Technology driven livestock farming for food security and sustainability

Abstract

Advent of industrialization increased the human population significantly and it expanded very rapidly from nineteen sixties. Introduction of mechanization, chemical fertilization and genetic selection in agriculture increased the food production, reduced pestilence and thus improved life expectancy. However, in doing so the natural resources were over utilized, degraded and polluted. The greenhouse gas emissions from anthropogenic activities increased several folds that resulted into global warming, the consequences of which are being observed in the form of floods, draughts, cloud bursts, melting of glaciers, rising of sea level and loss of species. The soil fertility & water table is decreasing, resistance to pesticides, drugs, antibiotics is increasing and immergence & reemergence of diseases are common. Since the world population by 2050 is anticipated to touch 9 billion that means an increase of 30%. Obviously, the demand for food to feed such a huge population would require 70% increase in the food. With limited resources, depleted soil, polluted atmosphere, disturbed ecosystems and exhausted natural resources, the challenges for food security have amplified. Urbanization, improved incomes and dietary changes will increase the demand for food of animal origin in coming years. Globally animal products provide 67% of the protein and the requirement for meat and milk by 2050 is expected to increase by 73% and 58% respectively. Therefore, to ensure food and nutritional security in coming years, livestock production has to be augmented efficiently, smartly and sustainably. As such, precision, smart livestock farming is inevitable that must integrate all the techniques, skills, knowledge and innovations to produce safe, sufficient, affordable, accessible and sustainable animal food with minimum environmental impacts. With the advancement in robotics, biosensors, artificial intelligence, internet of things and information technology, the farming practices should now be technology driven, smart, need based, automated, productive and integrated.