High pressure on agriculture requires innovation
Agriculture is currently under intense pressure. Climate policies, fiercely competitive markets and the effects of the corona crisis are forcing farmers to adjust operations and extract optimal value from harvests. At the same time, the industry is also on the move, with new technologies offering solutions to current challenges. Read how innovation is making agriculture future-proof here.
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Nitrogen policy
Besides construction and industry, agriculture and livestock are under pressure to reduce nitrogen emissions. This means new regulations are coming into force that force farmers to think differently about their process. Arable farmers have many new rules on manure processing and use. Livestock farmers face barn modifications and feed restrictions. This gives farmers the challenge of using resources more efficiently.
Land is restricted
Agricultural land is being attacked from two sides. From the left comes biodiversity and forests and nature reserves are given priority. From the right comes housing and industrialisation. As a result of both greening and petrification, the space available to the agricultural sector is becoming smaller and smaller. As a result, agriculture is faced with the challenge of making better use of the limited space.
Corona
Despite agriculture holding its own in the corona crisis, the impact of the measures is also felt in this sector. In the aftermath of the crisis, agricultural growth will decline 0.7% this year and there was a negative price trend of about 4% by 2020. As international trade came to a standstill, agricultural companies turned to national and local sales. As long as uncertainty remains, it is important for farmers to remain flexible.
Innovation
The current landscape thus calls for more efficient use of resources, optimal use of land and a flexible supply chain. Fortunately, the agricultural sector is also quite evolving and subject to innovation. New technology makes it possible to tackle the issues of the time.
Sensors and satellite imagery enable increasingly efficient seeding and feeding of crops, reducing waste. GPS techniques and robotised tractors and drones can utilise land precisely down to the square metre, making more optimal use of available land. Finally, Product tracking software and Controlled traffic farming make it possible to move quickly in a changing market without losing sight of the crop and extra transport costs.
Software
Although most developments take place in the field of hardware, such as drones, robots and sensors, software should certainly not be missing. The right software in agriculture ensures that the farmer remains in control of the technology and can monitor and adjust everything. Customised software ensures that the farmer himself can determine how the hardware is controlled.
