Technology for Sustainable Agriculture
Abstract Over the past decades, Earth has been increasingly impacted by climate change, resulting in adverse environmental consequences. There are many factors that go into the degradation of the planet, however, agriculture specifically has a significant impact. Agriculture and its farming methods often place pressure on the environment and natural resources. It is a large source of pollution, for example, it allows toxic chemicals to poison bodies of water, the atmosphere, and the land, as well as contribute to deforestation and climate change. Therefore, this paper discusses utilizing technology to promote the use of sustainable agriculture, as it can ensure the preservation of habitats, improve water and air quality, enhance soil health, and the overall protection of the environment. It analyzes the benefits of indigenous farming technologies, sustainable farming methods, and the use of data or algorithms within agriculture. Using these findings, this paper argues that in the United States, the agricultural industry should change its farming methods by utilizing various forms of technology to become more sustainable and beneficial to the environment. Introduction With the development of our society, the Earth has been increasingly impacted by climate change, resulting in adverse environmental consequences. Although there are several different aspects that affect the health of the planet, the agricultural industry has significantly contributed to this. Farming practices are not the most sustainable, as they can deplete the land of its nutrients while polluting the water and the atmosphere. Thus, the agricultural industry must use different forms of technology to sustainably change their farming methods. In this paper, I will go over the benefits of indigenous farming technologies, sustainable farming methods, and the use of data or algorithms within agriculture – proving how such a transition can promote sustainability. In the United States, the agricultural industry should change its farming methods by utilizing technology to become more sustainable and beneficial to the environment. Indigenous Farming Technologies Before discussing their Indigenous farming techniques, I feel that there is a need to acknowledge the experience of Indigenous peoples in order to be respectful of their history in the United States. Prior to the colonization of North America, as described by Katie Pace, an associate at the Sustainable Food Center (an organization that promotes farmer’s rights and food security), in her research titled, “Indigenous Agriculture and Sustainable Food,” Native Americans “protected local ecosystems and preserved biodiversity through land management and farming practices” (Pace). When Euro-Americans came to North America to colonize, they violently and permanently settled on the fertile Indigenous lands. Amongst other brutal crimes, such as senselessly slaughtering tribes and stealing their lands, the colonists proceeded to enforce policies which prohibited Native farming practices. Moreover, Christina Hill, an Associate Professor of Anthropology at Iowa State University, discusses in her article titled, “Regrowing Indigenous Agriculture Could Nourish People, Cultures and the Land” how in 1830 Congress passed the Indian Removal Act. This piece of legislation uprooted “Native peoples from their home locations, pushing them onto subpar lands.” Along with this sudden displacement, Indigenous people were told by government officials to only use Euro-American style monoculture when farming, even discouraging them to farm on lands that are larger than a small garden plot. Furthermore, Hill explains how the government created an allotment policy that gave such small plots to Native families, and as a result, it limited their access to larger pieces of land and restricted them from participating in communal farming methods or traditions. For the newer generations, the government forced Indigenous children to go to boarding schools. In such an institution, they did not have the chance to learn about Indigenous technology and farming methods, let alone be immersed in their culture. With all of these factors, agriculture in Native communities significantly reduced, and so did its popularity around the United States (Hill). Despite these events, many farms, farmers, and organizations are promoting the revival of Indigenous agricultural practices by respecting and utilizing Indigenous knowledge. Indigenous technology can allow farming to not only be more efficient, but be a way to heal our lands. These technologies are not nonexistent in the agricultural space, there are several farms and farmers who use them. However, these practices should become widespread farming methods that are used whenever possible, as they allow for increased productivity and promote sustainability. Firstly, I would like to discuss intercropping. The National Farmers Union, an organization that advocates for small farmers, describes intercropping as a process that is “ based on synergy in which the physical aspects of each plant complement one another and improve each other’s health and growth.” Essentially, plants that are used in intercropping do not compete with each other for resources and instead complement each other, allowing them to flourish together. The benefits of intercropping are immense, because if this is done in the correct manner efficiency, yield, and crop productivity all increase. Most importantly, intercropping plays a big role in improving the soil’s overall health. For thousands of years, Native Americans have utilized intercropping to grow what is called the “Three Sisters.” Sustainable Food Center’s associate Katie Pace describes the Three Sisters as “a sophisticated practice of companion planting… it combines corn, beans, and squash to create a polyculture that feeds and protects the soil and controls pests. In wet regions, farmers grew the Three Sisters on elevated mounds to improve drainage, while in arid West, they planted in depressed, bordered gardens to capture the rain”(Pace). This indigenous technique encourages sustainability because it doesn’t just take from the land, it gives back to it. Ziblim Imoro, a researcher at the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Management for the University of Ghana, discusses how farmers can implement this indigenous farming technique back into modern-day agriculture in his journal titled “Harnessing Indigenous Technologies for Sustainable Management of Land, Water, and Food Resources amidst Climate Change.” Imoro argues that farmers can combine intercropping methods into their cover cropping practices. Cover crops quite literally cover the soil, and are not meant to be harvested. Instead, they help with problems such as soil erosion, soil health, fertility, etc. Thus, combining this already popular practice with intercropping would be an incredible way to bolster biodiversity and soil health (Imoro). Secondly, another Indigenous farming technique that can be utilized to promote sustainable agricultural practices is certain forms of water management. Imoro explains how Indigenous communities have always made it a priority to only use the amount of resources that are absolutely necessary, and this remains the same for their water management skills. For instance, when planting the Three Sisters in humid climates, Native Americans would do so on mounds of soil. This allows there to be drainage in the soil in case there is extra moisture (Imoro). Another example would be using canals or dams as an irrigation system. Indigenous tribes would dig and build canals or dams to ensure that they can redirect the water they need efficiently, but also preserve natural resources (National Farmers Union). These technologies are certainly used today, however, such methods should become more mainstream amongst farmers, even if it is simply planting on soil mounds, or something as big as building a network of canals/dams. Finally, permaculture can also be utilized to encourage sustainable agriculture. Robert Greenfield, an author and environmentalist, directed a YouTube Video in which it discusses a project where Indigenous folk and allies came together to work on a reservation by using Indigenous-inspired permaculture methods. Permaculture focuses on crop resilience, natural productivity without extra chemicals, and crop diversity in order to be sustainable and maintain the nutrients in the land (Greenfield). For example, Native Americans would plant legumes, a plant that is known to be a nitrogen-fixing crop, which allows for an increase of nitrogen in the soil. Nitrogen greatly impacts soil health, and modern-day farmers add excess nitrogen normally through chemical fertilizers. Thus, this specific technique would decrease the dependency on fertilizer while simultaneously boosting the land’s health as this would be done in an all-natural way (National Farmers Union). The approach that Greenfield’s project took emphasized these methods, but most importantly, on creating a culture of community, ensuring that the people and the environment are treated with respect (Greenfield). Today, there are several organizations that are actively implementing indigenous farming technologies into their agricultural practices. In a Washington Post article titled, “Native Americans’ farming practices may help feed a warming world,” journalist Samuel Gilbert writes about the Tohono O’odham Nation. The Tohono O’odham Nation in Southern Arizona is an Indigenous group that is on the “front lines of climate change,” and they are specifically focused on food security. They are in charge of a cooperative farm, where they uphold their traditional values of respecting water, their land, and their plants. One technique they utilize to grow crops in the extreme, hot Arizona weather is rainwater harvesting. During the monsoon season, they collect rainwater to be used during Arizona’s dry months, ensuring that their land always has enough water to grow food. Sterling Johnson, a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation, discussed how this method was completely erased from the curriculum he learned growing up as a child, showing how there is a large gap in this transfer of knowledge (Gilbert). Another example of implementation of Indigenous farming technologies would be a research study being conducted at Iowa State University or ISU. ISU is collaborating with three Indigenous groups, Tsyunhehkw, Ohelaku Corn Growers Co-Op, and Nebraska Indian College. They are growing a Three Sisters plot for research analysis, and they are attempting to show just how harmful monoculture is to the United State’s food system. Iowa State University is taking a meaningful approach to this project, because they are making a conscious effort to ensure that their Indigenous collaborators are also benefiting from these efforts (rather than just giving their expertise). ISU is helping them to rematriate rare seeds that were once commonly planted on Indigenous lands, allowing them to reintroduce them into their land. Moreover, ISU is holding workshops about any agricultural topic that these communities want to hear about, as well as creating a supportive network to encourage each other to grow (Hill). To the right depicts one such workshop where ISU is giving Native children a lesson about soil and soil health. Technological Innovations New and developing technological innovations help farmers to make a profit, producing at a low cost to the environment and themselves. Currently, the technology and machinery that is utilized on farms overwhelmingly run on fossil fuels, and in turn, this releases greenhouse gasses which pollute our atmosphere and further climate change. This causes long-term environmental damage which can be easily avoided if farmers and corporations make a conscious effort to increase sustainability. This technology is not necessarily uncommon or unused in the agricultural industry, however, it is important to discuss and spread awareness of the benefits such technological innovations can bring in order to encourage their utilization. In order to move towards a more sustainable agricultural future, renewable energy must play a key role. Rob Wreglesworth, a veteran entrepreneur in the environmental sector writes in his article titled, “11 Green Technologies and Techniques In Agriculture,” about how renewable energy is an essential factor because a renewable resource means something that “is a natural resource which can replenish itself to replace what has been used.” In other words, renewable energy would never run out, nor does it do significant damage to the environment (Wreglesworth). Moreover, in a published report titled, “Renewable Energy and Agriculture: A Natural Fit,” the Union of Concerned Scientists, a non-profit organization made up of experts fighting for climate justice, writes, “Wind, solar, and biomass energy can be harvested forever, providing farmers with a long-term source of income.” Thus, this shows how renewable energy would be not only a sustainable solution for the agricultural industry, but a logical one as it would stabilize farmers’ jobs (Union of Concerned Scientists). There are several different types of renewable energies. Firstly, there are solar technologies, and these utilize solar light, converting it into electrical energy that can power farm machinery, water pumping, etc. There is also solar thermal energy, which converts the heat from solar radiation into energy, which can then be used for greenhouses, heating water, etc. As a result, solar energy can significantly decrease a farmer’s costs in terms of electricity and heating. Secondly, wind turbines are a wonderful option in terms of renewable energy for farmers to use. They don’t take up too much land, don't disrupt one’s farming methods, and can be used to create electricity. Finally, there is biomass which comes from organisms, for example, animal waste, plants, and corn. All of this is then “converted into energy by being burned.” This heat can be utilized to produce electricity and steam, for dairy operations, crop drying, etc. The Union of Concerned Scientists reported that, “According to the U.S. Department of Energy, tripling U.S. use of biomass energy could provide as much as $20 billion in new income for farmers and rural communities and reduce global warming emissions by the same amount as taking 70 million cars off the road” (Union of Concerned Scientists). Thus, all of these technologies have the power to encourage a low-carbon agricultural industry, they can help to improve the efficiency of food production and sustainability. For a sustainable agriculture industry, the future may lie in new, high-tech greenhouses. Jordan Strickler, a Forbes agriculture journalist, writes in his article titled, “High-Tech Greenhouses Could Be The Future Of Agriculture,” that this revolutionary agricultural technology is not only “more eco-friendly, the facilities are more economically-efficient, and could bring life-support to an overburdened agriculture sector.” In other words, greenhouses would not only bolster our economy by increasing profits, but also promote sustainability and food security (Strickler). Greenhouse farming is where farmers grow crops within an enclosed facility, and the roof is oftentimes made of a transparent material to allow for sunlight. There are many benefits to greenhouse farming that make it particularly sustainable and successful. Firstly, it increases production because it allows farmers to have control over otherwise independent variables. For example, farmers can create their own, optimal climate conditions rather than hoping for the sun or rain. Additionally, since the crops are in an enclosed space, they are protected from pests and animals that might harm these crops, as well as diseases that could have destroyed acres of land. Secondly, greenhouses often utilize vertical farming (where crops are grown vertically instead of spreading out over acres of land), which requires less land that one has to pay for and maintain. “Studies suggest that profits per crop per square foot can be two to three times as big when executing greenhouse farming instead of open-field agriculture.” Moreover, vertical farming allows for water consumption to decrease by as much as 95%. As a result, it allows farmers to maximize their resource use/efficiency, creating less waste, and increasing profits (Strickler). Thirdly, greenhouses allow for year-round growing, they do not need to be dependent on certain seasons or a type of weather. Farmers can continue to produce during a harsh summer or freezing winter because with the proper technology, they can create and maintain a specific climate. Finally, greenhouse farming even promotes worker stability. Many field workers have seasonal jobs so they have to continue moving locations to find new crops to work on. However, a greenhouse creates a protected environment that can be maintained throughout the year and allows workers to stay in one place, increasing their job security (Strickler). An example of real-world use of such technology would be the Netherlands’ agricultural industry. The Netherlands is a big proponent of greenhouse technology, as shown by the image to the left. This country is around the same size as Connecticut, however, it is globally ranked as the “number two exporter of food as measured by value, second only to the United States, which has 270 times its landmass” (Strickler). This proves just how efficient and productive greenhouse technology can be, and these characteristics will become especially important when we have to feed our growing world. Data & Algorithms Data and algorithms can help improve a farmer’s methods and ensure that they don’t waste resources, encouraging a more sustainable agricultural industry. Data analytics is the process of collecting vast amounts of data and attempting to find trends, patterns, or simply analyzing this information to come to a conclusion about it. It is an extremely important aspect of the business operations of nearly every industry. It can be utilized to “improve decision-making, analyze customer trends, track customer satisfaction and identify opportunities for new products and services to meet growing market needs.” Thus, Nazirul Islam Sarker, a researcher at the School of Political Science and Public Administration in Neijiang University, writes in his published journal article titled, “Big Data Driven Smart Agriculture: Pathway for Sustainable Development,” how data analytics should be considered in the agricultural industry too, as it can significantly improve efficiency, profits, and sustainability. Sarker explains that there are several benefits to data analytics in the agriculture industry. Firstly, it would serve to increase innovation and productivity. Farmers can use technology such as soil sensors, GPS tractors, weather tracking tools, etc. to get a better understanding of their land and crops (Sarker et al). In his article titled, “The Growing Need For Data In Agriculture,” Jeff Bradshaw, an executive at an agricultural firm and Forbes Council Member, discusses how such technology would allow farmers to “have access to real-time data,” giving them visibility on all the factors that go into growing their crops. As a result, they can use such data analysis to ensure their methods are efficient and the most productive they can be. Secondly, this would highly encourage innovation and new methods of farming. If APIs are used effectively, the agricultural industry would be able to abide by policy restrictions as well as meet the demand from consumers. Moreover, it would allow farmers to meet the regulatory requirements on “working practices, chemical usage, water quality, animal health, climate change, and exports” (Bradshaw). It would allow farmers and corporations to understand the best approach to take in order to meet such requirements, highlighting new methods and ideas that had not been considered before. Finally, this would significantly help to reduce waste. If farmers can understand precisely what resources are necessary for their operations, they wouldn’t need to overuse energy, water, fertilizers, electricity, etc. This would not only be cost-saving, but be less harmful to our environment as well (Bradshaw). Currently, our national food system and food distribution layout are not efficient and cost-effective for our society. Instead, it has been built with the goal of corporate profit, without taking into consideration the damage that is being done to our bodies and our environment. For example, foods these days are grown using synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, and then processed with a cocktail of chemicals. This practice is detrimental to our health and our land, poisoning both with such artificial methods. Moreover, this is problematic for smaller, local farmers that are trying to promote sustainable farming. The use of chemicals and pesticides increases production, driving those who want to use natural farming techniques out of business. Additionally, all of these factors not only lead to an increase in the production of food, but over-production. In the Ted Talk titled, “Big Data, Small Farms and a Tale of Two Tomatoes,” former MIT researcher and entrepreneur Erin Baumgartner discusses how “Between 30 and 40 percent of the food produced annually is wasted.” In other words, 1.6 billion tons are simply thrown away. In a world filled with food insecurity and hunger issues, we should not be encouraging a food distribution system that excessively wastes. In order to solve this problem, Baumgartner suggests a reworking of the system by utilizing data and algorithms at its core. Firstly, we would create a “subscription-based e-commerce platform, which helps us create a consistent demand for our farmers throughout the year.” This subscription would be on a weekly basis, and consumers would opt out rather than opt in, allowing there to be around the same number of orders on a regular basis. Moreover, this would expand a farmer’s scope as it wouldn’t restrict them to a certain geography or market that they have to sell to. Secondly, we would have to use analytics and data to forecast future demand. This would allow farmers to make more accurate predictions on what consumers will want, telling them how much to harvest in the near future as well as what to prepare for in the long term. This eliminates a good amount of food waste as it would aim to create an equilibrium between demand and supply, and would also help to maximize an efficient allocation of resources. Finally, we would once again utilize algorithms to create a route-optimization software. This would essentially direct the flow of food, ensuring that the travel is time and cost-efficient. Baumgartner and her team are working on such a system that would revolutionize the organization of our current food system, tremendously impacting sustainability in the agricultural industry. Conclusion The United States must change the current state of its agricultural industry to become more sustainable and less harmful towards the environment. There are a great number of different technologies that farmers can use to do so, including indigenous farming methods, developing technologies, as well as data and algorithms. Indigenous peoples have been using certain farming methods for thousands of years, and so if we implement these practices they would not only benefit the planet, but increase farmer’s own efficiency and productivity. New and developing technologies, such as renewable energy farming methods or greenhouse technology, have the potential to completely transform the agriculture industry sustainably. Finally, intersecting data and algorithms with farming can allow farmers to maximize their time, effort, and resources, while ensuring they aren’t wasting or doing damage to the planet. Thus, with all of these tools available, the United States agricultural industry has the ability to become more profitable, efficient, and sustainable. Works Cited Aznar-Sánchez, José A., et al. “An Analysis of Global Research Trends on Greenhouse Technology: Towards a Sustainable Agriculture.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 17, no. 2, 2020, p. 664., https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020664. Baumgartner, Erin. “Big Data, Small Farms and a Tale of Two Tomatoes.” Ted Talks, August 2020, https://www.ted.com/talks/erin_baumgartner_big_data_small_farms_and_a_tale_of_two_tomatoes/transcript. Basso, Bruno, and John Antle. “Digital Agriculture to Design Sustainable Agricultural Systems.” Nature Sustainability, vol. 3, no. 4, 16 Apr. 2020, pp. 254–256., https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-020-0510-0. Bradshaw, Jeff. “Council Post: The Growing Need for Data in Agriculture.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 13 July 2022, https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2022/07/12/the-growing-need-for-data-in-agriculture/?sh=1992c2202181. Dream of Wild Health. “Dream of Wild Health farm manager Jessika Greendeer gives a soil lesson July 15 in Minnesota.” In These Times, 21 Nov. 2020, https://inthesetimes.com/article/regrow-native-american-agriculture-three-sisters-farming. Gilbert, Samuel. “Native Americans' Farming Practices May Help Feed a Warming World.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 10 Dec. 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/interactive/2021/native-americans-farming-practices-may-help-feed-warming-world/. Hill, Christina Gish. “Regrowing Indigenous Agriculture Could Nourish People, Cultures and the Land.” In These Times, Institute for Public Affairs, 21 Nov. 2020, https://inthesetimes.com/article/regrow-native-american-agriculture-three-sisters-farming. Imoro, Ziblim Abukari, et al. “Harnessing Indigenous Technologies for Sustainable Management of Land, Water, and Food Resources amidst Climate Change.” Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, vol. 5, 2021, https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.691603. Kite-Powell, Jennifer. “Take a Look at How Technology Makes Smart and Sustainable Farming.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 5 Jan. 2017, https://www.forbes.com/sites/jenniferhicks/2016/12/31/take-a-look-at-how-technology-makes-smart-and-sustainble-farming/?sh=165612ce3deb. Kour, Divjot, et al. “Microbial Biofertilizers: Bioresources and Eco-Friendly Technologies for Agricultural and Environmental Sustainability.” Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology, vol. 23, Jan. 2020, p. 101487., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2019.101487. M. N. Islam Sarker, et al. "Big Data Driven Smart Agriculture: Pathway for Sustainable Development," 2019 2nd International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Big Data (ICAIBD), 2019, pp. 60-65, doi: 10.1109/ICAIBD.2019.8836982. National Farmers Union. “The Indigenous Origins of Regenerative Agriculture.” National Farmers Union, 12 Oct. 2020, https://nfu.org/2020/10/12/the-indigenous-origins-of-regenerative-agriculture/. Pace, Katie. “Indigenous Agriculture and Sustainable Food.” Sustainable Food Center, 7 Oct. 2015, https://sustainablefoodcenter.org/latest/gardening/indigenous-agriculture-and-sustainable-food. “Renewable Energy and Agriculture: A Natural Fit.” Union of Concerned Scientists, 14 July 2018, https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/renewable-energy-and-agriculture. Rob J Greenfield, director. YouTube, YouTube, 24 July 2020, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZk8j1Lhi6I. Strickler, Jordan. “Bell peppers being grown in greenhouse in Zevenbergen, Noord-Brabant, Netherlands.” Forbes, 28 Aug. 2020, https://www.forbes.com/sites/jordanstrickler/2020/08/28/high-tech-greenhouses-could-be-the-future-of-agriculture/?sh=365633b6380f. Strickler, Jordan. “High-Tech Greenhouses Could Be the Future of Agriculture.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 28 Aug. 2020, https://www.forbes.com/sites/jordanstrickler/2020/08/28/high-tech-greenhouses-could-be-the-future-of-agriculture/?sh=365633b6380f. Wreglesworth, Rob. “11 Green Technologies and Techniques in Agriculture.” Innovate Eco, 19 Jan. 2021, https://innovate-eco.com/11-green-technologies-and-techniques-in-agriculture/. Annotated Bibliography Aznar-Sánchez, José A., et al. “An Analysis of Global Research Trends on Greenhouse Technology: Towards a Sustainable Agriculture.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 17, no. 2, 2020, p. 664., https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17020664. This journal article written by Dr. José Aznar-Sánchez, a researcher at the Department of Economy and Business in the University of Almería (with an expertise in Agricultural Economics), discusses the rapidly developing new technology of greenhouse agriculture. Instead of using thousands of acres of land to produce, greenhouses are used instead. This allows farmers to control everything that they normally couldn’t, from temperature levels to climate to the environment. This source would help me highlight how technology does not only increase farming efficiency, but also decrease costs which in turn boosts profit. Such a method would completely revolutionize agriculture, as it would require little space and create little to no damage to the environment. Farmers are able to manage waste and pollution, reducing it to insignificant amounts, while producing even more efficiently. Basso, Bruno and John Antle. “Digital Agriculture to Design Sustainable Agricultural Systems.” Nature Sustainability, vol. 3, no. 4, 16 Apr. 2020, pp. 254–256., https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-020-0510-0. This research paper is written by Bruno Basso and John Antle. Basso is part of the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Michigan State University, and Antle is part of the Department of Applied Economics at Oregon State University. In this paper, Basso and Antle discuss how digital technology can help to improve agricultural practices sustainably. It talks about various technologies, ranging from digital sensors to geospatial technologies. This source helped me to gain a general understanding of how data and algorithms can help to improve sustainable agriculture. If farmers can monitor their methods and the environment that they are in, they can work towards making their own farming practices more efficient, less wasteful, and more sustainable. I did not specifically use this source in my essay, however, I am adding this to my works cited as it was significant in my initial research. Imoro, Ziblim Abukari, et al. “Harnessing Indigenous Technologies for Sustainable Management of Land, Water, and Food Resources amidst Climate Change.” Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, vol. 5, 2021, https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.691603. This journal article written by Ziblim Imoro, a researcher at the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Management for the University of Ghana, discusses different indigenous technologies that could help to reverse the effects of climate change. Moreover, it talks about real-life implementation, and how farmers can combine such practices into their already modernized methods. This source would be very useful for my essay because it does not only discuss indigenous farming technologies, but also acknowledges the modernized farming industry. It furthers by explaining how agriculture doesn’t need to have dramatic change but can simply add certain farming practices to their methods. This is an important point to make because many farmers have been using certain techniques and technologies for a long time, so it may incentivize them more to switch to sustainable farming methods if such a change is easy. M. N. Islam Sarker, M. Wu, B. Chanthamith, S. Yusufzada, D. Li and J. Zhang, "Big Data Driven Smart Agriculture: Pathway for Sustainable Development," 2019 2nd International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Big Data (ICAIBD), 2019, pp. 60-65, doi: 10.1109/ICAIBD.2019.8836982 This journal article written by Nazirul Islam Sarker, a researcher at the School of Political Science and Public Administration in Neijiang University, discusses Big Data and how technology can be used to create ‘smart agriculture.’ This sort of agriculture would be driven by decisions made by analyzing data and using algorithms, which would allow for less waste of resources. This source will allow me to discuss data and algorithms, and how they can have a positive impact on agriculture if used properly. It will allow for the elimination of human error when predicting yields, determining how much material to use, etc. Thus, it will increase the productivity of farms, be less harmful to the environment, and even increase profits. The idea of incorporating data into farming practices is relatively new, so hopefully this article will help to explain the basic ideas behind this method. Kour, Divjot, et al. “Microbial Biofertilizers: Bioresources and Eco-Friendly Technologies for Agricultural and Environmental Sustainability.” Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology, vol. 23, Jan. 2020, p. 101487., https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcab.2019.101487. This journal article was written by Divjot Kour, a researcher at Eternal University in the Department of Biotechnology. It talks about biofertilizers, and how they are a very natural form of fertilizer that would greatly contribute to sustainable agriculture. It argues that they are the best substitute for chemical fertilizers, as it even promotes plant health and growth. This source gave me knowledge about a different type of fertilizer that would be more sustainable for the planet, and although I wasn’t able to utilize this source, it gave me more information about this topic. Moreover, it prompted me to do further research, allowing me to find other sources – such as greenhouse technology articles – adding value to my paper. Final Research Project Reflection After being in this course, one of my biggest takeaways in regard to research is that it is a process. I used to think that I could spend an hour or two researching a topic by typing a few words into Google, however, after working on the three projects and completing low-stakes assignments, I have realized that research is a lot more than that. Research is long and time-consuming, it requires the researcher to learn from both primary and secondary sources, to gain a broad general understanding that allows one to eventually find a narrow focus, and to ensure that all sources/evidence comes from reliable and credible authors. This semester, I decided to do research about sustainable agriculture (which is something I am passionate about as I would like to go into a similar field for my future career). I have learned an immense amount, specifically how the agricultural industry can utilize various forms of technology to improve sustainability in their farming practices. This gave me the chance to discover how Indigenous farming methods could be re-implemented, how new technology (such as greenhouse farming) has the power to transform farming, and how data & algorithms can create smart agriculture. Personally, I have discovered that when I can learn more about a topic that I am genuinely interested in, I don’t mind spending hours reading and researching. Moreover, I am now equipped with better methods and tools to do so. For example, this semester was the first time I took advantage of databases, and the first time that I specifically looked for journals/research papers. I have certainly grown as a writer and researcher, and I am confident that I have acquired the experience and skills that will allow my writing to flourish moving forward. |
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