How are science, engineering, and technology helping in modern food production?

Modern agriculture is using some of the most advanced technologies available—including robots, temperature and moisture sensors, aerial images, GPS technology, and genetic engineering—for the purpose of reducing seed, fertilizer, and pesticides, resulting in more profitable, efficient, safe, and environmentally-friendly farms.
Precision agriculture techniques include customized planting (variable rate seeding), selective herbicide, insecticide and fertilizer applications (variable rate application), yield monitoring to determine planting decisions and crop rotations, reduced trips across the field (GPS and auto steer), and increased worker safety.Science and research have allowed for the development of new varieties of corn, resulting in production of at least 5 times more corn (in bushels) on 20 percent fewer acres than in 1930, when seed of hybrid corn became available in quantity to American farmers. Private companies are investing in traits that will help to reduce loss of yield to drought and increase pest resistance and overall resilience in corn crops. In 2019, $2.6 billion was allocated for agriculture research funding through USDA. Computer science and engineering is a critical part of agriculture and equipment design. As they look for solutions to common problems such as soil compaction, water management, harvest improvements, and reduction of overlap in seeding and spraying, engineers are using the technology to improve efficiency on farms. Data management software is helping farmers to more effectively plan next year’s crop decisions based on this year’s harvest amounts and soil tests.

Resources on Nourish the Future

  • Genetically modified seed is available for corn, cotton, soybeans, alfalfa, and canola. Find out the science behind genetic modification here. (Biotechnology unit)

  • Soil testing data creates a map used to determine where nutrients should be added to certain parts of the field. (Soil nutrient testing lesson)