In most nations, agriculture is considered the backbone of the economy. This statement is due to agriculture’s critical role in food production, employment, and boosting other sectors such as export.
Besides these benefits, it is notable that agriculture does not get much glory and attention in most nations. The limited priority given to agriculture has led to a declining agricultural sector in these countries.
There is limited knowledge about agricultural practices and activities in the agricultural sector. The only way to boost and promote agriculture is by disseminating most facts about agriculture globally and locally. Here are some facts to note about global agricultural activities.
Agriculture is Moving to Sustainability
Sustainability is one of the main commitments for every sector in the 21st century, and agriculture is at the forefront in promising and delivering this commitment. This involves various sustainable practices that are climate-friendly.
One sector playing a central role in the change is the global soy farmers, who understand the key role of sustainability in production and consumer protection.
Currently, U.S. soybean farmers and producers are integrating different agricultural technologies and innovations with a commitment to boost technology as an integral driver of sustainability. This includes using A.I., IoT, and big data to streamline supply chain practices to promote sustainability. Due to this commitment, U.S. soy farming practices aim to be the global leader in promoting sustainable agriculture.
Farmers are the Biggest Employers
A vast population of the world works in the agricultural sector. The agricultural industry is more than the farmers and producers alone; it involves all the global agricultural supply chain participants. This includes farmers, machine operators, logistics teams, processing companies, wholesalers, retailers, and all those involved in moving foods from farms to end consumers.
The sector also employs other stakeholders, such as laboratories involved in various activities such as fertilizers, herbicides, seed manufacturing, and creation. Besides being the largest global employer, it is also the backbone of major economies since no economy can survive without food and employment from the sector.
Plant Agriculture Could Help Curb Pollution
Crop farming, especially soy farming, could help solve the problem of pollution contributed to by livestock farming. Livestock contributes to climatic pollution due to the impact of methane gasses, one of the leading causes of ozone layer degradation.
Animal farming directly contributes to the challenge of green gasses. Other practices, such as ranching and open grazing, contribute to crop and vegetation layer destruction due to overfeeding and animal movement.
Soy is an ideal replacement since it has a high protein concentration worth replacing animal protein such as beef. Due to the current sustainability practices, green gas emission from soy farming is also greatly declining, making soy farming an ideal source of sustainable protein to replace animal farming.
Organic Farming Still Lags Behind
Organic farming must be at the forefront if farmers want to contend with the changing climatic situation. However, this is still lagging due to limited awareness and information availability.
Small-scale farmers are indeed more likely to practice organic farming than large-scale farmers. Large-scale farmers heavily rely on machinery and chemicals, making it hard to move to organic farming.
Technology Is the Future of Agriculture
The future is the technology and will be the key driver to all the practices. Whether large or small scale, agricultural farming in the future will be highly committed to technology. Technology will cover all aspects of agriculture, from planting to harvesting and food preservation.
For a long time, agriculture was largely driven by big machinery; however, in the future, agriculture will be driven by smart technologies with A.I., IoT, and big data controlling everything.
Mixed Farming Can Transform Agriculture
Most farmers will likely plant one crop on a field over periods and rely on fertilizers to boost soil fertility and chemicals to control pests. Instead of relying on extensive use of chemicals, the move to mixed agriculture could help control and boost soil fertility and pest control practices.\
Mixed farming could transform agricultural practices in various ways, including protecting soil erosion and crops acting as windbreakers to protect crops from damage. Regardless of the scale, all farmers must increase mixed agricultural farming practices.
Average Farmers Are Elderly
A notable fact is the number of teens involved in agriculture, especially large-scale agriculture. In most cases, it is elderly people who are involved in different types of agriculture, such as livestock, birds, and crop agriculture, that contribute to the global food basket.
Due to such concerns, nations must boost knowledge awareness to encourage youths to move to agriculture to boost global production. This can help enhance nations’ economies, such as export volumes and create new employment opportunities.
Climatic Change Is a Threat to Agriculture
The greatest threat to global farming is climatic change. This is because most farmers depend on weather-controlled activities such as rain, sunshine, and other conditions, making agriculture vulnerable to climate.
Extreme climatic changes are currently changing seasonal agricultural practices and agriculture volumes. Therefore, it is necessary to foster and implement measures to move away from weather-dependent agriculture to other indoor and vertical farming practices.
Conclusion
Farmers are essential for every economy since they are the biggest employers, directly or indirectly. They create economic value by streamlining and boosting sectors such as exports, logistics, and other activities.
From embracing technology to fostering sustainable practices, farmers and producers are at the forefront of ensuring food security and shaping the future of agriculture.
