The Knowledge to Decide

With rapid urbanization and a rising global population – expected to hit 8.5 billion by 2030 – it is crucial to find innovative agricultural methods to sustain food supply. Touted as the future of food and agriculture, can indoor farming change the way we produce food? What is indoor agriculture? The art and science of sprouting crops in a controlled and sustainable environment with artificial lights and technology is known as indoor agriculture. With indoor agriculture, seasonal crops can be produced throughout the year using light-emitting diode (LED) lighting to trigger photosynthesis. Water fortified with minerals is used to substitute the functionality of soil. Indoor farming can increase crop yields by 50 per cent. Indoor farming can increase crop yields by 50 per cent, provided that growing conditions are optimal. Further advances in LED technology also assist to create an environment where vegetables can be grown – regardless of climate – to produce maximum yields

Women farmers in Africa are quietly learning new technologies to increase their crop yield. For this, training is being provided in different rice farming technologies targeting three groups from the Saakoba Gbugli, Kukuo and Yipelgu communities. Successfully implemented in 15 West Africa states, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) initiative – through the Agriculture Technology Transfer project – will enable farmers to increase productivity. These groups were exposed to technologies for weed control, rows transplanting and the application of briquetted urea fertilizer on rice farms. The program has been a success so far due to NGO intervention efforts (on behalf of USAID) to overcome challenges. For instance, farmers are now aware of the correct way to apply fertilizer and methods to increase productivity levels through in-depth training sessions. Asia already benefitted from a Green revolution in the 1960s which enabled it to feed over 50%