Farming has long been an essential industry that feeds a growing population and as you would expect, the agriculture sector has seen many changes, which might be due to new technology, while the consumer is more educated with regards to healthy eating and this has driven the organic sector to grow exponentially.
Drones
Drones are widely used in the farming sector to spray crops and patrol field perimeters, looking for lost livestock, which can be a time-consuming task. Imagine a drone that can be programmed to spray crops; all the farmer has to do is refill the tank and send the drone off to continue its work, which saves both time and money. The cutting-edge technology used with drones aids the farmer in many ways; drones can patrol perimeter fencing to find sections that need repairing, plus the farmer can send a drone to check on a newly born calf that is on the other side of the farm.
Organic farming
This is the fastest growing sector in agriculture, mainly due to the fact that the consumer is more educated than ever before, which means they are looking for organically grown fruit and vegetables that are free from chemicals. There are affordable industrial sheds for sale from a leading Australian supplier and a small farm is able to grow to meet extra demands, which is a win-win for all parties. When you order organic produce from a small family-owned farm, you are supporting the local community and the produce is delivered to your door.
GMOs
Genetically modified organisms have been developed because they can withstand harsh weather and have properties that result in higher yields. Scientists work in their labs to create seeds that are hardier and farmers are happy to try out new seeds and report back to the scientists. Not everyone is convinced that GMOs are a good thing, some say that organic produce is a better alternative to manipulating nature, yet with a growing world population, we do need increased crop yields. Click here for information about personalised nutrition.
Selling directly to the public
Thanks to digital technology, a small farm no longer needs the wholesaler; rather they can market their produce directly to the consumer, which means the industry is experiencing major changes. The rise in small organic farms is a reflection of the level of education the consumer has and this trend is likely to continue, which should force food manufacturers to make some changes and use fewer chemicals in food production.
Of course, government support is crucial and here in Australia, the government is committed to providing the necessary support for small farms and providing them with financial assistance to make necessary changes. This occurs at the grassroots level, as well as with legislation across the country and we feel that small farms have a great future.
The farming community is rising to the challenge by providing organic produce for today’s educated consumers.