Agriculture involves cultivating and breeding plants and animals respectively to provide food, fibre, and other products for the sustenance of life. Statistics show that the world population is predicted to reach 9.6 billion by 2050; for which food production needs to be increased by 70% by 2050. To do so, technological advancements in the agricultural industry are a must.
The agricultural sector focuses on different aspects like agriculture inputs, agricultural chemicals, animal husbandry, farm equipment and machinery, agricultural biotechnology, and other services related to the industry. The Green Revolution has transformed the agricultural industry immensely and a huge amount of investment was made in agricultural products. These investments and technological advancements drove high yields and quality produce. Modern technology like the Internet of Things, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence (AI) in the agricultural sector led to the development of multiple trends such as precision agriculture and agro-genomics. Aside from this, there has been a development of hybrid seeds, slow-release pesticides and fertilisers, and agricultural biological. At the same time, genetics in animal husbandry and aquaculture became hugely popular in the animal breeding industry.
Agricultural market research is classified into chemicals for crop protection, plant nutrition, seeds and traits, farm equipment and irrigation, agriculture technology and life sciences, and animal nutrition and health.
How is Agricultural Industries Research Beneficial?
Agricultural research and testing help improve the below-mentioned aspects:
- Animal Immunisation: Diseases have a devastating impact on livestock production organisations. With the introduction of vaccines and medicines, the health of livestock has improved hugely. Animal immunisation gives animals resistance to disease through vaccination or inoculation.
- Artificial Insemination: Through this process, genes from a superior male parent are placed in the female reproductive tract by artificial techniques. There are modern techniques to collect semen, store it, and distribute them.
- Biological Control: Pests are harmful to agricultural productivity and biological control is an effective means to manage pests. Predatory insects, bacteria, fungi, and viruses are some of the widely accepted methods of pest management through biological control, for example, plastic wasps in a greenhouse help control flies.
- Computer Technology: Computers have undoubtedly benefitted every known industry there is, same with the agricultural business. Data analysis is easy and quick. Referring to computerised production records of progeny help farmers select superior sires and dams. Also, these data can help determine the best mix of feed grains and supplements. Food scientists use computers to analyse the chemistry of foods.
- Embryo Transfer: Embryo transfer moves embryos from the donor female to the reproductive tract of the recipient female, facilitating the production of many offspring every year from one superior female.
- Genetic Engineering: Biotechnology and genetic engineering have modernised the breeding practices for plants and animals. There are techniques to choose and move genetic material from one plant or animal to another, commonly known as genetic engineering. Genetic engineering provides enhanced nutritional content of the food we eat, faster growth rates of plants and animals, and more resistance to diseases, insects, herbicides, and environmental stresses.
- Growth and Yield Regulation: There are plant genes that help in regulating processes that limit photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, and other essential metabolic pathways. Using this knowledge, researchers can implement genetic engineering to insert genes to attain desirable genes, resulting in more efficient crops. There are growth regulators that can be used on golf courses to minimise the growth rates of grasses, cutting down the frequency of mowing.
- Hydroponics: Also termed ‘soilless culture’, hydroponics is the process of growing plants with their roots in some other medium, other than soil. This technique provides a year-round supply of fresh vegetables in areas that experience cold weather. Hydroponics limits the transportation costs required to move fresh vegetables over long distances.
- Pesticides: Some of the major factors that lead to a substantial loss of crop yields are insects, diseases, and weeds. Agricultural scientists have discovered pesticides to manage pests which help in boosting crop yields.
- Precision Technologies: Technologies such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), Geographic Information System (GIS), microcomputers, and machinery controllers are commonly referred to as precision technologies, and have helped enhance farming efficiencies. Precision technology is particularly helpful while applying fertiliser and obtaining harvest data.
Conclusion
Agricultural scientists constantly work on discovering methods to enhance livestock and crop yields, enhance buying farmland and productivity, minimise loss due to disease and insects, create more efficient equipment, and enhance overall food quality. Agricultural industries research enhances the standard of living that we enjoy these days.
For more detailed information on agricultural market research, contact us at KG2, Australia’s largest independent farmer database, covering more than 95% of the country’s farms, ensuring the clients can connect with producers from the right industry sectors and regions.
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