What is tech used for
- producing more with less (efficientcy) e.g. precision ag
- to produce what consumers want or need
- monitoring and enhancing social and natural capitals
- monitoring and investing in less risky global systems (insurance etc.)
- improving processes and reducing waste and maintaining values
what are precision ag techs
DEF: a data-driven farm management system, idea or concept.
uses appropriate tech to increase efficiency using observations and data. Reduce costs of input and enviro impacts
- data-driven, digitised
- enhance production activities
- using geographic infor systems, remote sensing, drones, image analysis, rapid soil analytical techniques, robotics for ag
What are new genetic biotechnologies doing?
- improve diversity by enhancing selection of traits, deleting unwanted genes, silencing disease-cauusing genes, multiplying beneficial genes,
Explain how post-production technologies work
- reduce food waste and loss using tech to store food
- new transportation and distribution tech = more efficient
- reduce man-labour/ aid in human activities
what is digital farming
DEF: methods of precision ag, smart farming and networking of ag activities used to increase efficiency and productivity
- beneficial bc constant monitoring and optimisation of inputs = increased efficiency
what are some components of precision ag
- data modelling
- Control (robotics)
- remote sensing (drones etc)
- social media
- visualisation
- predictive mapping
- genomic/omics tech
- computing power
flow of precision ag
- Data collected
- control - using robotics to change
- comms - marketing, social media
- modelling
how is precisison ag being used for crop production
- conventional agronomy
- paddock level management - soil quality
- farm level management - assess variability at the farm level
- catchment level management - regions for revegetation (dryness)
What are some technologies involved in PA
- Variable rate technology
- controlled traffic farming (CTF)
- yield mapping
- real time kinetic guidance (RTK)
- Normalised difference vegetation index mapping (NDVI)
benefits of PA
- yield increase
- quality increase
- cost savings
- more targeted application of input
- enhance implementation
qualitative: - less stress
- reduced fatigue
What are the drivers of increased PA
- inherent variation in soil types in agro-ecological zones
- seasonality of input prices
- choice of technology
- monitoring and managing variability between operators
- variability in climate
ads vs dis of ground robots
ADS:
- large saving in labour and input costs
- integrated with exisiting methods and equipment
- tasks require little supervision
- powerful and durable
- wider data collection possible
DIS:
- price
- still experimental and unpredictable
- repair and maintenance not available yet
What is smart farming
combining PA and digital tech, and removing traditional farming inputs such as land and soil
- uses alt to natural resources for traditional ag
e.g vertical farming, automated growing systems
- maximises space/land use
what is protective farming
- fully automated, in greenhouses usually
- no one enters greenhouses - computer controlled
- sterilised soils
- no pest control needed
What is the sundrop system?
using the sun’s energy to produce freshwater for irrigation. Then turning energy into electricity to power greenhouses and cooling crops
what are new generation crops
DEF: crops generated using new genetic or breeding technologies
Designing crops with special and desirable traits:
- increased resistant genes, protein expression against pests, inhibition of disease, increased quality, fitness, tolerance to competition
Define transgenesis, cisgenesis and intragenesis
Trans - Transfer of genetic material from an un-related organism
Cis - transfer of genetic material from closely-related organism, transfer of genetic material from the same organism
What is DNA editing
DEF: technologies that modify an organism’s DNA
- involves cutting enzymes
What is the CRISPR - Cas Sytem
Clustered Regularly Interspaced Palindromic Repeats
Cas = several bacterial dsDNA endonucleases
- started in 2002
- 2012 firs patent application
- 2013 first editing in humans
What is gene editing used for
- reduce allergens
- make food healthier -> remove elements
- increase growth rate
- Increase yeild
- increase resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses
- appearance
- increase shelf life
Facts:
- 71% more food, 87% less meat and 55% less resources needed in 2050
How is plant-based meat made
non-animal protein + Haeme + nutrients + Binders (xanthan) = plant-based meat
