With the world population, set to grow by 2bn by 2050, the challenge of feeding the world from the land available on the planet is one of science’s biggest concerns. Agriculture has evolved to meet these demands; yields of crops and milk have risen by 50% in some cases over the last 30 years. Production cycles in beef animals have shortened to 16 months. So farming is more efficient now.
With the world population, set to grow by 2bn by 2050, the challenge of feeding the world from the land available on the planet is one of science’s biggest concerns.
Agriculture has evolved to meet these demands; yields of crops and milk have risen by 50% in some cases over the last 30 years. Production cycles in beef animals have shortened to 16 months. So farming is more efficient now.
The forgotten part often is the machine, taking the crop of wheat for example. A modern combine harvester has the potential to harvest 500t or 100 acres in the day. That volume of grain will produce around 410t of flour. That means a combine in a single day is capable of harvesting enough flour to make 820,000 loaves of bread, or help to feed 820,000 people in one day.
Combines 40 years back could only produce one-fifth of that amount. Machines are playing a vital role in efficient farming, and the FTMTA Farm Machinery Show will give Irish farmers a chance to see what is new out there next week.
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