The
word technology is a combination of two Greek words, techne and logos.
Techne
means art, craft, or skill. Logos means “to speak of”. Some have
since taken the word logos to imply
the practical application of techne,
but others say that is stretching its etymological roots.
Agricultural
technologies advanced rapidly in the second half of the 20th century and at the
beginning of the 21st century. These developments forever changed the way
farmers work.
1960s:
Green Revolution
In the mid-1940s U.S.
Vice President Henry Wallace spearheaded a program to help developing nations
feed their growing populations. The program included four scientists, one of
whom was Dr. Norman Borlaug started a growing process that allowed plants to
thrive with new irrigation and crop management techniques. By the 1960s, the
benefits of what was nicknamed the “Green Revolution” were apparent when
successful new wheat varieties were made available in countries across the
globe.
1974:
Roundup agricultural herbicide
Monsanto developed a
new herbicide using glyphosate as the active ingredient. Glyphosate-based
herbicide is used by farmers to control weeds in their crops. Roundup also made
its way into lawn and garden products, which allow landowners to kill weeds
along sidewalks, driveways, gardens, and fences.
1975:
Rotary combines are introduced
The first twin-rotor
system combine was created by Sperry-New Holland. This allowed the crop to be
cut and separated in one pass over the field. For corn, it not only separated
the husk and ears, but shelled the kernels, and chopped the stalks.
1982:
First plant cell is genetically modified
Scientists working at
Monsanto Company became the first in the world to genetically modify a plant
cell. The team used Agrobacterium to introduce a new gene into the petunia
plant and announced their achievement the following year. Within five years,
Monsanto researchers planted their first outdoor trials of a genetically modified
crop – tomatoes that were resistant to Roundup agricultural herbicide, insects,
or viruses. The Agrobacterium method first used in 1982 is still in use today
by Monsanto scientists and by other companies’ scientists
1994:
Satellite technology advances farming
For the first time,
farmers were able to use satellite technology to see their farms from overhead,
allowing for better tracking and planning.
1996:
Monsanto’s first GMO crops become commercially available
Monsanto introduced
Roundup Ready soybeans and Bollgard insect-protected cotton, the first GMO row
crops available to farmers. The soybeans provided tolerance to Roundup
agricultural herbicide. The GMO traits in cotton provided protection against
the cotton bollworm, tobacco budworm, and pink bollworm.
2000s:
Software and mobile devices helps farmers have better harvests
Like many people,
farmers started carrying mobile devices, which allowed them to stay connected
to colleagues while in the field. This also meant they now had access to data
needed while on-the-go, including the ability to place orders for seed or
fertilizer at any time or in any place.
2015:
Data revolutionizes farming potential
Farmers make decisions
based on the information they have on-hand, which is why data has helped them
harness the power of information to make better-informed decisions that allow
them to use resources more sustainably. The Climate Corporation’s Climate Field
View is a digital platform that brings together data collection, agronomic
modeling, and local weather monitoring, which gives farmers a better
understanding of their fields. These tools allow farmers to plan for better
harvests and make decisions that are better for the planet.
2018-2020:
Agricultural robots and drones
The
use of drones and robots have been affirmed to be of great advantage to
agricultural development. The main area of application of robots in agriculture
is at the harvesting stage. Emerging applications of robots or drones in
agriculture include; weed control, cloud seeding, planting seeds, environmental
monitoring and soil analysis.
Conclusion
The
need for the adoption of improved technology towards achieving sustainable
agricultural development cannot be over emphasized. Technology transfer in the
agricultural sector is highly recommended for developing economy willing to
achieve food security.
Complied by:
Olufemi .S. Adesina
Email: femi.wumi007@gmail.com
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