phosphate - Forests - Etc.

U.S. Department of Energy. www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/reserves/npr/publications/npr_strategic_significancev1.pdf .

Problems in agriculture7. Loss of farmland - Two acres per minute paved for developments

Problems in agriculture8. Industrial food animal production - Health, social, environmental, animal welfare concerns

Dairy cattle: Image copyright. Poultry: Socially Responsible Agriculture Project. www.sraproject.org.Hogs: USDA. 2004. Manure sprayer: USDA NRCS photo gallery.

Addressing Problems in Agriculture

Will require collaborate efforts on the part of:

- Farmers - Industries - Consumers - Policy makers - Other participants in the food system

Technology ????

Invention, Innovation through R&D

Innovation vs Invention

Innovation: Process of making changes to something established by introducing something new

Refers to the use of a novel idea or method

Invention:

A new ‘thing’ / novelty

Creation of the idea or method itself, irrespective of whether it is being used and with what effect

Why innovate?

promote rural development reduce poverty

stimulate or maintain economic growth adapt to scarce or variable resources

adapt to climate change

Major Technological Advancements in Agriculture

Mechanization

Chemical Fertilizers

Hybridization

Biotechnology

How does technological innovation impact agriculture?

Technology Impacts the Supply of Agricultural Products

Technology – Allows a farmer to produce more with a given level of inputs

How does technological innovation impact agriculture?

Artificial Insemination

Sexed Semen The ability to choose the sex of the offspring

New Technologies in the Livestock Industry

Cloning The ability to make an exact duplicate animal

with the same genetic makeup

New Technologies in the Livestock Industry

Strategic Planning for Agro-industry Development

Translating Innovation into Agro-technology to Meet Industry Needs

-sensing and data acquisition-hyperspectral imaging -real time trace gas detection and identification of diseases-biosensors -information management, large complex data sources needing control -spatial variability and optimised inputs -real time machine control -systems modelling -data integration and mining -models of farming systems, life cycle analysis optimisation and decision support -holistic management systems (converting data to knowledge and practices).

Some of the technologies and innovations suggested by Day (2010) as being critical for farm system optimisation include:

FAKULTI INDUSTRI ASAS TANIKAMPUS JELI, UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA KELANTAN

TERIMA KASIH