Food & Beverage Asia October/November 2022

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INGREDIENTS
water waste low by delivering water directly
to a plant’s roots through micro sprays
and sprinklers to cover larger surfaces.
Asia has access to a diverse range
of natural water resources, making it
important to manage and even restore
what is available, from rainwater to lakes.
Conservation methods like rainwater
harvesting can help farmers tap into
periods of intense rainfall, helping recharge
groundwater levels as well as storing
them away for use during drier seasons.
Beyond identifying best practices, smart
technology can also play a key role in
providing farmers with greater control
over resource consumption through
remote access. Farms around the world
are gradually running their pump systems
with sensors and remote management
units that allows complete control all at
one's fingertips via their smartphones.
AGRICULTURE’S ENERGY
TRANSITION
Agriculture’s tremendous water use also has
other greater implications. Processes like
irrigation which lifts and moves water around
farms using pumping systems consume a
lot of energy. Traditional agriculture systems
are powered by electricity generated by
the burning of fossil fuels, which in turn
contributes to climate change through the
contribution of greenhouse gas emissions.
To ensure a more resilient global food system,
it is important to explore ways we can reduce
agriculture’s energy consumption overall.
One way is by incorporating technology into
agricultural systems which can ensure water
use is optimised and in turn less pumping is
required, which can make a huge difference in
reducing the amount of energy used overall.
While reviewing how we can reduce
consumption, it is also crucial to transition
towards renewable sources of energy,
such as solar. Solar-powered pumping
systems present a cost effective, flexible,
and secure water supply solution using
clean energy. Utilising solar power reduces
energy costs substantially and saves
on the costs of energy infrastructure,
wherever the application is installed.
Beyond tapping into a renewable energy
source, solar-powered pumping systems
are also especially useful for remote or rural
areas where water is scarce and power
supply is non-existent or unreliable.
When it comes to tapping into solar
energy, Australia has a huge natural
advantage with an abundance of sun and
vast, flat expanses of land, and is well
on its way in establishing best practices
and industry cases for further learning.
For example, in Queensland, the Barfield
Station requires a reliable supply of fresh,
clean water to run its 15,500-acre organic
beef operation. Its extensive watering
infrastructure utilises solar pumping
systems capable of delivering a far wider
water supply and substantial savings.
SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE
AS THE WAY FORWARD
Access to food is a basic human right.
The urgency of food security is not oneoff,
driven by recent global events. It
will remain necessary for us to examine
how we can strengthen food production
while addressing emerging economic,
environmental, and societal challenges.
The benefits sustainable agriculture
bring to the table means that it has
an undeniable role to play in feeding
the growing worldwide population
while reducing the industry’s impact
on climate change. We are in the
golden age of innovative technologies
and precision agriculture which can
greatly help farmers do more with less
water and energy, and we need to
tap into it so that we can continue to
feed the generations to come. FBA
*References are available on request.