World Grain - October 2015 - 8

FROM THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Precision agriculture
versus GMO's

t probably could be successfully argued
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(GMO's) had been named something else,
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ZDQWWRHDWDQGQRWHDWZRXOGEHOHVVSRZHUful and might not even exist. Yet, because of
the stigma attached to the name and therefore
to the process, plant breeders are being exceptionally cautious in pursuit of developing
PRGL¿HG ZKHDW UHJDUGOHVV RI ZKDW LW SURPises. Even as increasing numbers of people
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shortages in the next several decades and thus
the need for crop expansion beyond geneticalO\PRGL¿HGFRUQDQGVR\EHDQVWKHSRVVLELOLW\
RIKDYLQJDQHZO\HYROYHGNLQGRIZKHDWRU
other grain is more often than not dismissed if
it has any relation to GMO.
Widespread questioning of GMO's, as sciHQWL¿FDOO\XQVRXQGDQGGRZQULJKWIRROLVKDV
LWGH¿QLWHO\LVKDVOHGWRDVHDUFKIRUZKDW
may accomplish many of the same positives
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2QHUHVHDUFKDUHDFXUUHQWO\HQMR\LQJZLGHspread attention has the name "precision
agriculture." Here the focus is on sharply increasing yields, not by changing seed but by
HOHFWURQLFDOO\EDVHG JURZLQJ V\VWHPV UHODWHG WR ZLGHO\ DFFHSWHG LQIRUPDWLRQ WHFKQROogy. Thus far, this technology has earned no
negatives, and it is increasingly being hailed
DVWKHZD\WKDWFURSSURGXFWLRQFRXOGEHLQcreased enough to achieve the 50% output
rise that is deemed needed as global population climbs from the current 6.3 billion to 9
billion at the middle of the 21st century.
Precision agriculture is hugely differHQW IURP JHQHWLF PRGL¿FDWLRQ 7KH ODWWHU
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and soybeans, by applying modern science
to change the plant to produce a sharply inFUHDVHG \LHOG 3UHFLVLRQ DJULFXOWXUH DOORZV
farmers to maximize the outturn of each seed
planted. This is achieved by using Global
Positioning Systems (GPS) that help farmers
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VKRXOG EH XVHG RQ VSHFL¿F DUHDV WR EROVWHU
yields to the absolute maximum. By matching the quantity of fertilizer applied to careIXOO\GH¿QHGQHHGVLQVSHFL¿FDUHDVVLJQL¿cant yield gains have been achieved using
8

this technology. Rather than testing entire
¿HOGVWRJDXJHPD[LPXPDSSOLFDWLRQVVXFcess has been reached by systems measuring
plant nutrient needs related to leaf color.
Embracing precision agriculture requires
that farmers learn about yield monitoring,
XQGHUVWDQGKRZGLIIHUHQWDUHDVYDU\LQSURductivity and develop statistical techniques
built into systems to guide tractors used to
apply fertilizers. Automated guidance is alUHDG\EHLQJXVHGIRU¿HOGGHOLYHU\RIIHUWLOizer and other agricultural chemicals, but
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EHDWWDLQHGE\FRPELQLQJ*36ZLWKLQWHQVH
NQRZOHGJH DERXW WKH FDSDFLW\ RI ¿HOGV
Drones offer an opportunity to capture images that could guide irrigation, chemical applications and harvesting. A step further relates to robotics and the use of GPS guiding
driverless tractors. Excitement builds to the
GD\ZKHQIDUPHUVZLOOEHDEOHWRVWDUWIHUWLOizer applications by pushing a button.
Peanut farmers in America are taking the
lead in engaging in precision agriculture. Data
just released indicate that more than 40% of
peanut farmers, a sign of rapid adoption of this
QHZWHFKQRORJ\XVHDXWRVWHHURUUHODWHGJXLGance systems. Yield monitors and yield maps,
ZKLFKZHUHQRWIRXQGLQWKH¿UVWGHFDGHRIWKLV
FHQWXU\ DUH EHLQJ UDSLGO\ DFFHSWHG DOORZLQJ
SHDQXW IDUPHUV WR LGHQWLI\ ZLWKLQ¿HOG \LHOG
variations and to adjust fertilizer applications
accordingly. The result is reduced peanut farm
operating costs. It also offers more environmentally friendly fertilizer and chemical use
DORQJZLWKJRRG\LHOGJDLQV
As promising as precision agriculture appears, its importance lies not just in these
JUHDW DGYDQWDJHV EXW DOVR LQ WKH ZD\ WKLV
WRRO LV LWVHOI H[FHSWLRQDOO\ ZHOO VXLWHG WR
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advantages, contrary to corn's advantage
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precision agriculture as a good name versus
GMO. This path ought to make consumers
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PRUH ZRQGHUIXO ZKHDWEDVHG DQG JUDLQ
based foods.
Morton I. Sosland
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World Grain - October 2015

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