THE FUTURE OF FARMING

Recent growing demand for food and the decrease of farmlands have been becoming a challenge for many countries with huge populations. As the growth rate of the population is quite higher, so the food crisis has become a challenging problem. Land per capita is decreasing and in the same way hunger is becoming a disease in many countries. An alternative of farmlands has been in demand in recent years. Hence, technology is replacing traditional food production techniques. With the use of modern technology, a new revolution is going to take place in the world of agriculture.

In this article, a few modern way of farming is being covered with higher production efficiency, lesser destruction by the insects, lesser use of lands and water. Let's have a look at these advanced technologies in agriculture. These technical methods are based on robotics, temperature and moisture sensors, aerial images, GPS technology, artificial suitable environment for farming, etc.

1. SHIPPING CONTAINERS: 

Elon Musk is seeking an alternative of the earth to live in and on the other hand, his brother Kimble Musk is seeking solutions to the food crisis and an alternative of huge fertile farmlands that are diminishing gradually in the world due to climate change. The musk brothers are creating a revolution in their own way, helping mankind to get a bright future. 

Kimbal Musk, a chef and entrepreneur, is the co-founder of the start-up company Square Roots with CEO Tabia Peggs. The company is installing containers across the U.S. in which anyone can grow food anywhere. These containers can be used to grow different kinds of vegetables irrespective of the climate and weather. It doesn’t use soils and the water requirements are very low too. It can be a indoor farmland for the urban areas to get nutrition-rich foods and vegetables. A 320 feet shipping container can produce goods equivalent to the production of one or two acres of outdoor farmlands in a year. These containers have a climate change system which can be utilized to grow different kinds of food at any time. The waters drop down through the irrigation system and mixed with nutrients to feed the plants. The excessive waters are collected downwards. It uses 95% fewer waters than used in farmlands which is incredible. 

The whole container seems to be pink as the plant uses the red and blue spectrum of light to maintain their growths and in the containers, only the frequencies of light that the plants actually use are provided. The irrigation system and the lights are controlled using software. Basil, mints, other herbs, and leafy greens are being produced successfully in these containers. These foods are nutrients rich and healthy as the foods that are provided in the cities are being transported from distant places using chemicals that cause nutrient loss and some of them become poisonous. The attack of pesticides is also not a problem in the containers. These containers can be placed in the backside of a restaurant, inside your home, in your office to get fresh foods. 

But there is a problem with energy and electricity as these containers use a significant amount of energy. But this problem has been solved by the installation of solar panels. Solar energy is easily available but the cost is very high. But irrespective of this shortcoming, these shipping containers can change the future of farming. As stated by Kimbal Musk, “I'm focused on bringing real food to everyone, but the farming technology we are building at Square Roots can and will be used on Mars." Yes, It can change many things. Musk brothers will make a second earth possible. 

https://squareroots.com/

2. VERTICAL FARMING: 

Vertical farming is a new technological farming recently growing fast U.S. and Japan. In vertical farming, foods are produced in vertical or inclined surfaces. The containers of Musk can also be termed as vertical farming but there is a little difference. Vertical farming is also an effective way of farming which can provide foods with more nutritional value, freshness, original flavor and smell, etc. The temperature, light, humidity, and gases are controlled artificially as like the shipping containers. The lights are used artificially to make it more effective. Soils are replaced by aeroponic, aquaponic or hydroponic growing mediums like coconut core or husk. The use of soil causes many problems like pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides which are not observed in these vertical farms. In long hollow tube-like structures are commonly used, where waters and nutrients are pumped from downward on every 3 to 15 minutes which are programmed using software. The water used is very low than used in the farmlands and the production is ten times higher than the farmlands. 

These vertical farms can handle the future demands as the earth's soils are losing its fertility rate. These farms cannot be affected by the gradually changing climate. The foods are chemical-free and good for human diets. But there are some shortcomings too. These farms are costly to build and maintain. Pollination is very difficult and power consumption is very high. Sometimes you can’t believe in technology. 

Earth is changing its features and the only reason is mankind. These new technologies are good alternatives, but those beauties of natural farmlands cannot be compensated by these artificial farms. So, it is better to conserve what we have now before going to the next step. Because it will take time and effort to take these artificial steps all over the world. And our activities are creating damage to the environment all over the world. If we make efforts, we can bring back the normal environment and climate. And these sustainable Technologies along with the beautiful world will be a better place than a place with only concretes and technology.