Britannica
Sources used in this answer
- Agricultural sciences
- Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) - Pro 3: Growing GMO crops has environmental benefits, such as reduced pesticide use, less water waste, and lower carbon emissions.
- Inventors and Inventions of the Industrial Revolution - Growth in the agricultural sector
- Agricultural economics - Land, output, and yields
- origins of agriculture - Dry farming
How has agricultural technology increased the amount of food produced by each farmer?
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Feedlot cattle eating grain in an intensive animal farm in South Africa.
Agricultural technology has revolutionized food production by enabling a single farmer to produce significantly more food than was possible under prescientific conditions, where six people were often required to feed just ten. Modern advancements have increased output per farmer through several key mechanisms:1
- Mechanization: The substitution of capital for laborāsuch as replacing human and animal power with farm machineryāhas dramatically increased efficiency. For example, the mechanical reaper allowed farmers to quadruple daily grain harvesting, while the steel plow enabled the cultivation of more acres with less effort.123
- Yield Optimization: Scientific research has boosted per-acre yields through improved crop varieties and fertilizer use, which acts as a substitute for both land and labor.13
- Pest and Loss Management: The use of herbicides and insecticides, along with genetically modified organisms, has reduced losses from pests and diseases. GMOs also contribute to efficiency by reducing the need for tilling and optimizing water usage.143
- Processing and Preservation: Improved food preservation and processing methods allow for greater production efficiency and the ability to transport food over longer distances.12