There is no denying that technology is impacting and transforming farming, especially for very large operators. However, the agriculture industry must concentrate on finding solutions to fundamental issues such as climate change, desertification, and biodiversity collapse since technology is not resolving them.
One strategy for assisting the global response to these challenges is regenerative farming. Regenerative consultant Andrew Ardington of the Regenerative Agriculture Association of Southern Africa, gives insight into the realities Mzansi farmers will face in 10 years.
Technology can’t solve everything
According to Ardington, those issues are soil degradation, desertification, and climate variability. As farmers learn to farm with soil health at the centre of their thinking, no number of apps, drones, and variable planting rates will solve these problems, he cautions.
“We live on and are part of a biological planet. We need to start to stop thinking that we can solve our biological problems with chemistry and technology. The crises of the future are energy and water,” says Ardington.
He adds that unless they focus on requiring fewer external energies on farms, such as diesel, nitrogen, and fertilisers, and on water catchments, there are not adequate planning for the crises.
Climate change is not something that might happen in the future. Rainfall patterns have already changed and most areas in South Africa experience fewer rain events, he explains, and those rain events are much more severe than they used to be.
In this episode, Ardington also discusses:
- Biggest crops that will be impacted.
- Focus on organic matter such as soil, carbon, and water.
Want to know more? Listen to the full episode of Farmer’s Inside Track.
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Option 3: Click here to listen on Google Podcast.
ALSO READ: Africa Agri Tech: Where SA has missed the boat
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