SPECIAL FEATURE
The technologies transforming agriculture
Cellular agriculture The production of agricultural products from cell cultures using biotechnology, tissue
Synthetic biology A field of science that involves redesigning organisms for useful purposes by engineering them to solve problems in medicine, manufacturing and agriculture.
Nanotechnology Science, engineering and technology conducted at the nanoscale, or the study and application of extremely small things.
Robotics and drones Design, manufacture and use of robots and drones.
engineering, molecular biology and synthetic biology.
Blockchain A secure, decentralized and transparent way of recording and sharing data, with no need to rely on third-party intermediaries.
Computer vision A field of AI that trains computers to interpret and understand the visual world.
Gene-editing technology A group of technologies that give scientists the ability to edit an organism’s DNA. CRISPR is the most commonly used technology to edit genes.
Artificial Intelligence Computers that can recognize complex patterns, process information, draw conclusions and make recommendations.
Internet of Things Describes the idea of everyday items – from medical wearables that monitor users’ physical condition to cars and tracking devices inserted into parcels – being connected to the internet and identifiable by other devices.
3D printing Allows manufacturing businesses to print their own parts, with less tooling, at a lower cost and faster than traditional processes.
Machine learning An application of AI that provides systems with the ability to automatically learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed.
Virtual reality Offers immersive digital experiences that simulate the real world.
guesswork in farming, smart agriculture enables crops to reach their full genetic potential without the excessive use of chemical inputs. Biotechnology is another field that continues to make breakthroughs. Advances in seed science are making crops more resistant to drought, pests and infestation, boosting agricultural productivity and increasing the resilience of food producers to environmental shocks. These are fundamental and complex changes. The word revolution does not appear out of place. A study by the
Tony Blair Institute for Global Change on “Technology to Feed the World” says: “The interconnected nature and complexity of the food system highlights the need to take a systems approach to food policy, where any intervention or innovation is evaluated across multiple elements.” This means that technology cannot simply be applied, according to an “anything goes” approach. Considering the global challenges and the agri- sector’s universal responsibility, policy is key: Decision makers must identify the opportunities these innovations
present, uncover unintended consequences, assess the maturity, feasibility and transformative potential of new technologies and applications and identify barriers to successfully implementing innovations globally and at scale. Modern food systems must provide proper health and nutrition, deliver economic opportunities and growth and promote environmental sustainability. The technology to feed the world will soon be available. It is a question of political will to make it happen for everyone.
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