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Agricultural Technology Positive Impacts: A Critical Analysis of Current Trends
Author: Dr. Anya Sharma, PhD in Agricultural Engineering and Sustainable Development, Professor at the University of California, Davis.
Publisher: Routledge, a leading academic publisher with a strong reputation in agricultural science and technology publications.
Editor: Dr. David Miller, PhD in Agricultural Economics, experienced editor with over 15 years of experience in peer-reviewed agricultural journals.
Keywords: agricultural technology positive impacts, precision agriculture, sustainable agriculture, agricultural innovation, food security, climate-smart agriculture, technological advancements in agriculture, farm technology, agricultural productivity, impact of technology on agriculture.
Abstract: This analysis explores the multifaceted positive impacts of agricultural technology, examining its current influence on global food production, environmental sustainability, and economic development. While acknowledging limitations and potential downsides, the article argues that strategically implemented agricultural technology is crucial for addressing the growing challenges of feeding a burgeoning global population while mitigating environmental damage. The analysis considers various technological advancements, their adoption rates, and their overall contribution to enhancing agricultural productivity and resilience.
1. Introduction: The Transformative Power of Agricultural Technology
The world faces an unprecedented challenge: feeding a rapidly growing population while simultaneously mitigating the environmental impacts of agriculture. Agricultural technology positive impacts are becoming increasingly critical in navigating this complex landscape. From precision farming techniques to advanced genetic modification, technological advancements are revolutionizing agricultural practices, offering the potential to dramatically increase food production, enhance resource efficiency, and promote environmental sustainability. However, realizing the full potential of agricultural technology requires a critical assessment of its impacts, considering both the benefits and potential drawbacks. This analysis delves into the positive impacts of agricultural technology, exploring its current trends and future implications.
2. Enhancing Agricultural Productivity and Efficiency
One of the most significant agricultural technology positive impacts is the dramatic increase in agricultural productivity. Precision agriculture, utilizing GPS, sensors, and data analytics, allows farmers to optimize resource allocation, targeting inputs like fertilizers and pesticides precisely where needed. This minimizes waste, reduces environmental impact, and significantly boosts yields. Similarly, advancements in irrigation technology, such as drip irrigation and water-efficient sprinklers, conserve precious water resources while maximizing crop production. The development of high-yielding crop varieties through genetic engineering and selective breeding further contributes to increased yields, meeting the growing global demand for food.
3. Mitigating Environmental Impact: Sustainable Agriculture Powered by Technology
The agricultural sector has a significant environmental footprint. However, agricultural technology positive impacts extend to mitigating this impact. Precision agriculture techniques, as discussed above, minimize the use of chemical inputs, reducing water and soil pollution. Remote sensing technologies allow for early detection of crop diseases and pests, enabling timely intervention and reducing reliance on broad-spectrum pesticides. Furthermore, advancements in renewable energy technologies are powering agricultural operations, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions. The development of climate-smart agriculture practices, supported by technological tools, enhances the resilience of agricultural systems to climate change, protecting both yields and the environment.
4. Improving Food Security and Nutrition: Addressing Global Challenges
The growing global population necessitates an equivalent increase in food production to ensure food security. Agricultural technology positive impacts are crucial in achieving this goal. Increased crop yields through technological advancements directly contribute to greater food availability. Improved post-harvest technologies, including better storage and transportation systems, reduce food spoilage and waste, making more food available for consumption. Furthermore, advancements in genetic engineering allow for the development of crops with enhanced nutritional value, addressing micronutrient deficiencies in vulnerable populations. These advancements are critical in combating malnutrition and improving public health.
5. Economic Benefits: Empowering Farmers and Boosting Rural Economies
The adoption of agricultural technology frequently leads to significant economic benefits for farmers and rural communities. Increased yields and reduced input costs translate into higher profits for farmers, improving their livelihoods and economic stability. The development of value-added agricultural products through processing technologies creates new economic opportunities, generating employment and stimulating rural economic growth. The use of technology also facilitates access to markets and information, empowering farmers to make informed decisions and participate more effectively in global agricultural value chains. This improved access empowers farmers, leading to increased financial resilience and participation in the broader economy.
6. Addressing Challenges and Limitations: A Critical Perspective
While the agricultural technology positive impacts are significant, it is crucial to acknowledge the associated challenges. The high initial investment costs of some technologies can pose a barrier to adoption for smallholder farmers. Unequal access to technology and digital literacy can exacerbate existing inequalities, creating a digital divide within the agricultural sector. Concerns regarding the long-term environmental consequences of certain technologies, such as genetically modified crops, also require careful consideration and ongoing research. Addressing these challenges necessitates policies that promote equitable access to technology, provide training and support for farmers, and prioritize environmental sustainability.
7. Current Trends and Future Outlook: Shaping the Future of Agriculture
Current trends in agricultural technology demonstrate a growing emphasis on data-driven decision-making, automation, and sustainable practices. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are increasingly used to optimize farm management, predict crop yields, and improve resource efficiency. Robotics and automation are transforming labor-intensive tasks, reducing reliance on manual labor and improving efficiency. The integration of blockchain technology is enhancing transparency and traceability within the agricultural supply chain, benefiting both consumers and producers. The future of agriculture will likely be characterized by an even greater integration of technology, creating a more efficient, sustainable, and resilient agricultural system. The agricultural technology positive impacts will only increase as these innovations mature and become more widely accessible.
8. Conclusion
The agricultural technology positive impacts are undeniable, transforming agricultural practices and offering solutions to many of the challenges facing the sector. From increasing productivity and mitigating environmental damage to enhancing food security and boosting rural economies, technology is playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of food production. However, ensuring that these benefits are realized equitably and sustainably requires a proactive approach that addresses the challenges associated with technology adoption. Policies that promote inclusive access, encourage innovation, and prioritize environmental protection will be critical in maximizing the agricultural technology positive impacts and ensuring a food-secure and sustainable future for all.
FAQs
1. What are the main types of agricultural technology impacting food production positively? Precision agriculture, genetic modification, improved irrigation techniques, mechanization, and advanced data analytics are key examples.
2. How does agricultural technology contribute to environmental sustainability? It minimizes chemical inputs, optimizes water usage, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and enables more efficient resource management.
3. What are the economic benefits of adopting agricultural technology? Increased yields, reduced costs, improved market access, and the creation of new economic opportunities are key benefits.
4. What are the challenges in implementing agricultural technology, particularly for smallholder farmers? High initial costs, lack of access, digital literacy gaps, and inadequate support systems are major barriers.
5. How can we ensure equitable access to agricultural technology? Government policies promoting subsidies, training programs, and digital literacy initiatives are crucial.
6. What is the role of AI and machine learning in modern agriculture? AI and machine learning are used for predictive analytics, automation, and optimizing resource allocation.
7. How does blockchain technology contribute to the agricultural sector? It enhances transparency and traceability throughout the food supply chain, improving safety and accountability.
8. What are the potential long-term environmental impacts of agricultural technology? While generally positive, careful monitoring and research are needed to address potential risks associated with certain technologies.
9. How can we balance the economic benefits of agricultural technology with its environmental impact? Sustainable agricultural practices and responsible technology adoption are crucial for achieving this balance.
Related Articles:
1. "Precision Agriculture: A Revolution in Sustainable Farming": Explores the principles and applications of precision agriculture, highlighting its role in optimizing resource use and reducing environmental impact.
2. "The Impact of Genetic Modification on Crop Yields and Food Security": Analyzes the contribution of genetically modified crops to increased food production and addresses common concerns.
3. "Water-Efficient Irrigation Technologies: Conserving Resources and Enhancing Crop Production": Reviews various water-saving irrigation techniques and their contribution to sustainable agriculture.
4. "The Role of Technology in Improving Post-Harvest Management and Reducing Food Waste": Examines technologies aimed at minimizing food loss during storage, processing, and transportation.
5. "Harnessing Renewable Energy in Agriculture: A Pathway to Sustainability": Discusses the use of solar, wind, and biogas energy in agricultural operations.
6. "Big Data Analytics in Agriculture: Optimizing Farm Management and Decision-Making": Explores the application of big data and analytics in improving farm efficiency and profitability.
7. "The Economic Impacts of Agricultural Technology Adoption on Smallholder Farmers": Investigates the economic benefits and challenges faced by smallholder farmers adopting new technologies.
8. "Climate-Smart Agriculture: Utilizing Technology to Enhance Resilience to Climate Change": Analyzes the role of technology in adapting agricultural systems to climate change impacts.
9. "Ethical Considerations in Agricultural Technology: Addressing Concerns about Equity and Sustainability": Examines the ethical implications of agricultural technology adoption, focusing on issues of equity, access, and environmental sustainability.
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Determining Factors and Impacts of Modern Agricultural Technology Adoption in West Wollega Merga Challa, 2014-09-16 Master's Thesis from the year 2013 in the subject Agrarian Studies, Wollega University (School of graduate studies), language: English, abstract: This study analyzed factors affecting modern agricultural technology adoption by farmers and the impact of technology adoption decision on the welfare of households in the study area. The data used for the study were obtained from 145 randomly selected sample households in the study area. Binary logit model was employed to analyze the determinants of farmers’ decisions to adopt modern technologies. Moreover, the average effect of adoption on household incomes and expenditure were estimated by using propensity score matching method. The result of the logistic regression showed that household heads’ education level, farm size, credit accessibility, perception of farmers about cost of the inputs and off-farm income positively and significantly affected the farm households’ adoption decision; while family size affected their decision negatively and significantly. The result of the propensity score matching estimation showed that the average income and consumption expenditure of adopters are greater than that of non-adopters. Based on these findings it is recommended that the zonal and the woreda leaders extension agents farm and education experts, policy makers and other development oriented organizations have to plan in such a way that the farm households in the study area will obtain sufficient education, credit accessibilities and also have to train farmers to make them understand the benefits obtained from adopting the new technologies. These bodies have also to arrange policy issues that improve farm labour participation of household members and also to arrange the ways in which farmers obtain means of income outside farming activities. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Transforming Food Systems for a Rising India Prabhu Pingali, Anaka Aiyar, Mathew Abraham, Andaleeb Rahman, 2019-05-14 This open access book examines the interactions between India’s economic development, agricultural production, and nutrition through the lens of a “Food Systems Approach (FSA).” The Indian growth story is a paradoxical one. Despite economic progress over the past two decades, regional inequality, food insecurity and malnutrition problems persist. Simultaneously, recent trends in obesity along with micro-nutrient deficiency portend to a future public health crisis. This book explores various challenges and opportunities to achieve a nutrition-secure future through diversified production systems, improved health and hygiene environment and greater individual capability to access a balanced diet contributing to an increase in overall productivity. The authors bring together the latest data and scientific evidence from the country to map out the current state of food systems and nutrition outcomes. They place India within the context of other developing country experiences and highlight India’s status as an outlier in terms of the persistence of high levels of stunting while following global trends in obesity. This book discusses the policy and institutional interventions needed for promoting a nutrition-sensitive food system and the multi-sectoral strategies needed for simultaneously addressing the triple burden of malnutrition in India. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Agricultural Technologies and Tropical Deforestation Arild Angelsen, David Kaimowitz, 2001-04-20 This book has been developed from a workshop on Technological change in agriculture and tropical deforestation organised by the Center for International Forestry Research and held in Costa Rica in March, 1999. It explores how intensification of agriculture affects tropical deforestation using case studies from different geographical regions, using different agricultural products and technologies and in differing demographic situations and market conditions. Guidance is also given on future agricultural research and extension efforts. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Agricultural Extension Reforms in South Asia Suresh Chandra Babu, P.K. Joshi, 2019-06-15 Agricultural Extension Reforms in South Asia: Status, Challenges, and Policy Options is based on agricultural extension reforms across five South Asian countries, reflecting past experiences, case studies and experiments. Beginning with an overview of historical trends and recent developments, the book then delves into country-wise reform trajectories and presents several cases testing the effectiveness of different types (public and private) and forms (nutrition extension, livestock extension) of extension systems. Further, the book provides a comprehensive overview of challenges and constraints faced in formulating and implementing reforms, tying the results into a concrete set of lessons and highlighting areas that require further research. In addition, the book discusses how a major aspect of agricultural development is the productivity increase from the knowledge base of farmers, and how translating research results into a knowledge base for farmers requires designing and implementing well-functioning extension programs. - Presents the current challenges and solutions by region, and provides insights for application in global settings - Provides key foundational information for the effective and efficient design of future intervention programs - Includes workshops and presentations based on real-world research of specific aspects of extension systems and provision of advisory and consultation services to various governments |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Estimating the impact of agricultural technology on poverty reduction in rural Nigeria Babatunde Omilola, |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Science Breakthroughs to Advance Food and Agricultural Research by 2030 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Board on Environmental Change and Society, Health and Medicine Division, Food and Nutrition Board, Division on Earth and Life Studies, Water Science and Technology Board, Board on Life Sciences, Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Committee on Science Breakthroughs 2030: A Strategy for Food and Agricultural Research, 2019-04-21 For nearly a century, scientific advances have fueled progress in U.S. agriculture to enable American producers to deliver safe and abundant food domestically and provide a trade surplus in bulk and high-value agricultural commodities and foods. Today, the U.S. food and agricultural enterprise faces formidable challenges that will test its long-term sustainability, competitiveness, and resilience. On its current path, future productivity in the U.S. agricultural system is likely to come with trade-offs. The success of agriculture is tied to natural systems, and these systems are showing signs of stress, even more so with the change in climate. More than a third of the food produced is unconsumed, an unacceptable loss of food and nutrients at a time of heightened global food demand. Increased food animal production to meet greater demand will generate more greenhouse gas emissions and excess animal waste. The U.S. food supply is generally secure, but is not immune to the costly and deadly shocks of continuing outbreaks of food-borne illness or to the constant threat of pests and pathogens to crops, livestock, and poultry. U.S. farmers and producers are at the front lines and will need more tools to manage the pressures they face. Science Breakthroughs to Advance Food and Agricultural Research by 2030 identifies innovative, emerging scientific advances for making the U.S. food and agricultural system more efficient, resilient, and sustainable. This report explores the availability of relatively new scientific developments across all disciplines that could accelerate progress toward these goals. It identifies the most promising scientific breakthroughs that could have the greatest positive impact on food and agriculture, and that are possible to achieve in the next decade (by 2030). |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Investing in People Theodore W. Schultz, Theodore William Schultz, 1982-01-01 Argues that healthy, educated people are the world's most important resource and that the world's poor have not been adequately helped by foreign aid because of the misunderstandings of donor governments |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Sustainable Intensification Jules N. Pretty, Stella Williams, Camilla Toulmin, 2012-06-25 Continued population growth, rapidly changing consumption patterns and the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation are driving limited resources of food, energy, water and materials towards critical thresholds worldwide. These pressures are likely to be substantial across Africa, where countries will have to find innovative ways to boost crop and livestock production to avoid becoming more reliant on imports and food aid. Sustainable agricultural intensification - producing more output from the same area of land while reducing the negative environmental impacts - represents a solution for millions of African farmers. This volume presents the lessons learned from 40 sustainable agricultural intensification programmes in 20 countries across Africa, commissioned as part of the UK Government's Foresight project. Through detailed case studies, the authors of each chapter examine how to develop productive and sustainable agricultural systems and how to scale up these systems to reach many more millions of people in the future. Themes covered include crop improvements, agroforestry and soil conservation, conservation agriculture, integrated pest management, horticulture, livestock and fodder crops, aquaculture, and novel policies and partnerships. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: World Development Report 2008 World Bank, 2007-10-15 The world's demand for food is expected to double within the next 50 years, while the natural resources that sustain agriculture will become increasingly scarce, degraded, and vulnerable to the effects of climate change. In many poor countries, agriculture accounts for at least 40 percent of GDP and 80 percent of employment. At the same time, about 70 percent of the world's poor live in rural areas and most depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. 'World Development Report 2008' seeks to assess where, when, and how agriculture can be an effective instrument for economic development, especially development that favors the poor. It examines several broad questions: How has agriculture changed in developing countries in the past 20 years? What are the important new challenges and opportunities for agriculture? Which new sources of agricultural growth can be captured cost effectively in particular in poor countries with large agricultural sectors as in Africa? How can agricultural growth be made more effective for poverty reduction? How can governments facilitate the transition of large populations out of agriculture, without simply transferring the burden of rural poverty to urban areas? How can the natural resource endowment for agriculture be protected? How can agriculture's negative environmental effects be contained? This year's report marks the 30th year the World Bank has been publishing the 'World Development Report'. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Food and Agriculture in Ethiopia Paul Dorosh, Shahidur Rashid, 2013-02-11 The perception of Ethiopia projected in the media is often one of chronic poverty and hunger, but this bleak assessment does not accurately reflect most of the country today. Ethiopia encompasses a wide variety of agroecologies and peoples. Its agriculture sector, economy, and food security status are equally complex. In fact, since 2001 the per capita income in certain rural areas has risen by more than 50 percent, and crop yields and availability have also increased. Higher investments in roads and mobile phone technology have led to improved infrastructure and thereby greater access to markets, commodities, services, and information. In Food and Agriculture in Ethiopia: Progress and Policy Challenges, Paul Dorosh and Shahidur Rashid, along with other experts, tell the story of Ethiopia's political, economic, and agricultural transformation. The book is designed to provide empirical evidence to shed light on the complexities of agricultural and food policy in today's Ethiopia, highlight major policies and interventions of the past decade, and provide insights into building resilience to natural disasters and food crises. It examines the key issues, constraints, and opportunities that are likely to shape a food-secure future in Ethiopia, focusing on land quality, crop production, adoption of high-quality seed and fertilizer, and household income. Students, researchers, policy analysts, and decisionmakers will find this book a useful overview of Ethiopia's political, economic, and agricultural transformation as well as a resource for major food policy issues in Ethiopia. Contributors: Dawit Alemu, Guush Berhane, Jordan Chamberlin, Sarah Coll-Black, Paul Dorosh, Berhanu Gebremedhin, Sinafikeh Asrat Gemessa, Daniel O. Gilligan, John Graham, Kibrom Tafere Hirfrfot, John Hoddinott, Adam Kennedy, Neha Kumar, Mehrab Malek, Linden McBride, Dawit Kelemework Mekonnen, Asfaw Negassa, Shahidur Rashid, Emily Schmidt, David Spielman, Alemayehu Seyoum Taffesse, Seneshaw Tamiru, James Thurlow, William Wiseman. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Land Use Competition Jörg Niewöhner, Antje Bruns, Patrick Hostert, Tobias Krueger, Jonas Ø. Nielsen, Helmut Haberl, Christian Lauk, Juliana Lutz, Daniel Müller, 2016-07-29 This book contributes to broadening the interdisciplinary knowledge basis for the description, analysis and assessment of land use practices. It presents conceptual advances grounded in empirical case studies on four main themes: distal drivers, competing demands on different scales, changing food regimes and land-water competition. Competition over land ownership and use is one of the key contexts in which the effects of global change on social-ecological systems unfold. As such, understanding these rapidly changing dynamics is one of the most pressing challenges of global change research in the 21st century. This book contributes to a deeper understanding of the manifold interactions between land systems, the economics of resource production, distribution and use, as well as the logics of local livelihoods and cultural contexts. It addresses a broad readership in the geosciences, land and environmental sciences, offering them an essential reference guide to land use competition. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Poverty in the Philippines Asian Development Bank, 2009-12-01 Against the backdrop of the global financial crisis and rising food, fuel, and commodity prices, addressing poverty and inequality in the Philippines remains a challenge. The proportion of households living below the official poverty line has declined slowly and unevenly in the past four decades, and poverty reduction has been much slower than in neighboring countries such as the People's Republic of China, Indonesia, Thailand, and Viet Nam. Economic growth has gone through boom and bust cycles, and recent episodes of moderate economic expansion have had limited impact on the poor. Great inequality across income brackets, regions, and sectors, as well as unmanaged population growth, are considered some of the key factors constraining poverty reduction efforts. This publication analyzes the causes of poverty and recommends ways to accelerate poverty reduction and achieve more inclusive growth. it also provides an overview of current government responses, strategies, and achievements in the fight against poverty and identifies and prioritizes future needs and interventions. The analysis is based on current literature and the latest available data, including the 2006 Family Income and Expenditure Survey. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Technology N.S. Siddharthan, K. Narayanan, 2016-09-01 This volume deals with the role and impact of technology on the economy and society. The papers on corporate dimensions address the impact of patents, determinants of innovative activities, differential behaviour of multinationals, industrial groups and other firms with regard to innovations and technology. In contrast, the papers on social dimensions chiefly deal with the role of technology in reducing inequality. The majority of the papers employ econometric techniques and other statistical methods, and many are based on primary data. The studies emphasise the importance of innovations (especially patents) and human capital in influencing productivity across Indian states, the significance of patenting in determining the efficiency of firms, the role of business groups in promoting innovations, differences in the technological characteristics of multinational and domestic firms, and how mergers and acquisitions can promote R&D. The papers on social dimensions analyse how innovative activities can shape employment, the impact of technology on poverty, the socioeconomic characteristics of mobile phone ownerships, use of information and communications technologies at educational institutions, and the influence of Synchronous Technologies in reducing access to teaching programmes./div The studies show that those Indian states that have invested in human capital and technology experienced higher labour productivity. Further, the studies establish a positive correlation between R&D spending and employment. Lastly, they demonstrate that the adoption of agriculture-related technologies can have a significant impact on rural poverty and consumption expenditures. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: The Fourth Industrial Revolution Klaus Schwab, 2017-01-03 World-renowned economist Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, explains that we have an opportunity to shape the fourth industrial revolution, which will fundamentally alter how we live and work. Schwab argues that this revolution is different in scale, scope and complexity from any that have come before. Characterized by a range of new technologies that are fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds, the developments are affecting all disciplines, economies, industries and governments, and even challenging ideas about what it means to be human. Artificial intelligence is already all around us, from supercomputers, drones and virtual assistants to 3D printing, DNA sequencing, smart thermostats, wearable sensors and microchips smaller than a grain of sand. But this is just the beginning: nanomaterials 200 times stronger than steel and a million times thinner than a strand of hair and the first transplant of a 3D printed liver are already in development. Imagine “smart factories” in which global systems of manufacturing are coordinated virtually, or implantable mobile phones made of biosynthetic materials. The fourth industrial revolution, says Schwab, is more significant, and its ramifications more profound, than in any prior period of human history. He outlines the key technologies driving this revolution and discusses the major impacts expected on government, business, civil society and individuals. Schwab also offers bold ideas on how to harness these changes and shape a better future—one in which technology empowers people rather than replaces them; progress serves society rather than disrupts it; and in which innovators respect moral and ethical boundaries rather than cross them. We all have the opportunity to contribute to developing new frameworks that advance progress. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Evaluating the adoption and impacts of agricultural technologies Francisco Areal, Valerien Pede, 2023-12-18 |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Agricultural Biotechnology Margriet F. Caswell, Keith Owen Fuglie, Cassandra A. Klotz, 1994 Describes the economic, scientific, and social factors that will influence the future of biotechnology in agriculture. Shows that both private and public sector R&D are contributing significantly to the development of biotechnologies. A review of 23 published studies on the subject. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: The Impact of New Agricultural Technology on Income Distribution in the Nepalese Tarai Ganesh B. Thapa, 1989 |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Agricultural extension: Global status and performance in selected countries Davis, Kristin E., ed., Babu, Suresh Chandra, ed., Ragasa, Catherine, ed., 2020-09-02 Agricultural transformation and development are critical to the livelihoods of more than a billion small-scale farmers and other rural people in developing countries. Extension and advisory services play an important role in such transformation and can assist farmers with advice and information, brokering and facilitating innovations and relationships, and dealing with risks and disasters. Agricultural Extension: Global Status and Performance in Selected Countries provides a global overview of agricultural extension and advisory services, assesses and compares extension systems at the national and regional levels, examines the performance of extension approaches in a selected set of country cases, and shares lessons and policy insights. Drawing on both primary and secondary data, the book contributes to the literature on extension by applying a common and comprehensive framework — the “best-fit” approach — to assessments of extension systems, which allows for comparison across cases and geographies. Insights from the research support reforms — in governance, capacity, management, and advisory methods — to improve outcomes, enhance financial sustainability, and achieve greater scale. Agricultural Extension should be a valuable resource for policymakers, extension practitioners, and others concerned with agricultural development. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Adoption of Agricultural Production Practices , 2001 |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Drawdown Paul Hawken, 2017-04-18 • New York Times bestseller • The 100 most substantive solutions to reverse global warming, based on meticulous research by leading scientists and policymakers around the world “At this point in time, the Drawdown book is exactly what is needed; a credible, conservative solution-by-solution narrative that we can do it. Reading it is an effective inoculation against the widespread perception of doom that humanity cannot and will not solve the climate crisis. Reported by-effects include increased determination and a sense of grounded hope.” —Per Espen Stoknes, Author, What We Think About When We Try Not To Think About Global Warming “There’s been no real way for ordinary people to get an understanding of what they can do and what impact it can have. There remains no single, comprehensive, reliable compendium of carbon-reduction solutions across sectors. At least until now. . . . The public is hungry for this kind of practical wisdom.” —David Roberts, Vox “This is the ideal environmental sciences textbook—only it is too interesting and inspiring to be called a textbook.” —Peter Kareiva, Director of the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA In the face of widespread fear and apathy, an international coalition of researchers, professionals, and scientists have come together to offer a set of realistic and bold solutions to climate change. One hundred techniques and practices are described here—some are well known; some you may have never heard of. They range from clean energy to educating girls in lower-income countries to land use practices that pull carbon out of the air. The solutions exist, are economically viable, and communities throughout the world are currently enacting them with skill and determination. If deployed collectively on a global scale over the next thirty years, they represent a credible path forward, not just to slow the earth’s warming but to reach drawdown, that point in time when greenhouse gases in the atmosphere peak and begin to decline. These measures promise cascading benefits to human health, security, prosperity, and well-being—giving us every reason to see this planetary crisis as an opportunity to create a just and livable world. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: A framework for conceptualizing impact assessment and promoting impact culture in agricultural research , |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: The Application of Modern Agricultural Technology International Labour Office, 1991 |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: The Pig Book Citizens Against Government Waste, 2013-09-17 The federal government wastes your tax dollars worse than a drunken sailor on shore leave. The 1984 Grace Commission uncovered that the Department of Defense spent $640 for a toilet seat and $436 for a hammer. Twenty years later things weren't much better. In 2004, Congress spent a record-breaking $22.9 billion dollars of your money on 10,656 of their pork-barrel projects. The war on terror has a lot to do with the record $413 billion in deficit spending, but it's also the result of pork over the last 18 years the likes of: - $50 million for an indoor rain forest in Iowa - $102 million to study screwworms which were long ago eradicated from American soil - $273,000 to combat goth culture in Missouri - $2.2 million to renovate the North Pole (Lucky for Santa!) - $50,000 for a tattoo removal program in California - $1 million for ornamental fish research Funny in some instances and jaw-droppingly stupid and wasteful in others, The Pig Book proves one thing about Capitol Hill: pork is king! |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Environmental Effects of Transgenic Plants National Research Council, Division on Earth and Life Studies, Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources, Committee on Environmental Impacts Associated with Commercialization of Transgenic Plants, 2002-02-22 Transgenic crops offer the promise of increased agricultural productivity and better quality foods. But they also raise the specter of harmful environmental effects. In this new book, a panel of experts examines: • Similarities and differences between crops developed by conventional and transgenic methods • Potential for commercialized transgenic crops to change both agricultural and nonagricultural landscapes • How well the U.S. government is regulating transgenic crops to avoid any negative effects. Environmental Effects of Transgenic Plants provides a wealth of information about transgenic processes, previous experience with the introduction of novel crops, principles of risk assessment and management, the science behind current regulatory schemes, issues in monitoring transgenic products already on the market, and more. The book discusses public involvementâ€and public confidenceâ€in biotechnology regulation. And it looks to the future, exploring the potential of genetic engineering and the prospects for environmental effects. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Combined effects and synergies between agricultural and social protection interventions: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2018-10-22 This publication identifies interactions between agricultural and social protection interventions and shows the positive impacts of combined programmes on income diversification, food security and poverty reduction. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Farm Profits and Adoption of Precision Agriculture U.s. Department of Agriculture, 2017-02-15 Precision agriculture (PA) and its suite of information technologies-such as soil and yield mapping using a global positioning system (GPS), GPS tractor guidance systems, and variable-rate input application-allow farm operators to fine-tune their production practices. Access to detailed, within-field information can decrease input costs and increase yields. USDA's Agricultural Resource Management Survey shows that these PA technologies were used on roughly 30 to 50 percent of U.S. corn and soybean acres in 2010-12. Previous studies suggest that use of PA is associated with higher profits under certain conditions, but aggregate estimates of these gains have not been available. In this report, a treatment-effects model is developed to estimate factors associated with PA technology adoption rates and the impacts of adoption on profits. Labor and machinery used in production and certain farm characteristics, like farm size, are associated with adoption as well as with two profit measures, net returns and operating profits. The impact of these PA technologies on profits for U.S. corn producers is positive, but small. Keywords: Crop production information technologies, precision agriculture, variablerate technology, soil tests, global positioning system maps, guidance systems. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Advancing the Science of Climate Change National Research Council, Division on Earth and Life Studies, Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, America's Climate Choices: Panel on Advancing the Science of Climate Change, 2011-01-10 Climate change is occurring, is caused largely by human activities, and poses significant risks for-and in many cases is already affecting-a broad range of human and natural systems. The compelling case for these conclusions is provided in Advancing the Science of Climate Change, part of a congressionally requested suite of studies known as America's Climate Choices. While noting that there is always more to learn and that the scientific process is never closed, the book shows that hypotheses about climate change are supported by multiple lines of evidence and have stood firm in the face of serious debate and careful evaluation of alternative explanations. As decision makers respond to these risks, the nation's scientific enterprise can contribute through research that improves understanding of the causes and consequences of climate change and also is useful to decision makers at the local, regional, national, and international levels. The book identifies decisions being made in 12 sectors, ranging from agriculture to transportation, to identify decisions being made in response to climate change. Advancing the Science of Climate Change calls for a single federal entity or program to coordinate a national, multidisciplinary research effort aimed at improving both understanding and responses to climate change. Seven cross-cutting research themes are identified to support this scientific enterprise. In addition, leaders of federal climate research should redouble efforts to deploy a comprehensive climate observing system, improve climate models and other analytical tools, invest in human capital, and improve linkages between research and decisions by forming partnerships with action-oriented programs. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Adopting Improved Farm Technology Rafael Celis, J. T. Milimo, Sudhir Wanmali, 1991 The physical, institutional and policy environment; The determinants and effects of technology adoption; Determinants of other factors influencing technology adoption. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Agri-Food 4.0 Rahul S. Mor, Dinesh Kumar, Anupama Singh, 2022-03-28 Agri-Food 4.0: Innovations, Challenges and Strategies addresses new research on digital technologies in the Agri-Food industry, including smart packaging, smart warehousing, effective inventory control, blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, and other Industry 4.0 concepts. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Green-revolution and Its Impacts Mahesh V. Joshi, 1999 |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations for 1995: Secretary of State United States. Congress. House. Committee on Appropriations. Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs, 1994 |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Agricultural Development in China and Africa Xiaoyun Li, 2012 First Published in 2011. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Technological Progress and the Transformation of China’s Economic Development Mode Wen Xiao, 2020-10-01 This book explores how technological progress accelerates the transformation of economic development by adopting a fundamental logical approach to technological progress, intensive inputs, and promotion of productive efficiency to transformation of economic development. It investigates the internal mechanisms and the choice of corresponding modes that initiate technological progress to accelerate the transformation of economic development at three basic research levels: micro-enterprise level, mid-industry level and macro-economy level. Based on the above research, the book summarizes four dimensions facilitating the transformation: agricultural intensification, new industrialization, modernization of the service industry and the advanced manufacturing industry, and linkage of the modern service industry. This book is especially valuable in its hierarchical categorization covering theoretical, empirical, industrial and strategic exploration. On one hand, it analyzes the mechanisms and approaches influencing the transformation of economic development driven by technological progress from both theoretical and empirical perspectives. On the other hand, based on the introduction of advanced international experiences, it probes into the guarantee basis for the strategic implementation and the corresponding mode choices of the transformations. Furthermore, it offers specific policy proposals from both the macro level of how technological progress promotes the transformation of economic development and the micro level covering the agricultural, industrial and service industries. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Agricultural Investment and Productivity Randall Bluffstone, Gunnar Köhlin, 2012-08-21 Agricultural Investment and Productivity provides a deep and systematic look at the opportunities for and constraints to investments in sustainable agriculture in East Africa, offering important insights into what works and how to analyze agricultural investments in one of the poorest regions of the world. The book critically examines the reasons behind East Africa's stagnant agricultural productivity over the past forty-five years, using the primary lens of investments in fertilizers, seeds, and sustainable land management technologies, These investments have a tremendous impact on production volume, ultimately affecting the income of millions of families throughout the region. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Advances in Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Algorithms G. Grigoras, P. Lorenz, 2023-12-19 Computers and automation have revolutionized the lives of most people in the last two decades, and terminology such as algorithms, big data and artificial intelligence have become part of our everyday discourse. This book presents the proceedings of CAIBDA 2023, the 3rd International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and Algorithms, held from 16 - 18 June 2023 as a hybrid conference in Zhengzhou, China. The conference provided a platform for some 200 participants to discuss the theoretical and computational aspects of research in artificial intelligence, big data and algorithms, reviewing the present status and future perspectives of the field. A total of 362 submissions were received for the conference, of which 148 were accepted following a thorough double-blind peer review. Topics covered at the conference included artificial intelligence tools and applications; intelligent estimation and classification; representation formats for multimedia big data; high-performance computing; and mathematical and computer modeling, among others. The book provides a comprehensive overview of this fascinating field, exploring future scenarios and highlighting areas where new ideas have emerged over recent years. It will be of interest to all those whose work involves artificial intelligence, big data and algorithms. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: China's Economic Development Lee Pei May, 2024-06-21 Through a rigorous examination of “China’s rise”, Lee addresses an important question—Did China catch up? Or more specifically, can growth be automatically translated to catching up with the advanced industrialised countries or has it only allowed limited progress (if any) to be made? To answer these queries and the broader question of the possibility of the Global South converging with the Global North, four development theories are utilised, with competing explanations, to uncover the complexity and multifaceted development of China. This includes whether China really has a unique developmental model to offer. Positioning China within the global economy, this book traces its developmental progress over time as well as its progress relative to other countries. To understand whether the Chinese political economy is socialist (or not), Lee moves away from the orthodox definition of socialism and instead examines the official narrative of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. Lastly, this book argues that though China is catching up, challenges that could potentially block China’s progress for a full catch‐up are to be anticipated. A useful resource for students and scholars in the fields of international relations, international political economy, Chinese studies, and development studies. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Impact of Smallholders' Access to Land and Credit Markets on Technology Adoption and Land Use Decisions Nunung Nuryartono, 2005 |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: The Domestication and Exploitation of Plants and Animals G. W. Dimbleby, 2017-07-12 The domestication of plants and animals was one of the greatest steps forward taken by mankind. Although it was first achieved long ago, we still need to know what led to it and how, and even when, it took place. Only when we have this understanding will we be able to appreciate fully the important social and economic consequences of this step. Even more important, an understanding of this achievement is basic to any insight into modern man's relationship to his habitat. In the last decade or two a change in methods of investigating these events has taken place, due to the mutual realization by archaeologists and natural scientists that each held part of the key and neither alone had the whole. Inevitably, perhaps, the floodgate that was opened has resulted in a spate of new knowledge, which is scattered in the form of specialist reports in diverse journals. This volume results from presentations at the Institute of Archaeology, London University, discussing the domestication and exploitation of plants and animals. Workers in the archaeological, anthropological, and biological fields attempted to bridge the gap between their respective disciplines through personal contact and discussion. Modern techniques and the result of their application to the classical problems of domestication, selection, and spread of cereals and of cattle were discussed, but so were comparable problems in plants and animals not previously considered in this context. Although there were differing opinions on taxonomic classification, the editors have standardized and simplified the usage throughout this book. In particular, they have omitted references to authorities and adopted the binomial classification for both botanical and zoological names. They followed this procedure in all cases except where sub-specific differences are discussed and also standardized orthography of sites. |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: The Future of Agricultural Technologies Stewart Lockie, Kate Fairley-Grenot, Rachel Ankeny, Linda Botterill, Alex McBratney, Elspeth Probyn, Tania Sorrell, Salah Sukkarieh, Ian Woodhead, 2020-07-31 |
| agricultural technology positive impacts: Development Centre Studies A New Rural Development Paradigm for the 21st Century A Toolkit for Developing Countries OECD, 2016-04-01 Three billion people live in rural areas in developing countries. Conditions for them are worse than for their urban counterparts when measured by almost any development indicator, from extreme poverty, to child mortality and access to electricity and sanitation. |
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