Agriculture does not only mean ranching and farming. Just like any other product, farm products also have several stages through which it must go through until it reaches your table. Farms, ranches, feedlots, orchards, vineyards, and all other similar locations are just the production sector of agriculture. After the food is produced in the farm lands, it has to go through food processing, packaging, transporting, preserving and marketing of these products, and there are many businesses associated with all these activities.
A survey shows that the number of farms in the USA has declined since the 1940 today, but the number of businesses involved in one way or other with agriculture has increased. From farm to table, there are several issues involved. The food produced in farms needs to be safe and goes through regulations, inspections, and government monitoring. it is not only the safety concerns, it is also the impact on environment and consumption of natural resources such as air, water, soil, etc. there is also some energy needed and carbon produced when processing, packaging, transporting , preserving or marketing farm products.
Agriculture is not just food, but also reducing negative impacts on the environment and plays a great role when expanding the reusable energy source industry. Reusable power business is also going to be an agriculture base business in the future because sustainability and agriculture has become almost synonymous today.
Environmental science, ecology and economy all are tied together in sustainability. Today, whenever you hear about green business or sustainable products, you do not have to worry about sacrificing your favorite product quality or usability of the product. Most modern equipment available in the market are already sustainable and eco-friendly. Businesses that make sustainable products will be appreciated by the consumers in the future. To know more about environmental practices, you can check EE & CS – UC Merced and their programs to further your studies.
The government might even make a rule or raise taxes to companies who do not use sustainable methods in their business operation. Companies like coca cola, IBM, and so on will become role models of sustainable business. Both these companies are already adapting to eco-friendly methods of producing products and generation power form clean sustainable methods using solar panels through Solar Farm Development Services.
Businesses from software industries, will also contribute to agriculture in future by producing and designing software that will help farmers to manage their farms better. Software that will allow the farmers to motor the livestock and accurately calculate their various data involved in farming and the whole agricultural process.
Transportation industries are the part of agricultural sector where most of the carbon emission comes from. The products that we buy in the market may have to travel thousands of miles before being displayed on the shelves of any grocery store. Storing and preserving also becomes another important part of agriculture. It also requires energy and burning up of carbon.
Almost 50% of the farm food is waster either by strict government regulations or due to wastage during processing, packaging, or transporting process. Food will also be wasted due to insufficient marketing strategies, inability to manage farm food circulation efficiently, or if accidents or disasters occur.
There will also be a trend towards fictional food, food produced in a way to give you a supply of high quality nutrition and boost your bodily functions. This food will be able to boost your immune system and help you build defense and help cure from diseases.
Food technology will also be used to increase the size of plants and farm animals effectively through GMO. A group of business will raise animals and plants through unnatural ways, depleting the ecosystem, adding toxic and unnatural elements in the nature. Some of the effects of GMO are still unknown, but it has been without a doubt identified as harmful elements in the environment and human beings. Some GMO fed livestock have been linked to causing cancer and other disease in humans.
Agriculture of the 21st century is a wide and versatile term involving a wide array of businesses and touching a wide number of sectors. Business trends today is more focused on sustainability and reducing our negative impact on the environment. Consumers are appreciative to the sustainable companies, and the trend for eco-friendly product is also supported by the government agencies. There are many incentives and funding available for those who want to establish an alternate power station or reusable power source at their farm land or off the grid house. Technology will be one of the key aspects of agriculture of the future. There will be technological advances in all sectors, including producing, transporting, and preserving or storing of food. More efficient, reusable power generators will come in the market and it will also tie itself with agriculture.