How artificial farming outperforms traditional methods

Sep 01, 2023

The answer to global food scarcity might be in artificial farming. A significant study from the University of Surrey underscores how controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) can not only double lettuce output but also grow crops much faster.

In their extensive study that reviewed 120 published works, researchers zeroed in on CEA's impact on lettuce growth. The results where astounding CEA methods averaged a yield of 3.68 kg m−2, overshadowing the 1.88 kg m−2 yield of conventional farming. Moreover, while conventional methods take 60-120 days to cultivate lettuce, CEA takes a mere 40 days.

When CEA was applied to vertical farming, the yield shot up to 6.88 kg m−2. Dr. Zoe M. Harris, a key contributor to the study, believes CEA is pivotal in addressing food security concerns, especially given our changing climate. This vital research, now part of the 'Plants' journal, hopes to inspire more exploration in the realm of CEA.

The University of Surrey is committed to making sure the environment is healthy and safe. It is working hard to tackle climate change and has set a goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

Source : wisconsinagconnection

Video: What Does 20 MILLION Hogs a Year Look Like?

?? The Multi-Plant System Processing 20 Million Hogs Annually in the Midwest JBS USA operates multiple large-scale pork processing facilities across the Midwest, including major plants in Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana. Combined, these facilities have the capacity to process approximately 20 million hogs annually.

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Hog procurement is coordinated through electronic marketing platforms that connect regional contract finishing operations and independent producers to plant demand schedules. This digital procurement system allows for steady supply flow and scheduling efficiency across multiple facilities.

Processing plants incorporate comprehensive food safety systems, including pathogen intervention technologies, rapid chilling processes, and integrated cold-chain management. USDA inspection is embedded throughout the harvest and fabrication stages to ensure regulatory compliance and product integrity. Finished pork products — from bulk primals to retail-ready packaged cuts — are distributed through coordinated logistics networks serving domestic and export markets.