For those in the agriculture industry, we are always trying to predict the next biggest trend or see the newest piece of technology that will improve the industry. In the same way, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers released The Future of Food Production — a whitepaper detailing the drivers impacting how food is produced in North America. From producing more with less environmental impact to advanced food traceability to help maintain consumer trust to artificial intelligence enabling insights-driven farming, the 13 trends outlined in the whitepaper define a new way of doing business that will help growers produce more with less.
“We brought our agriculture-based members together to take a hard look at the future and identify the trends that are changing the industry and the demands being made on today’s farmers,” said AEM President Megan Tanel. “AEM is committed to taking an active role in examining and shaping the future of agriculture so we can offer equipment solutions and insights to help farmers succeed.”
The 13 trends outlined in The Future of Food Production are:
- Produce more with less environmental impact
- Optimization of water use
- Increase global demand for protein
- Shorter food supply chain
- Geographic shifts in production
- Advanced food traceability helps maintain consumer trust
- Farmers adjust in response to emission regulation
- Efforts to decarbonize create adjacent economies
- Connectivity gap narrows
- Artificial intelligence enables insights-driven farming
- Resources pour into cybersecurity
- Farm ownership models change
- New business models emerge
Meeting tomorrow’s challenges will require a new way of thinking and in some instances, a new way of doing business. “Farmers are working hard to do the right things, not just for the next season, but for the next generation,” said Robert Crain, AEM Chair and Senior Vice President, Customer Experience at AGCO Corporation. “This whitepaper outlines how the agriculture industry could be reshaped over the next decade and shares a vision for opportunities to overcome challenges.”
America’s farmers have always met the challenges of their time. However, a global population projected to increase 2.2 billion by 2050, requiring a 70 percent increase in food production, without additional land or natural resources to do so, raises the bar to even greater heights.
“Food production and the complexion of farmland ownership in America is changing,” Tanel said. “But the one constant is the American farmer who has the ingenuity and tenacity needed to ensure a reliable food supply at home and abroad.”
