The State of Farming in 2024 and the Future of Farming
Farming in 2024 is undoubtedly different than it was a few generations ago. In the vast fields of US agriculture, a green revolution is underway, spurred on by the climate impact of traditional farming. Let's delve into the evolving landscape, exploring the impact of climate change and the rising champions—Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), hydroponics, and vertical farming.
A report released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) at the end of November 2023 gives us stark evidence of how much our climate changes. 2023 broke records for being the warmest on record with greenhouse gasses rising, and 2024 may surpass those numbers.
Climate Report and Its Implications on US Farming
The WMO report detailed that global temperatures were roughly 1.40°C (2.52°F) higher than the baseline temperature recorded before the industrial age. While this may not seem like much, it has had dramatic effects.
The report also found that CO2 levels are 50% higher than in pre-industrial ages. This means that temperatures are likely to continue rising for years into the future as it will take time for the carbon dioxide levels to stabilize.
All of this has led to a record rate of sea level rise. In fact, the ocean levels for the past decade (2013-2022) are more than double the rate seen in the earliest records available (1993-2002). A large part of this rise is likely due to melting glaciers. Antarctic sea ice was measured at its lowest point on record, having lost an area about the size of Germany and France combined (1 million km2).
Even if you don’t live near the poles or the coastline, you’ve likely felt the impacts of these changes. Extreme weather causing death and devastation is on the rise nearly everywhere, and no one is immune. According to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, “This year we have seen communities around the world pounded by fires, floods and searing temperatures. Record global heat should send shivers down the spines of world leaders.”
These disasters and climate changes are strongly impacting farming as well. Plants require certain conditions to thrive. They need the right temperatures, humidity, and lighting conditions. Not only that, droughts, floods, fires, and extreme storms can wipe out whole fields of crops, and there isn’t much traditional farming can do to prevent it.
Challenges and Considerations
There are many economic and policy considerations facing modern farming, but most broadly fall into a few categories:
Financial resilience — Today’s farmers must look at diversifying income streams to keep their business afloat amidst market fluctuations. They also need to implement sustainable practices that will offer long-term effectiveness and ongoing productivity.
Government incentives — Government initiatives for agriculture, such as US Farm Bill 2023, change regularly. Farmers must keep themselves informed so that they can take advantage of the incentives available each season. Many farmers also involve themselves in advocacy initiatives, aiming to promote policies that will benefit their work and the climate at large.
Climate insurance — As climate change continues to wreak havoc on the world, farmers find themselves particularly vulnerable. They must evaluate their operations and invest in crop insurance. This way, one damaging weather event won’t destroy an entire season’s income.
Market access and certifications — Labels like fair trade, organic, kosher, and the like can be difficult to attain, but they can also make financial sense. Farmers must assess these options and decide which make sense to pursue.
Technology adoption — Farming is becoming more and more technology-dependent. Farmers must stay on top of the latest AgTech innovations and determine which would work well for their operations.
Hydroponics: A Sustainable Solution
One of the most exciting technologies employed to deal with many of these challenges is hydroponics. Hydroponic systems technology is a soil-free method of growing plants, where nutrient-rich water is used to deliver essential minerals directly to the plant roots. Instead of traditional soil, hydroponic plants are anchored in growing mediums like perlite or coconut coir to provide physical support.
There are many hydroponics benefits, including the ability to carefully manipulate the nutrients plants receive. This control allows growers to provide the optimal nutrients for each stage of plant growth. Since these systems are frequently used in conjunction with controlled environments, farmers can provide the perfect environment as well. All of this leads to greater yields in a shorter span of time, with little worry over crop loss.
When comparing hydroponics and traditional farming from an ecological standpoint, it’s easy to see which comes out on top. Hydroponic systems, when properly designed, can be incredibly resource efficient. They recycle water repeatedly, using far less than traditional soil-based growing methods. They also minimize or eliminate the need for chemical pesticides and herbicides.
Vertical Farming: The Future of Agriculture
Another vital technology in today’s agriculture is vertical farming. Vertical farming is an innovative agricultural practice where crops are cultivated in vertically stacked layers or structures, often in controlled indoor environments. This method pairs with other advanced technologies like hydroponics, CEA, and programmable LED lighting to provide optimal conditions for plant growth.
Vertical farming, too, comes with many advantages. One of the biggest is that it takes up far less space than traditional farming and isn’t anchored into the ground. This means that vertical farms can be placed anywhere, including on top of buildings, inside warehouses, or even underground. The result is fresh, healthy food grown in close proximity to the population that will enjoy it. This means fewer food miles, less waste due to damage in transport, and fresher produce overall.
Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA)
Another method that modern farmers are adopting is called Controlled Environment Agriculture, or CEA.
CEA is an innovative farming approach that involves manipulating and optimizing environmental factors to create an ideal growth environment for crops.
This method may include precise control over light, temperature, humidity, and nutrient levels. Greenhouses, vertical farms, and hydroponic systems are common implementations of CEA.
CEA offers benefits like:
Year-round production
Protection against climate and weather
Resource efficiency
Less environmental impact
Minimized exposure to contaminants
Optimized, predictable crop quality and quantity
Eden Green Technology’s CEA Practices
Eden Green Technology is a hydroponic produce company that practices CEA and vertical farming.
Our proprietary technology is so advanced that we were named a 2023 AgTech Breakthrough Award winner. Our greenhouses feature patented microclimates to offer each plant the perfect conditions for optimal growth.
We’ve developed proprietary mobile lighting technology that supplements solar light for our crops. And the sustainable greenhouses on our Texas campus grow more than five million pounds of leafy greens each year.
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) in Farming
Many farmers today are turning their focus toward ESG. ESG is an acronym used to describe a focus on three essential concepts in agriculture: Environmental, Social, and Governance. Environmental concerns typically involve sustainable practices and methods to manage climate resilience. Social concerns include fair labor practices and community engagement. Governance focuses on transparency and ethical practices.
Today, many investors specifically look for ESG approaches in companies they may fund. Modern businesses do well to put these approaches first, with profits following behind. This is in stark contrast to many of the practices of the past, and some that are still ongoing elsewhere.
At Eden Green Technology, our approach to ESG is to put it at the forefront of everything we do. We’re working to help develop a more sustainable future for agriculture. We want to help develop the means to feed at-risk communities, both domestically and abroad. And we aim to do all of this with the utmost transparency and concern for the environment, our workers, and our communities.
Partnering with Eden Green
If you’d like to be a part of Eden Green’s sustainability mission, there’s good news. We’re always looking for partners to distribute our delicious, sustainable fresh foods. Our fresh hydroponic produce is among the freshest available, with most going from harvest to store shelves in 48 hours or less. We’re also happy to provide white label produce for grocers looking for specialty herbs, cooking greens, salad mixes, and more.
If you’re looking for a fresh foods supplier that takes ESG seriously, we’d love to hear from you! Contact our team today to discuss how we can offer the best leafy greens and other produce to your grocery store or restaurant.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Farming Outlook for 2024?
According to the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, agricultural income is in a sharp decline. They’re predicting a record year-over-year decline in farm income. If the domestic agricultural industry wants to remain competitive and profitable, it’s clear that some changes will need to be made.
Is Farming Dying Out?
The traditional family farm, as it was a hundred years ago, is largely on the decline. But that doesn’t mean that the practice of farming is going anywhere anytime soon. After all, we have to get our fresh foods somewhere. Instead, these small farms are largely being replaced by corporate farms spanning a thousand acres or more.
For smaller operations to remain profitable and competitive, they must adopt more sustainable practices. They may also make use of advanced technologies like hydroponics, vertical farming, and controlled environment agriculture.
Which Farming Is the Best for the Future?
There are many types of farming in use today. Traditional agriculture is still prevalent, alongside vertical farms, hydroponics, CEA, and various other practices. It seems clear that the best option for the future will be a blend of all of these farming techniques, with traditional agriculture adopting green practices.
How Many Years of Farming Do We Have Left?
If the way we use soil doesn’t change, we only have 45-60 years left before it will all be too depleted to farm. Fortunately, soil-free farming methods like hydroponics can grow fresh foods without impacting our precious topsoil. Simultaneously, greener methods of soil use may help replenish some of what has been lost.
Will Farmers Be in Demand in the Future?
There will always be a need for those who produce food, but the way these jobs look will likely change dramatically over the coming years. It’s likely that the future of farming will require a deeper understanding of innovative systems and practices. Even today, many agricultural jobs involve advanced technology and scientific applications.
Will Vertical Farming Be the Future?
Vertical farming is likely to be just one of the many agricultural innovations that allows us to feed the global population into the future. Since some types of crops do not do as well in these systems, it’s unlikely that vertical farming will stand alone as the future of farming.
Do We Have a Currently Active Farm Bill in the United States?
As of this writing, we are still operating under US Farm Bill 2018. This bill will broadly expire at the end of 2023, though some parts will continue beyond this date. So far, US Farm Bill 2023 has not yet been signed, though that may change soon.
Are We in a Farm Crisis?
We are not currently in a farm crisis, though according to Forbes, one may be just around the corner. The expiring US Farm Bill, supply chain problems, climate change, soil degradation, and rising inflation are all contributing factors.
What Is the #1 Issue Facing Agriculture Today?
While there are a number of challenges facing today’s farmers, climate change is probably top of the list. Droughts, wildfires, extreme weather, and other effects of climate change are all devastating to crops and livestock alike. Fortunately, there are innovative solutions both in place and being developed to combat the problem.