1 farmer feeds 154 people and you: Here is how

You have seen the billboard on the side of the highway: "One (insert state name) farmer feeds X number of people and YOU."

It is true. The internet source lisbdnet.com tells us that the average U.S. farmer feeds 155 people, up from 26 people in 1960.

A good part of that increase in efficiency relates to labor-saving technology.

Self-steering tractors, autonomous irrigation systems and robotic weeders have increased the efficiency of farm labor in recent decades. 

 “The range of agricultural activities that can be automated is increasing with the improvement of information technology and the emergence of big data and methods to utilize it in agriculture,” said a 2018 study from Washington State University looking at the adoption of labor-saving technologies in agriculture.

“During the last century, the agricultural industry has gone through two significant revolutions. First, the Green Revolution involved the adoption of hybridized seeds, mechanized devices, improved irrigation systems and low-cost chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides,” the report said. “The second ongoing revolution is the digital agricultural revolution, represented by the development and adoption of automated systems, robots, sensor technology, big data analytical platforms and artificial intelligence.“

The paper said that future agricultural systems will rely on robots, sensors, and big data analytics that enable principal operators to “manage their fields with improved precision on both spatial and temporal scales.”

While progress marches on, there does not appear to be any near-term automated harvest solutions for many produce crops. There is no panacea here now, or under development, that will effortlessly remove the necessity for a heavy reliance on field workers for harvest of apples, oranges, artichokes and countless other crops.

In a recent post to the LinkedIn Fresh Produce Industry Discussion Group, I asked these questions:
 

“What is the most notable labor-saving invention/new technology in the fresh produce industry during the past decade? What will be the next big achievement?”

Some responses:

•  "The evolution of online ordering in the food service industry."
• "Ordering workflows for the [purchase order] and ordering workflows [for buyers/suppliers] has made a huge impact in labor savings for the procurement and sales teams. As for labor savings in-field and produce production, in the last decade, wireless internet availability has made the biggest impact. This connectivity has allowed smartphones and mobile data devices/[internet of things] ... to streamline many of the data collection, irrigation controls and paperless solutions. Ten years ago, it was much more difficult to get internet connectivity compared to now. I think that the next big achievements will come from further development and mainstreaming of robotics and automation to take on the more manual tasks which are done by people today."
• "At retail level, advancements in package design, including stand-up bags and top-seal containers, have allowed for simpler shelf-level replenishment and rotation, while still providing attractive displays that keeps the product as the hero."
• "Over the past decade, the most notable advancement is the growth of innovative supply chain platforms that connect the buyers and sellers. The next big achievement will be controlled-environment agriculture, [which] will continue to gain momentum within the marketplace."
• "Top seal has been a game changer on so many levels. I was fortunate to have been on a tour in early 2012-2013 visiting a top-seal manufacturer and was taken to one of the berry customers overseas. I was blown away at the speed and volume these machines could pump through. The man hours saved in packing and the machine paid for itself in no time. Fast-forward a decade later, nearly every major greenhouse grower who packs multiple varieties of snacking tomatoes has invested in this technology to increase operational efficiencies. From a brand marketing perspective, we are able to get even more creative with preprinted film to ensure the customer has the appropriate product info in front of them."
• "We are always looking for what's next."
• "Robotics. Answers both questions."

I loved the responses from the group. The nonobvious choices of packing technology/information systems as important labor-saving factors remind us that the next labor-saving breakthrough could come from a surprising source.

A farmer feeds 154 and you, but not without a lot of help from technology and hundreds of thousands of farmworkers.