A whitepaper released by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers identifies 13 reshaping how North America produces its food.
By Andrew Joseph, Farms.com; Image via Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Growing more with less. Although that has always been the goal of farmers everywhere, North American farmers are examining technologies to better achieve that.
With a global population projected to increase by an additional 2.2 billion people by the year 2050, it is imperative that farmers determine best practices to grow 70 percent more food than they currently produce—and with less environmental impact, no additional land, and fewer natural resources.
To do it profitably would also be nice.
Just released, The Future of Food Production whitepaper discusses just what is driving how food is produced in North America.
Led by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Futures Council and a Vision Team of AEM member company leaders, The Future of Food Production explored 13 specific trends changing how agriculture works today, which will impact how farmers will reshape how food will be produced in the coming decade.
AEM is a North America-based international trade group representing off-road equipment manufacturers and suppliers with more than 1,000 companies and more than 200 product lines in the agriculture and construction-related industry sectors worldwide.
Megan Tanel, President of the AEM explained: “We brought our agriculture-based members together to take a hard look at the future and identify the trends that are changing the industry and the demands being made on today’s farmers.
“AEM is committed to taking an active role in examining and shaping the future of agriculture so we can offer equipment solutions and insights to help farmers succeed,” she continued.
The 13 trends examined in the whitepaper are:
- Produce more with less environmental impact;
- Optimization of water use;
- Increase global demand for protein;
- Shorter food supply chain;
- Geographic shifts in production;
- Advanced food traceability helps maintain consumer trust;
- Farmers adjust in response to emission regulation;
- Efforts to decarbonize create adjacent economies;
- Connectivity gap narrows;
- Artificial intelligence enables insights-driven farming;
- Resources pour into cybersecurity;
- Farm ownership models change;
- New business models emerge
Everyone realizes that farmers are always looking for ways to grow more and to do it the proper way as stewards of the land.
“Farmers are working hard to do the right things, not just for the next season, but for the next generation,” noted Robert Crain, AEM Chair and Senior Vice President, Customer Experience at AGCO Corporation.
He said that “This whitepaper outlines how the agriculture industry could be reshaped over the next decade and shares a vision for opportunities to overcome challenges.”
Ray O’Connor, President and Chief Executive Officer of Topcon Positioning Systems, Inc., weighed in on the subject of how new technology will play a role.
“Equipment technology is pivotal to many of these trends coming to fruition,” said O’Connor. “With predicted global population growth, shifting natural resources and increasing supply chain challenges, the evolution and adoption of technology will be key to meeting the production demands.”
No one said it’s going to be easy. The AEM noted that meeting the challenges of tomorrow requires fresh think and means of doing business today.
“Thought leaders with a desire to shape the world of tomorrow are vitally important to the ability of our members to feed our world,” Tanel related. “Thanks to the efforts of our member company thought leaders, we have built consensus on where the future of ag is, as well as outlined the role of the equipment manufacturing industry in impacting that future.
“Food production and the complexion of farmland ownership in America is changing,” she continued. “But the one constant is the American farmer who has the ingenuity and tenacity needed to ensure a reliable food supply at home and abroad.”
To download a copy of AEM’s Future of Food Production whitepaper, click HERE.