Review of Technological Advances and Technological Needs in Ecological Agriculture (Organic Farming)

Abstract

A growing demand for organic produce creates a demand for technologies that facilitate organic farming, also called ecological agriculture, without compromising on its standards. Organic farming and local food production involving the use of recycled inputs could increase as a consequence of an increase in fuel, transportation and food prices. Technological advances would allow for more efficient soil nutrient management and economical weed control in organic systems. In the case of organic therefore free range animal production, they can help prevent nitrogen leaching from pastures, manage animals humanely, and closely monitor animal health. These technologies will need to meet constraints such as economically justifiable capital and operating costs, the use of renewable energy and high energy efficiency, minimum time and labor inputs, animal welfare and ecological sustainability. Such technologies, such as robotic weeders, software for soil nutrient management, and animal feeders are being developed in a few institutes throughout the world. This review briefly defines organic plant and animal production and discusses the technologies relevant to these operations, whether they were specifically developed for organic farming or may be adapted to it. The review concludes with the fact that technologies addressing isolated problems have been developed, but none provide a systems approach to improving the sustainability and feasibility of organic farming. There is therefore potential in pooling existing tools in a management system for managing ecological agriculture (organic farming). There are also existing tools that can be adapted to organic farming. Semi-autonomous robots could be developed as an alternative to the more complex autonomous ones. They would require an operator but their job would be of higher quality and comfort than that of current unskilled labor in agriculture.