Around the world, governments, agriculture companies, and individual farmers are increasingly concerned about how much food is grown and produced. “The globe currently faces numerous food-related issues, ranging from a lack of biodiversity to excessive waste, and from ill health caused by excessive consumption to widespread food insecurity,” Ahmed Zainul Abideen, a professor at the Faculty of Industrial Management at the University Malaysia Pahang in Malaysia, noted in a research paper. 

Those factors are intensifying the global food security problem. “By 2050, food demand is anticipated to increase [between] 59% [and] 98%,” Abideen noted. “This will shape agricultural markets in unprecedented ways.” 

That requires farmers to improve cultivation “either by increasing crop production on existing agricultural land or by raising crop productivity on existing agricultural lands through fertilizer and irrigation, as well as adopting innovative [solutions],” noted Abideen.

High risk

The agriculture sector faces two major environmental issues. First, as more farmers plant more crops to meet rising global demand, the more ecological damage they cause. The other is that growing produce relies on non-renewable resources: freshwater, fertile soil, pesticides, and seeds, among others.  

“It’s no secret that environmental concerns are front-of-mind for many today,” Bryson Funk, director of marketing at Eden Green Technology, a developer of sustainable agriculture solutions, wrote in a company blog post. “Traditional farming methods have sometimes found themselves on the wrong side of sustainability.”

He explained that whether farmers use ancient or modern agriculture methods and practices, they all “contribute to deforestation, water pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, and soil degradation.” 

Some of the most harmful practices are “monoculture and factory farming,” Funk said. The former is when farmers grow a single crop on large plots to increase efficiency, which exhausts the soil’s fertility. Factory farming is when too many livestock graze on the same fertile land to increase profits.

Ensuring land fertility in the long run is expensive. “Transitioning to eco-friendly agriculture often involves a substantial initial investment,” Funk said. “This can include costs for new equipment and training in sustainable farming techniques.” Then there is the question of how much time it takes for soil to recover from conventional practices,” he added.

Hitting the bullseye

The International Journal of Environmental & Agriculture Research (IJEAR), a peer-reviewed publication, listed precision agriculture among the top crop cultivation trends. It “uses technology such as GPS, drones, and [internet of things] sensors to optimize farming practices,” The IJEAR explained. “These tools help farmers analyze soil conditions, monitor crop health, and apply fertilizers or pesticides only where needed, reducing waste and environmental impact.” 

Jiffy Growing Solutions, a supplier of sustainable agriculture equipment, said implementing such systems would require “the integration of robotics, [artificial intelligence (AI)] and machine learning,” stressing that such technologies have “gone from a ‘future trend’ to a practice being adopted more widely.”

The paper explained that “Robotics, machines have the ability to conduct seeding, transplanting, harvesting, pest control, and scouting,” adding, “AI-driven predictive models are enabling more precise yield forecasts, while self-learning climate systems continuously adapt to maximize growth conditions.”

Less water

Eventually, demand for freshwater will surpass supply. Meanwhile, climate change is expected to increase rainfall in traditionally dry locations, while rainy areas become drier.  By 2030, “global freshwater demand will outpace supply by 40%,” stressed the IJEAR. “With agriculture accounting for roughly 70% of freshwater withdrawals, these technologies are increasingly essential to help us protect our resources.”

One solution could be regenerative agriculture, which improves soil structure, increases organic matter, and enhances biodiversity, the journal noted. Another solution is “organic and agroecological farming,” which meets consumer demand for food grown using organic fertilizers and is free from chemicals. 

A third solution is advanced irrigation systems, where AI advises farmers on irrigation scheduling and develops advanced desalination processes to optimize water use. “Beyond traditional closed-loop water systems, companies are incorporating AI-driven moisture monitoring, predictive analytics, and fogponics (a variation of aeroponics) to cut water usage even further,” said Jiffy Growing Solutions. “Growers are also increasingly looking to substrates that can retain moisture, while also allowing for optimal drainage and aeration to protect plant health.”

Horizontal to vertical 

A future-proof cultivation approach is vertical and urban farming (done inside purpose-built multi-story buildings), which uses no soil and minimal water, making it “a solution for growing food in cities,” the IJEAR noted. Jiffy Growing Solutions estimates that no-soil crops can use up to 90% less water.

Another advantage is that vertical farming places fresh produce directly next to end consumers, reducing logistics costs and delays, and consequently lowering consumer prices.

Vertical farming also allows diversification of crop portfolios, said Jiffy Growing Solutions. “While leafy greens still dominate, vertical farms are moving into higher-margin categories like berries, mushrooms, and specialty herbs.”

Renewable soil

Ensuring soil fertility is another crucial part of sustainable agriculture. According to the IJEAR, maintaining nutrient levels in arable lands starts with “incentivizing [the] adoption [of] practices that sequester carbon in the soil, such as agroforestry and biochar application.” “This helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions while improving soil fertility.” 

Jiffy Growing Solutions said using sustainable organic soil made from wood fiber, coir (fiber from the outer husk of coconuts), and composted green waste, instead of relying on the soil’s natural ability to restore fertility levels. The former is equally crucial for countries building a circular economy with zero waste and maintaining soil fertility. 

Regulatory pressures are accelerating the shift to artificial soil, especially in Europe and North America. “Those who adopt these materials could gain a competitive edge as regulatory pressure intensifies,” Jiffy Growing Solutions noted.

 Meanwhile, companies like Insect Biotech are researching how insects can be used to recover soil fertility after harvesting in preparation for a new planting cycle. “You’re dumping a whole load of microbiology into the soil and stimulating the plants’ immune system,” Tobias Webb, company co-founder and chief sustainability officer, told Earth.Org. “The insect business is an enabler for regenerative agriculture,” Jiffy Growing Solutions noted. 

Not for everyone

Not every country, agriculture company, or consumer will find the transition to sustainable agriculture possible or feasible. “While many multinational agribusinesses in Europe, along with some in North America and Asia, are embracing regenerative agriculture, some smaller farmers are expected to struggle with the transition,” said Genevieve Hilton, a writer for Earth.Org.

Funk of Eden Green Technologies noted that such a transition would require substantial investment. “This can include costs for new equipment and training in sustainable farming techniques. [It also] takes time for soil to recover from conventional practices,” he said.

That becomes a bigger problem as more countries enforce sustainable farming practices. “Legislation will further widen the gap, increasing funding to large-scale agriculture commodity support programs,” said Hilton.

For consumers, sustainably grown foods are more expensive than traditionally grown produce, making them less accessible.

For those who can afford it, the primary reason to pay extra is the assurance of “better, higher-quality produce,” Bianca Dendena, a senior project manager at PUR, a nature-based solution project implementer, told Earth.Org.

Proving foods’ environmental credentials to potential buyers is indispensable. “Certification is a bridge that builds trust between the manufacturer and the market, the manufacturer and the customer,” David Baggs, CEO of Global GreenTag International, a certification program, told Earth.Org.  

Ultimately, the cost of growing eco-friendly crops should drop because of “lower operational costs due to reduced inputs like chemical fertilizers and pesticides, enhanced soil health that can sustain high yields … and potentially higher market prices for eco-friendly or speciality products,” said Funk. That “can [even] lead to higher profitability for sustainable farmers.”