The Science of Agriculture

‍The world is changing, and so is the way we produce food. As a result, farmers have become more innovative and interconnected in their approaches to agriculture. In an increasingly competitive market, companies are looking out for the highest bidder — or the lowest risk. And that means innovating new ways to grow food efficiently and sustainably. The result? More farmers alike, which is great news for our shoppers and bad news for farmers who can’t compete with big agribusinesses on price. Efficiency isn’t innate to any one form of agriculture — it depends on how you view it. When we talk about agriculture, we usually think of traditional methods like permaculture and rainforest resale as examples of planned rural settlement. But this thinking overlooks the potential of small-scale agriculture for soil health and food security.

What is agriculture?

Aids to agriculture are likely to be small-scale and agricultural, particularly if you consider the environmental and social factors that make up modern agriculture. The inheriting traits of agriculture, like soil fertility, have developed over time through complex interactions among plant and soil components. The adoption of a new method typically entails small adjustments to existing practices, but the process can be much more difficult due to the inherent limitations in traditional agriculture.

Why is agriculture so difficult to adopt new means of production?

The main reason agriculture has been difficult to adopt new means of production is the lack of interest in agriculture among scientists and engineers. Most of the tools and methods that we have today were developed by farmers and were only recently made available to scientists and engineers. The reason? To ensure the viability of traditional agriculture, scientists needed reliable and affordable inputs to increase productivity and promote a healthy environment. They also needed reliable, affordable books to teach them how to use those inputs.

How to adapt and thrive in a changing world

The advent of sustainable agriculture and food production systems has challenged traditional understandings of agriculture. In fact, it has challenged basic assumptions about the relationship between science and agriculture. In his classic work The New Food Economy, the American food science expert Michael Pollan discussed how consumer demand for fresh fruits and vegetables has challenged belief in the importance of agriculture. In a recent report, the World Wide Fund for Food called for a shift in agricultural culture to one based on “a culture of ecological sustainability” in order to “conquer hunger and hunger-related diseases.” This shift of perspective comes as no surprise since food is one of the most important inputs to the global economy. It also comes as no secret that the average home in the US uses some type of fresh produce at least once a week. We can’t expect everyone to adopt our modern, healthy, and low-impact lifestyles as they are. The best we can do is try to make the most of the advantages of small-scale agriculture and to make the most of the advantages of sustainable production. That’s how to adapt and thrive in a changing world.