UNIVERSITY OF PERADENIYA
The Role of New Technology in Sustainable
Agriculture
Name Thevuni Kotigala
University University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Faculty Faculty of Arts
Programme Masters in Development Practice (MDP)
Course Year 2020/21
Academic Year Year II - Semester II
Lecturer Dr. Ashoka Gamage
Department Department of Economics & Statistics
Subject Code DPR 621
Subject Name Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Medium English
Topic The Role of New Technology in Sustainable Agriculture
Word Count 7,898 words
,Contents
1. Agriculture ...................................................................................................................................... 2
1.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 2
1.2. Global Status ........................................................................................................................... 2
1.3. Agricultural Science................................................................................................................ 3
1.4. Agricultural Revolution .......................................................................................................... 4
1.5. Sustainable Agriculture ........................................................................................................... 4
2. Agricultural Technology ................................................................................................................. 5
2.1. Role of Agricultural Technology ............................................................................................ 6
2.2. Benefits of Agricultural Technology ...................................................................................... 7
2.3. New Agricultural Trends ........................................................................................................ 8
2.3.1. Agricultural Mechanization ............................................................................................ 8
2.3.2. Farm Automation ............................................................................................................ 8
2.3.3. Vertical Farming ............................................................................................................. 9
2.3.4. Precision Agriculture .................................................................................................... 10
2.3.5. Precision Livestock Farming ........................................................................................ 10
2.3.6. Smart Greenhouses ....................................................................................................... 11
2.3.7. Hydroponics .................................................................................................................. 12
2.3.8. Aquaponics ................................................................................................................... 12
2.4. New Agrotechnology ............................................................................................................ 12
2.4.1. Blockchain Technology ................................................................................................ 13
2.4.2. Artificial Intelligence .................................................................................................... 14
2.4.3. Biotechnology and Bioengineering ............................................................................... 14
2.4.4. Biometrics ..................................................................................................................... 15
2.4.5. Agricultural Drones....................................................................................................... 16
2.4.6. Soil and Weather Sensors ............................................................................................. 16
2.4.7. Satellite Crop Imagery .................................................................................................. 16
2.4.8. Minichromosomal Technology ..................................................................................... 17
2.4.9. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) ........................................................................ 17
2.4.10. GIS and GPS ................................................................................................................. 17
2.4.11. Big Data and the Internet of Things (IoT) .................................................................... 18
2.4.12. Agrobots ........................................................................................................................ 18
3. Current Challenges........................................................................................................................ 19
4. Conclusion & Recommendations.................................................................................................. 20
References ............................................................................................................................................. 21
1
, 1. Agriculture
1.1. Introduction
Agriculture is the art and science of cultivating the soil, growing crops and raising livestock. It
includes the preparation of plant and animal products for people to use and their distribution to
markets. Agriculture is practiced throughout the world. Many agricultural products are used
every day, where it could be understood using the five F's: Food, Fabric, Forestry, Farming,
and Flowers.
Agricultural communities developed approximately 10,000 years ago when humans began to
domesticate plants and animals. By establishing domesticity, families and larger groups were
able to build communities and transition from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle into
agriculture. Agriculture kept formerly nomadic people near their fields and led to the
development of permanent villages. These became linked through trade. New economies were
so successful in some areas that cities grew and civilizations developed. The earliest
civilizations based on intensive agriculture arose near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in
Mesopotamia (now Iraq and Iran) and along the Nile River in Egypt.
Today, agriculture is the world's largest industry. It employs more than one billion people and
generates over USD 1.3 trillion dollars-worth of food annually. Pasture and cropland occupy
around 50% of the earth’s habitable land and provide habitat and food for a multitude of
species. When agricultural operations are sustainably managed, they can preserve and restore
critical habitats, help protect watersheds, and improve soil health and water quality. But
unsustainable practices have serious impacts on people and the environment (1).
1.2. Global Status
Agricultural development is one of the most powerful tools to end extreme poverty, boost
shared prosperity, and feed a projected 9.7 billion people by 2050. Growth in the agriculture
sector is two to four times more effective in raising incomes among the poorest compared to
other sectors. Analyses in 2016 found that 65% of poor working adults made a living through
agriculture. Agriculture is also crucial to economic growth: in 2018, it accounted for 4% of
global gross domestic product (GDP) and in some least developing countries, it can account
for more than 25% of GDP.
But agriculture-driven growth, poverty reduction, and food security are at risk: Multiple
shocks, from COVID-19 related disruptions to extreme weather, pests and conflicts, are
2
The Role of New Technology in Sustainable
Agriculture
Name Thevuni Kotigala
University University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Faculty Faculty of Arts
Programme Masters in Development Practice (MDP)
Course Year 2020/21
Academic Year Year II - Semester II
Lecturer Dr. Ashoka Gamage
Department Department of Economics & Statistics
Subject Code DPR 621
Subject Name Sustainable Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Medium English
Topic The Role of New Technology in Sustainable Agriculture
Word Count 7,898 words
,Contents
1. Agriculture ...................................................................................................................................... 2
1.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................. 2
1.2. Global Status ........................................................................................................................... 2
1.3. Agricultural Science................................................................................................................ 3
1.4. Agricultural Revolution .......................................................................................................... 4
1.5. Sustainable Agriculture ........................................................................................................... 4
2. Agricultural Technology ................................................................................................................. 5
2.1. Role of Agricultural Technology ............................................................................................ 6
2.2. Benefits of Agricultural Technology ...................................................................................... 7
2.3. New Agricultural Trends ........................................................................................................ 8
2.3.1. Agricultural Mechanization ............................................................................................ 8
2.3.2. Farm Automation ............................................................................................................ 8
2.3.3. Vertical Farming ............................................................................................................. 9
2.3.4. Precision Agriculture .................................................................................................... 10
2.3.5. Precision Livestock Farming ........................................................................................ 10
2.3.6. Smart Greenhouses ....................................................................................................... 11
2.3.7. Hydroponics .................................................................................................................. 12
2.3.8. Aquaponics ................................................................................................................... 12
2.4. New Agrotechnology ............................................................................................................ 12
2.4.1. Blockchain Technology ................................................................................................ 13
2.4.2. Artificial Intelligence .................................................................................................... 14
2.4.3. Biotechnology and Bioengineering ............................................................................... 14
2.4.4. Biometrics ..................................................................................................................... 15
2.4.5. Agricultural Drones....................................................................................................... 16
2.4.6. Soil and Weather Sensors ............................................................................................. 16
2.4.7. Satellite Crop Imagery .................................................................................................. 16
2.4.8. Minichromosomal Technology ..................................................................................... 17
2.4.9. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) ........................................................................ 17
2.4.10. GIS and GPS ................................................................................................................. 17
2.4.11. Big Data and the Internet of Things (IoT) .................................................................... 18
2.4.12. Agrobots ........................................................................................................................ 18
3. Current Challenges........................................................................................................................ 19
4. Conclusion & Recommendations.................................................................................................. 20
References ............................................................................................................................................. 21
1
, 1. Agriculture
1.1. Introduction
Agriculture is the art and science of cultivating the soil, growing crops and raising livestock. It
includes the preparation of plant and animal products for people to use and their distribution to
markets. Agriculture is practiced throughout the world. Many agricultural products are used
every day, where it could be understood using the five F's: Food, Fabric, Forestry, Farming,
and Flowers.
Agricultural communities developed approximately 10,000 years ago when humans began to
domesticate plants and animals. By establishing domesticity, families and larger groups were
able to build communities and transition from a nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle into
agriculture. Agriculture kept formerly nomadic people near their fields and led to the
development of permanent villages. These became linked through trade. New economies were
so successful in some areas that cities grew and civilizations developed. The earliest
civilizations based on intensive agriculture arose near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in
Mesopotamia (now Iraq and Iran) and along the Nile River in Egypt.
Today, agriculture is the world's largest industry. It employs more than one billion people and
generates over USD 1.3 trillion dollars-worth of food annually. Pasture and cropland occupy
around 50% of the earth’s habitable land and provide habitat and food for a multitude of
species. When agricultural operations are sustainably managed, they can preserve and restore
critical habitats, help protect watersheds, and improve soil health and water quality. But
unsustainable practices have serious impacts on people and the environment (1).
1.2. Global Status
Agricultural development is one of the most powerful tools to end extreme poverty, boost
shared prosperity, and feed a projected 9.7 billion people by 2050. Growth in the agriculture
sector is two to four times more effective in raising incomes among the poorest compared to
other sectors. Analyses in 2016 found that 65% of poor working adults made a living through
agriculture. Agriculture is also crucial to economic growth: in 2018, it accounted for 4% of
global gross domestic product (GDP) and in some least developing countries, it can account
for more than 25% of GDP.
But agriculture-driven growth, poverty reduction, and food security are at risk: Multiple
shocks, from COVID-19 related disruptions to extreme weather, pests and conflicts, are
2
