Smart Farming

According to the United Nations, the world will be required to increase its food production by as much as 50% to feed another two billion people by 2050. To reach such an output, a substantial amount of resources–land, water, infrastructure, fertilisers, pesticides, machines and workforce will be necessary. Above all, it will require favourable climatic conditions, which could be unpredictable.

Global warming and diminishing natural resources are blighting the means of meeting rising agricultural demands. So, too, does the increasing perennial cost of energy, labour, fertiliser, and herbicides. Our agricultural outlook is bleak, slipping away; the area under food crops is shrinking every year, yields are dropping, and more and more resistant pests are eating away our crops, promoting the use of more and more potent pesticides. Alas, farmers no longer consider agricultural activity as profitable but menial, and more so, the younger generation has turned away from this sector altogether or almost. The need to break away from traditional farming techniques is more justified as it is no longer sustainable. It implies too many risks not only to our national food security strategy. Still, it is adversely putting the health of our citizens at risk whilst perpetuating inefficient and unproductive land use.

Some of the significant challenges the agricultural sector is facing may be summarised as follows:

1. bushfires, which have destroyed over 10 million hectares.
2. The coronavirus fallout has forced us to rethink our approach to agricultural production and distribution methods.
3. December 2019 was recorded as the driest month on record for Australia, and the significant rainfall deficiencies are more than likely to affect summer crop yields adversely.

The above challenges have created the conditions for a much-needed shift in paradigm for smart agriculture to flourish. Despite so much unpredictability and change, one global certainty is that the world will always need more and more food.

A quantum leap into agriculture is vital at the inflection point where the world system is shifting. In the context of the increasing depletion of agroecological conditions, the call for a new wave of innovation is required. One innovative idea is to carry out a Controlled Environment Agriculture where pesticide-free fresh vegetables are grown under a controlled environment, typically with a modern hydroponic system, using the right amount of water inside a modified hi-tech shipping container fully embedded with IoT devices. Vegetables with relatively short to medium shelf life–leafy greens, fine herbs, root vegetables, strawberries, and a range of flowers can be produced sustainably and safely to ensure long-term food security (safe, nutritious, and affordable) within a controlled and contained environment. This will result in a paradigm shift by enhancing supply chain efficiency, better food quality, and mitigating consumers’ health risks.

Not only would a range of food crops from such high-tech agricultural start-ups help Australia address the food security challenge, but it will also enhance its effort towards sustainable agriculture. Smart container farming promotes a “farm-to-fork strategy” that reduces transportation.

Sustainability. The impact of climate change on our agricultural sector and, by extension, on our food security is highly pre-occupying. The increasing change in weather patterns in our region has adverse severe repercussions on our agricultural sector. Soil degradation is one of the significant causes of un-sustainability in this sector. One proven alternative to soil-based agriculture is smart container farming. This new farming method can minimise the impact of climate change on agricultural activity, such as:

• no risk of leachate that will contaminate underground water sources;
• recirculated water consumption of 5 gallons daily;
• using 165kWh per day, which is equivalent to 3 family homes and that can be produced from renewable sources;
• vegetables are not genetically modified.

The smart farming method could work towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 6. The aim is to contribute towards a Zero hunger goal (SDG2) and support SDG6 towards achieving universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water. However, SGD 2 is still an area where significant challenges remain for Australia, where the country provides an environment primed for the next phase of the agricultural revolution through innovation. Technological advances ensure we can produce, supply, and store delicious, fresh and healthy food in required quantities. It is unequivocal: agricultural technology 4.0 is predicted to become Australia’s next $100 billion industry by 2030.

Operations. The business can be operated from a 40ft refrigerated container, equivalent to 320 square feet (66m3) within any CBD, or the containers planted around the hypermarkets’ precincts. The resurged and redesigned insulated containers are retrofitted with IoT connecting devices, sensing technology, hydroponic reticulation systems, and LED lights to simulate an optimum growth environment. Such a tiny footprint can yield an average of 60,000 lettuces (or equivalent greenery) heads annually, a yearly equivalent to Farming on 1.80 acres of land. Businesses could strategise in supplying two entirely separate supply chains, one supporting hypermarkets and the other restaurants, schools, and hospitals. This will improve decentralising methods by enhancing mobility and reducing transportation whilst having more accessible access to green food items. The drastic reduction in transportation time will have the dual benefit of mitigating climate change through a reduction in the emission of greenhouse gases while promoting healthy food habits by mitigating the degradation of nutrient loss in the vegetables by the time it’s consumed.

Benefits. Smart Farming can contribute to the following advantages:

• Food Safety: all the pesticide-free and mineral-based nutrient crops grown in the container are clean and safe in the event of an outbreak. 
• Farm-to-Fork- Fork: shorter distance from production to consumer, as containers are mobile.
• Longer Shelf Life: the most perishable produce grown in the container can last up to 3 weeks.
• Exceptional Range of Horticulture: leafy greens, fine herbs, root vegetables, and flowers.
• Food Quality Surveillance: sensors measuring changes to food freshness to prevent degradation.
• Biosecurity: due to its contained environment, the risk of a pathogen is mitigated.
• Year-Round Availability: through a controlled environment, produce is available and of high quality regardless of the season.
• Reduced CO2 Footprint: 1 container uses 5 Gallons of water per day, which is recirculated and can be run on solar panels, which significantly reduces the CO2 footprint of food production.
• Precision for decision: production data can be delivered to the Australian Department of Agriculture in real time.

Bring it together. Overall, over 300 container farms are operational worldwide, allowing smart farming networks to enable databases to be constantly updated and exchanged. With the increase in recalls and food-borne diseases, the community has become more interested in where their food originated. Moreover, smart Farming delivers year-round production even in extremely cold or hot weather conditions without needing arable land and with significantly improved crop yields. Furthermore, crop rotation flexibility can be based on market demand and consumer behaviour. The carbon footprint of both production and distribution will be drastically improved. Smart Farming proves promising in rehabilitating and rejuvenating the disrupted food production system in light of not only the pandemic but also the effects of climate change in the need for more efficient land use.

This is the link to a presentation from this futuristic shipping container : Youtube