Innovations: Agriculture and food production

There are many modern agricultural technologies and techniques, some of which are suited to particular geographical contexts.

Here are some examples of innovative actions that strengthen the resilience of crops, fishes and other types of animals, and the food producers themselves against natural hazards:

• using automated and drip irrigation systems
• using drones to take photographs and provide information about crop health and livestock
• practising soil-less agriculture

Soil-less agriculture allows crops to be grown all year and in any space, but preferably close to the markets in which they will be sold. In a controlled environment, there is less risk of damage by birds and pests, which reduces the need for pesticides. One drawback of this type of farming is that it uses much more energy than traditional farming.

Here are three examples of soil-less agriculture:

• Hydroponics: Nutrients are added to water and fed directly to the roots of the crops.
• Aquaponics: This technique combines aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as fish, crayfish, snails or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics (see the point above). The fish waste in the water is fed to hydroponically grown plants.
• Vertical farming: Plants are grown in layers one above the other. This production method requires water pumps, water distribution systems and power-generating equipment to recycle the water. It also requires equipment to monitor moisture levels, light levels and temperature. It is a useful approach in places where land is scarce, such as in urban spaces — for example, people can do vertical farming on balconies in high-rise buildings. In indoor spaces, LED lamps can be used as a substitute for sunlight.

Many tools that are designed to increase agricultural productivity are not accessible to subsistence producers because they are expensive and require special training to use them.