Cars are an essential part of daily transportation and comfort, but the ones fueled by fossil derivatives emit greenhouse gases and pollute the air. Electricity-based alternatives are an excellent solution for mass car use because there is no emission and they work on electricity only. The core idea of the project is designing an agricultural electric tractor fueled by an eco-friendly power source with an appealing look and design.
Main text
The main focus audience of the electric tractor is a farmer and any agricultural worker. However, it will be important to provide them with charging stations and collaborate with the government. Electric tractors will lessen the overall pollution, and there will be less poising of agricultural products by fumes. In addition, the tractors are not high-speed vehicles, which allows placing large batteries in it; thus, increasing its volume of work.
Recently, the development of inductive-capacitive machines, they combine the principles of operation of both mechanisms, but have not yet been in mass production and are not used as industrial converters. Based on these facts, inductive machines can most often be found. However, the Tesla cars partially operate on these mechanisms (Paterson et al. 1982). It is necessary to create a magnetic field in order to run these engines. It is formed in a smooth air gap that exists between the stator, a part of the structure that does not move, and a rotor, a moving part of the machine. Transforming energy, the units are able to launch into action a variety of mechanisms.
It is important to analyze and provide a demonstration of how the electric tractor will operate and the principles behind it. Electromechanical units that convert energy are used in various fields of human activity. The uniqueness of their action is that they can perform both the functions of engines, transforming electrical energy into mechanical energy and functions of generators, which is changing mechanical energy into electrical power. For example, Nissan Leaf can serve as an illustration of these ideas (Kulkarni et al. 1143). The principle of reversibility has made electric cars very popular. These technologies are applied for simple and complex mechanisms, to generate various types of energy. To concept is demonstrated in the picture below.
Figure 1. Electric tractor concept.
In everyday life and industry, tractors are simply indispensable, and they are constantly modernized and improved. With the invention of innovation, their cost is reduced, and quality indicators are developed, so these machines are becoming more and more accessible to consumers. However, these vehicles lack an outstanding design, which would make the agricultural industry and farming more appealing and market presentable. The proper conceptual design will lead to more popularity in the media and increased funding (Newman, p. 59). The main unique feature of the given electric tractor is an electromagnetic interaction that makes it possible to convert one type of energy into another. Chinese BYD companies are designing electric tractors by applying the given interactive forces (George and Besselink, p. 151). Electronic machines are inductive when a magnetic field is involved in a transformation, and capacitive when an electric field is included. The latter type of unit is used extremely rare because it has very large losses.
Since such mechanisms are used in almost all areas of human activity, they are constantly modernized, supplemented by new elements, and developed. Scientists create electric cars that run on ecological, nuclear, and natural fuels, for example, on wind and river energy. The main task of science today is to increase the quality characteristics of aggregates, simplify control mechanisms, improve efficiency and lower the cost of installations.
There are many advantages of electric tractors and cars overall, such as cost reduction, pollution decrease, less noise, and affordability. An electric vehicle is a great way to save on fuel. The cost of gasoline is gradually increasing, and often, fuel costs take up a large part of the family budget, and the energy bill for recharging batteries should be significantly less than these costs.
A running engine does not emit any harmful gases or other substances so that by itself it does not pollute the environment. The electricity production process needs to be considered and evaluated. Ideally, to minimize the environmental impact, it should be provided from clean and renewable energy sources. Therefore, the harmful substances are still released during the operation of an electric car, the only pollution occurs at the location of electricity production and not in the city.
Electric motors are quite capable of delivering quiet and smooth acceleration, and they also can give high levels of speed. Moreover, gone are the days when buying an electric car meant spending a fortune. A modern electric car can even be repaired by hand, and at the same time, this vehicle has a lower maintenance cost. There was a time when batteries were costly, but mass production decreased the price. The electric motor does not need lubrication, and it is not mandatory to visit the oil-maintenance stations as often as with gasoline-based engines.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the improvement of new technologies makes the tractors available to a wide range of farmers, and measures are taken to develop the overall maintenance and extend the machines lifecycle. It is convenient to use such mechanisms on an agricultural and industrial-scale since each of the types of engines has broad functionality.
Works Cited
George, Ashwin D., and Igo Besselink. Rear Suspension Design for an In-Wheel Drive Electric Car. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, vol. 230, no. 2, 2016, pp. 147-159.
Kulkarni, Ambarish, et al. A Quarter-Car Suspension Model for Dynamic Evaluations of an in-Wheel Electric Vehicle. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, vol. 232, no. 9, 2018, pp. 1139-1148.
Newman, Daniel. The Car and the Commons. Review of Radical Political Economics, vol. 48, no. 1, 2016, pp. 53-65.
Paterson, Sam, et al. Design and Development of the Sunswift EVe Solar Vehicle: A Record-Breaking Electric Car. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, vol. 230, no. 14, 2016, pp. 1972-1986.
Within a rapid growth of population, increased scarcity of resources, as well as dramatic climate changes, the agricultural sector is currently facing a number of challenges. These are essential issues to consider since they might jeopardize the natural resources, ecosystems, and livelihoods in general. The impacts on agronomics may lead to economic and social outcomes, and affect nutrition security within its core dimensions, including food accessibility, food availability, food utilization, and food systems stability (Ramasamy et al., 2017, p. 17). Objects and sensors with access to the Internet can be supplied anywhere for the information gathering on humidity level and crop health.
Therefore, data can be available to farmers via tablets and smartphones due to manual and automated options. Thompson (2019) states that the application of drones (UAVs) in agriculture, specifically in the United Kingdom, can promote the enhancement of the crops and reduce the usage of pesticides. According to Puri et al. (2017, p. 510), the agriculture drones are beneficial for agriculture farm analysis, time saving, higher agricultural yield, GIS mapping integration, and imaging of crop health Status. Based on the estimation of Grand View Research, the commercial scale for the agricultural drones is expected to exceed USD 3770 million by 2024 (Patel, 2018, para. 15). However, the drone system enforcement is currently facing strict British laws due to its potential threat to life and ethical issues.
Analysis of the External Macro and Micro Environment of Agriculture
In terms of changes in the external environment, one should consider the political, economic, social, technological, legislative, and environmental changes, which is known as PESTLE analysis. According to the PESTLE analysis report of the UK, the agricultural sector decreased by a mean rate of 2.67% during 2002-14, with agrarian output reached GBP9.56 billion ($15.51 billion) in 2014 (MarketLine, 2015). Agriculture in the United Kingdom is a labour-intensive and highly mechanised sector, which produces 60% of nutrition needs with under 1.6% of the workforce. Agriculture in the UK is a highly technological industry, which engages only 1.4% of the population. This geographical region has a high population density and a comparative lack of land. With that said, only a third part of gross output is involved in arable farming.
With regard to the opportunities and threats concerning different stakeholders, they might be involved in the inventory stage of the project. This includes the ministries of agriculture, farmers associations, crop production boards, and farmers cooperatives and unions, commercial pesticide users, the pesticide industry, and others. The importance of stakeholders varies by country and can also be impacted by the extent of the project. As such, the extent limitation might as well limit the number of stakeholders interested in the project. The expansion of the scope by involving available pesticide and outdated stocks in agriculture requires the broadening of the list of stakeholders and clear determination of their roles during project implementation.
Conclusion: Advice to BEA19 Technologies Ltd.
The key forces that may impact BEA19 entering the agriculture market involve the political, economic, and societal sectors. To be more specific, the weakening relations with the European Union, lack of skilled personnel, regulatory control over indigenous innovations, and the loss of export market shares are the challenges for the country to consider. Furthermore, the increase in R&D (research and development) expenses is noted as a positive factor, however, there is a challenge of the enhanced cyber-attacks.
The use of drones is an evolving and fundamental approach in the farming and agricultural sector in general since they are capable of completing a variety of tasks. This implies sprinkling pesticides, taking farm photos with GPS technology, and supplying information about water and fertilizer level. This tracking device can be easily monitored manually or with the aid of on-ground IoT sensors. Such technology provides current data and significantly contributes to the overall advancement of the agriculture industry. Ultimately, the critical challenge within the agriculture sector implies balancing economic expansion with progress in ecological status, which is complicated by the enhanced competition from emerging markets.
Reference List
MarketLine (2015). PESTLE country analysis report: United Kingdom. MarketLine.
Puri, V., Nayyar, A. and Raja, L. (2017). Agriculture drones: a modern breakthrough in precision agriculture. Journal of Statistics and Management Systems, 20(4), pp. 507518.
Ramasamy, S., Semedo, M., Castro Salazar, R. and Frick, M. (2017). Tracking adaptation in agricultural sectors: Climate change adaptation Indicators. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
The intensification of the deep penetration of information technology (IT) in all areas of life has naturally led to the development of strategies to use it everywhere to optimize processes. One such area for which IT provides particular value and enables significant streamlining of operations and production is the agricultural sector. In particular, this industry continues to face challenges, including increasing demand due to population growth, the disruptive effects of climate crises and supply chain disruptions, demands for greener, higher quality products, and the growing popularity of this sector among younger consumers. Addressing these challenges is a crucial challenge for todays agriculture industry, so stakeholders need to make the most of opportunities that facilitate optimization, including IT resources.
The most attractive and rapidly growing Internet technology is blockchain. In simple terms, a blockchain should be defined as a continuous chain of virtual blocks containing unique information of any kind. Traditionally, blockchains have been associated with cryptocurrency technology, but in reality, blockchains can contain any information, including agricultural data (Bodkhe et al., 2020). A unique property of blockchain is the inability to delete or edit the information that has already been entered, but the ability to add new information, resulting in distributed ledger chains of increasing power. Another essential property of blockchain is the transparency with which users with access can access registry entries, which saves high workflow costs. The following sections will discuss in detail how blockchain can be used in the agricultural sector and what potential problems this could lead to. Thus, this paper aims to situate blockchain technology within the agricultural industry in light of the corresponding comprehensive review.
Using Blockchain in the Agricultural Sector
The main production task of the agricultural industry is to adequately provide the population with high-quality products that meet not only food security standards but also demand. However, rapid population growth and increasing environmental awareness among consumers are putting additional strain on the industry and creating demands for greater transparency in farm operations. Research shows that 9 out of 10 respondents believe it is essential to know about the availability of quality certificates for agricultural products, as well as compliance standards and the fertilizers and chemicals used in growing food (Figure 1.1). These responses lead to the conclusion that the agricultural industry must invest in developing transparency and consumer loyalty to meet needs effectively.
Figure 1.1 Results of the consumer survey in identifying critical requests from the agricultural industry (Lenniy, 2022).
The technological transformation of the agricultural industry is already underway today, as realized through the use of IT sensors and drones to track growth dynamics, map territories, and automate soil quality analysis. In this sense, transferring blockchain expertise from other industries to this sector would not only support current trends and demonstrate the industrys high commitment to technology but also literally simplify most of the operations being managed. One such operation is supply chain management, the efficiency of which is critical to agriculture. Reduced logistical productivity leads to supply disruption and potential hunger and affects the economic well-being of the community. Blockchain can improve sustainable supply chain management by creating a digital registry that contains information about the whereabouts of a particular product and its pathways, and all authorized users, that is, logistics partners, will have access to this information (Chandan et al., 2019). In other words, using blockchain to solve supply chain problems increases transparency, trust, security, and accessibility between partners, which benefits supply chain management. The use of blockchain also invests in better process automation, resulting in a significant increase in the speed of communication and access to data which entails a positive effect on supply chain establishment.
Thus, blockchains main impact on the agricultural industry is the significant optimization of operations and processes. However, the reputational impact cannot be ignored: the widespread use of IT in the industry is expected to increase young consumers confidence in the sector. More specifically, an understanding of the modernity and technological sophistication of the farming industry, entailing a perception of the real benefits of this, will allow consumers to take a greater interest in the industry. Eventually, this may lead to an increase in the number of specialists in this field and an increase in the attractiveness of the farming profession. While this section has looked at the example of supply chain management and increasing the attractiveness of the sector, in reality, the potential opportunities for blockchain technology in this industry are much broader; most require the combination of this technology with the Internet of Things (IoT) tools.
Blockchain and IoT Synthesis
While IoT is a broad concept used in many different senses depending on the industry, the general understanding of the term needs to be reduced to the physical objects between which data is transferred. Thus, IoT aims to eliminate the need for human involvement in routine processes, which means that sensors that automatically replace humans are actively used to implement this concept. The combination of such sensors with blockchain technologies makes it possible to meet the growing demands in the direction of the agricultural industry as well.
On an agri-farm, IoT sensors function as automated devices that monitor the behavior of a specific factor and signal when it has changed. For example, if the soil moisture or its mineral composition has been changed, such sensors inform the owners about the changes as they sense a deviation from the norm set in their program. If one adds a blockchain unit to this IoT human sensor system, the transfer of information and control will be automated and will not require the direct participation of a human. The information collected by the IoT is structured and modified with the addition of additional metadata before being transferred to the blockchain in the context of an agri-farm, this could be the time of signal fixation and a specific section of the field. In turn, the information in the blockchain is stored and cannot be modified, ensuring that all historical data has been stored. Connecting additional IoT devices to the IPFS that affect changes in this data and are capable of making machine learning-based decisions allows the agri-farm to automate the response; for example, a device could trigger unscheduled watering of a field if the soil dries out (Kumar et al., 2021). Capturing historical data in large volumes will, in turn, allow the agri-farm to more deeply understand the dynamics of its assets and make timely adjustments without driving the situation into a crisis. Decentralized management of the system, which is realized through saving data in the IPFS protocol, also minimizes the risk of complete failure, which is especially relevant in the case of the need for a long-term lack of human supervision over the assets of the agri-farm or extremely large agricultural areas, unautomated management of which is impossible. The described scenario has a vast number of applications because the basic idea, namely the automatized response of electronic devices to factor changes, proves to be valuable for solving any agrotechnical problem. For example, a slight increase in the number of locusts captured through motion or sound sensors can help prevent field destruction. Alternatively, IoT flood sensors can register any abnormal changes in soil moisture levels and proactively turn on pumping or dewatering systems to keep crops from dying.
In addition to climatic and biogenic crises, agri-farm management is associated with severe economic risks and a constant desire to maximize profits by reducing costs. In this context, blockchain finds another application as a transparent, secure, and unbreakable database. Any information about transactions, purchases, and budget reallocations is automatically recorded and made available via a system of access to interested parties. Such parties could include an audit that verifies the purity of cash flow and suggests any changes or recommendations to the agri-farm based on the financial data collected by the IoT (Shaver, 2020). In this sense, auditing has the potential to become a linear rather than a point-by-point audit of the company, which entails restructuring capital management in a more efficient way.
A Look at Supply Chain Optimization
The traditional agribusiness supply chain involves the production of food directly on agri-farms, followed by distribution to warehouses and distribution on an auction basis to retail stores and markets. The blockchain supply chain, as already discussed, guarantees greater security and availability of logistical data at all stages of distribution. In a farm-to-market project, blockchain, combined with IoT, can be used to reduce asset fraud, enabling supply chain optimization. For example, IoT devices automatically record data on the quality, provenance, and growth conditions of produce and record them via IPFS (Kumar et al., 2021). IoTs can also be used during the transportation stages of production to monitor transportation conditions, including temperature, average machine variations during movement, and humidity, and take preventive measures to save the crop from rotting if any of the indicators deviate abnormally. The auction can also be modified using smart contracts, in which sellers aware of all critical crop information bid their price (Hewa et al., 2021). As a result of the most favorable offers, the system selects a seller and sends them the produce. Notably, at all stages, customers can access the data view with the producers permission (e.g., QR on packaging or RFID), so they can learn about growing, storage, and transportation conditions before deciding to purchase the product and not buy questionable products (Xu et al., 2021). The described example shows how useful combining IoT with distributed registry systems can be to improve each partys experience in a farm-to-market project.
Benefits of Blockchain in the Agriculture Industry
The previous sections have described the potential applications of blockchain and IoT technology in agribusiness, and many scenarios have been discussed in which it can be beneficial. In fact, the benefits of blockchain are not limited to the applications described but are much broader. For example, when implementing a blockchain supply chain, a significant benefit is solving the problem of counterfeit products in the marketplace. The ability of a consumer to read product information using QR or RFID allows them to verify that they are buying quality products that have passed the certification stages, which is the most important preference for the end consumer (Figure 1.1). In fact, authentication in blockchain shipments can be performed at every stage, as shown in Figure 4.1 relevant barcodes and other identification systems allow stakeholders to track previous manufacturing and processing steps and weed out counterfeit products before they reach the market. This increases confidence in the safety of the goods supplied and minimizes reputational risks for supply chain participants.
Figure 4.1 Stages of a blockchain-based supply chain with authentication capabilities (Lenniy, 2022).
For manufacturing companies, an established blockchain-based supply chain also allows them to control all stages of the supply and track value-added mechanisms. If a manufacturer realizes that its value proposition is not competitive due to high value-added, thanks to blockchain, the manufacturer identifies the location of maximizing the final value and decides to restructure the collaboration. Additionally, the blockchain captures the number of connections to it through tags on the packaging. Storing statistical patterns of this connection using machine learning allows understanding at what time of the day the consumer is most likely to buy a particular product, which allows to adjust the processes of bringing more effectively in new goods and managing demand so that the minimum amount of sold products is spoiled.
Tracking farm-growth patterns using IoT and blockchain also allows supply to be predicted by refining the quality and safety of produce. If a substantial portion of a crop were found to be unsuitable due to climatic conditions, this could be captured in advance on a particular growers blockchain, enabling retailers to take preventive measures to preserve supply in the marketplace. Among other things, this will simplify the insurance claims process, as the insurance company will have direct evidence of the objectivity of damage caused by climate fluctuations. In addition, blockchain can record the specific amount of work that was done by farmers in production, which in turn allows for a more equitable distribution of wages on a piecework basis. Another important consequence of using blockchain in the agricultural industry is the minimization of waste. Since blockchain allows any irregularities to be tracked and recorded, it is also expected to allow waste to be identified at all stages of distribution and decisions to be made on how to reduce this waste in the future.
Cybersecurity Issues
Although blockchain is fully protected from editing the information contained within blocks, has cryptographic algorithms to protect data, and is decentralized, this does not make this system utterly immune to unauthorized access and cybersecurity threats. Because information is now stored on virtual servers, having physical access to it through, for example, social engineering techniques increases the risk of unauthorized access to blockchain data. This is especially dangerous when a companys commercially sensitive data is stored on the blockchain, as access by fraudsters or competitors could entail financial and reputational risks. Another cybersecurity threat to a blockchain is the 51% Attack, in which a majority of stakeholders conspire against a minority, which can cause damage to the producer in the event that distribution companies enter into fights to discredit the farm.
In the intelligent farming system, it is fair to recognize that it is not the blockchain itself that is more vulnerable but rather IoT devices. Hacking such electronic devices poses a severe danger to the producer, as fraudsters can change the software code of the sensors, leading to unexpected detrimental effects for the farm: lack of preventive fixation of floods, droughts, or locusts (Tsiknas et al., 2021). In other words, the grower will not be able to take preventive control measures because tampered sensors will not detect the problem in the early stages, resulting in the entire crop being ruined. The farms competitors can take advantage of such a strategy to eliminate the producer from the market and increase their profits by reducing market supply. Cybersecurity threats do not necessarily involve intentionally damaging the farms assets attackers can use covert tracking systems loaded into IoT devices to monitor the producers processes and operations. Ultimately, this could be used against a particular agri-farm, resulting in reputational and economic damage.
Conclusion
To summarize, blockchain technology is a revolutionary solution for the agricultural industry, as it enables significant optimization of internal processes and operations and the initiative-taking management of problems. This paper has shown several of the most promising scenarios for the use of IoT technology and blockchain in agribusiness, which always results in improved production efficiency. Nevertheless, when deciding to invest in such technologies, the producing company must be aware of possible cyber risks, which have also been discussed in this paper.
Cars are an essential part of daily transportation and comfort, but the ones fueled by fossil derivatives emit greenhouse gases and pollute the air. Electricity-based alternatives are an excellent solution for mass car use because there is no emission and they work on electricity only. The core idea of the project is designing an agricultural electric tractor fueled by an eco-friendly power source with an appealing look and design.
Main text
The main focus audience of the electric tractor is a farmer and any agricultural worker. However, it will be important to provide them with charging stations and collaborate with the government. Electric tractors will lessen the overall pollution, and there will be less poising of agricultural products by fumes. In addition, the tractors are not high-speed vehicles, which allows placing large batteries in it; thus, increasing its volume of work.
Recently, the development of inductive-capacitive machines, they combine the principles of operation of both mechanisms, but have not yet been in mass production and are not used as industrial converters. Based on these facts, inductive machines can most often be found. However, the Tesla cars partially operate on these mechanisms (Paterson et al. 1982). It is necessary to create a magnetic field in order to run these engines. It is formed in a smooth air gap that exists between the stator, a part of the structure that does not move, and a rotor, a moving part of the machine. Transforming energy, the units are able to launch into action a variety of mechanisms.
It is important to analyze and provide a demonstration of how the electric tractor will operate and the principles behind it. Electromechanical units that convert energy are used in various fields of human activity. The uniqueness of their action is that they can perform both the functions of engines, transforming electrical energy into mechanical energy and functions of generators, which is changing mechanical energy into electrical power. For example, Nissan Leaf can serve as an illustration of these ideas (Kulkarni et al. 1143). The principle of reversibility has made electric cars very popular. These technologies are applied for simple and complex mechanisms, to generate various types of energy. To concept is demonstrated in the picture below.
Figure 1. Electric tractor concept.
In everyday life and industry, tractors are simply indispensable, and they are constantly modernized and improved. With the invention of innovation, their cost is reduced, and quality indicators are developed, so these machines are becoming more and more accessible to consumers. However, these vehicles lack an outstanding design, which would make the agricultural industry and farming more appealing and market presentable. The proper conceptual design will lead to more popularity in the media and increased funding (Newman, p. 59). The main unique feature of the given electric tractor is an electromagnetic interaction that makes it possible to convert one type of energy into another. Chinese BYD companies are designing electric tractors by applying the given interactive forces (George and Besselink, p. 151). Electronic machines are inductive when a magnetic field is involved in a transformation, and capacitive when an electric field is included. The latter type of unit is used extremely rare because it has very large losses.
Since such mechanisms are used in almost all areas of human activity, they are constantly modernized, supplemented by new elements, and developed. Scientists create electric cars that run on ecological, nuclear, and natural fuels, for example, on wind and river energy. The main task of science today is to increase the quality characteristics of aggregates, simplify control mechanisms, improve efficiency and lower the cost of installations.
There are many advantages of electric tractors and cars overall, such as cost reduction, pollution decrease, less noise, and affordability. An electric vehicle is a great way to save on fuel. The cost of gasoline is gradually increasing, and often, fuel costs take up a large part of the family budget, and the energy bill for recharging batteries should be significantly less than these costs.
A running engine does not emit any harmful gases or other substances so that by itself it does not pollute the environment. The electricity production process needs to be considered and evaluated. Ideally, to minimize the environmental impact, it should be provided from clean and renewable energy sources. Therefore, the harmful substances are still released during the operation of an electric car, the only pollution occurs at the location of electricity production and not in the city.
Electric motors are quite capable of delivering quiet and smooth acceleration, and they also can give high levels of speed. Moreover, gone are the days when buying an electric car meant spending a fortune. A modern electric car can even be repaired by hand, and at the same time, this vehicle has a lower maintenance cost. There was a time when batteries were costly, but mass production decreased the price. The electric motor does not need lubrication, and it is not mandatory to visit the oil-maintenance stations as often as with gasoline-based engines.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the improvement of new technologies makes the tractors available to a wide range of farmers, and measures are taken to develop the overall maintenance and extend the machines lifecycle. It is convenient to use such mechanisms on an agricultural and industrial-scale since each of the types of engines has broad functionality.
Works Cited
George, Ashwin D., and Igo Besselink. Rear Suspension Design for an In-Wheel Drive Electric Car. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, vol. 230, no. 2, 2016, pp. 147-159.
Kulkarni, Ambarish, et al. A Quarter-Car Suspension Model for Dynamic Evaluations of an in-Wheel Electric Vehicle. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, vol. 232, no. 9, 2018, pp. 1139-1148.
Newman, Daniel. The Car and the Commons. Review of Radical Political Economics, vol. 48, no. 1, 2016, pp. 53-65.
Paterson, Sam, et al. Design and Development of the Sunswift EVe Solar Vehicle: A Record-Breaking Electric Car. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part D: Journal of Automobile Engineering, vol. 230, no. 14, 2016, pp. 1972-1986.
Within a rapid growth of population, increased scarcity of resources, as well as dramatic climate changes, the agricultural sector is currently facing a number of challenges. These are essential issues to consider since they might jeopardize the natural resources, ecosystems, and livelihoods in general. The impacts on agronomics may lead to economic and social outcomes, and affect nutrition security within its core dimensions, including food accessibility, food availability, food utilization, and food systems stability (Ramasamy et al., 2017, p. 17). Objects and sensors with access to the Internet can be supplied anywhere for the information gathering on humidity level and crop health.
Therefore, data can be available to farmers via tablets and smartphones due to manual and automated options. Thompson (2019) states that the application of drones (UAVs) in agriculture, specifically in the United Kingdom, can promote the enhancement of the crops and reduce the usage of pesticides. According to Puri et al. (2017, p. 510), the agriculture drones are beneficial for agriculture farm analysis, time saving, higher agricultural yield, GIS mapping integration, and imaging of crop health Status. Based on the estimation of Grand View Research, the commercial scale for the agricultural drones is expected to exceed USD 3770 million by 2024 (Patel, 2018, para. 15). However, the drone system enforcement is currently facing strict British laws due to its potential threat to life and ethical issues.
Analysis of the External Macro and Micro Environment of Agriculture
In terms of changes in the external environment, one should consider the political, economic, social, technological, legislative, and environmental changes, which is known as PESTLE analysis. According to the PESTLE analysis report of the UK, the agricultural sector decreased by a mean rate of 2.67% during 2002-14, with agrarian output reached GBP9.56 billion ($15.51 billion) in 2014 (MarketLine, 2015). Agriculture in the United Kingdom is a labour-intensive and highly mechanised sector, which produces 60% of nutrition needs with under 1.6% of the workforce. Agriculture in the UK is a highly technological industry, which engages only 1.4% of the population. This geographical region has a high population density and a comparative lack of land. With that said, only a third part of gross output is involved in arable farming.
With regard to the opportunities and threats concerning different stakeholders, they might be involved in the inventory stage of the project. This includes the ministries of agriculture, farmers associations, crop production boards, and farmers cooperatives and unions, commercial pesticide users, the pesticide industry, and others. The importance of stakeholders varies by country and can also be impacted by the extent of the project. As such, the extent limitation might as well limit the number of stakeholders interested in the project. The expansion of the scope by involving available pesticide and outdated stocks in agriculture requires the broadening of the list of stakeholders and clear determination of their roles during project implementation.
Conclusion: Advice to BEA19 Technologies Ltd.
The key forces that may impact BEA19 entering the agriculture market involve the political, economic, and societal sectors. To be more specific, the weakening relations with the European Union, lack of skilled personnel, regulatory control over indigenous innovations, and the loss of export market shares are the challenges for the country to consider. Furthermore, the increase in R&D (research and development) expenses is noted as a positive factor, however, there is a challenge of the enhanced cyber-attacks.
The use of drones is an evolving and fundamental approach in the farming and agricultural sector in general since they are capable of completing a variety of tasks. This implies sprinkling pesticides, taking farm photos with GPS technology, and supplying information about water and fertilizer level. This tracking device can be easily monitored manually or with the aid of on-ground IoT sensors. Such technology provides current data and significantly contributes to the overall advancement of the agriculture industry. Ultimately, the critical challenge within the agriculture sector implies balancing economic expansion with progress in ecological status, which is complicated by the enhanced competition from emerging markets.
Reference List
MarketLine (2015). PESTLE country analysis report: United Kingdom. MarketLine.
Puri, V., Nayyar, A. and Raja, L. (2017). Agriculture drones: a modern breakthrough in precision agriculture. Journal of Statistics and Management Systems, 20(4), pp. 507518.
Ramasamy, S., Semedo, M., Castro Salazar, R. and Frick, M. (2017). Tracking adaptation in agricultural sectors: Climate change adaptation Indicators. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Seasonal Agriculture Worker Program (SAWP) is a governmental program that allows Canadian farmers to hire employees from the Caribbean and Mexico. Foreign workers receive temporary visas during the seasons of planting and harvest. Migrant farmworkers face problems of abuse during their working season. There are many cases of violation of labor in migrant employees, and it is essential to examine how SAWP undermines accommodations for Caribbean and Mexico migrants and seek an efficient solution.
Many struggles exist in SAWP that should be fixed. For instance, migrant farmers work up to fourteen hours a day and receive a small salary. Work conditions are horrible, but workers complaints do not help fix the situation. Moreover, the workplaces for immigrant workers are often overcrowded; many employees report violating attitudes towards them. There is no free access to medical equipment and attention; COVID-19 is ignored, and people have to infect each other.
Lack of proper resources such as masks, sanitizers, and gloves makes the work unsafe for health. Places where migrant farmworkers sleep are called bunkhouses. These bunkhouses are overcrowded with people, and workers have to sleep very close to each other; it raises the risk of infection with COVID-19 (Mojtehedzadeh, 2020). It is important to note that many workers are elderly; it is known that older people get infected and bear the disease in a far more complicated way than young people. Thus, the 55 years old Juan Lopes Chaparro died because of coronavirus when he got infected on the farm (Dubinski, 2020). Lopez Chaparros death has caused shock and devastation to his family in Mexico, the article reports (Dubinski, 2020, p. 2). He was a loving father of four children, and now his family is abandoned without support in Mexico.
Everything I have learned from these articles caused emotional discomfort in me. I feel disappointed and very sorry for migrant farmworkers, as I cannot imagine being violated as they are. It is a manifestation of cruelty to migrant people. Significantly, the news about death from COVID-19 shocked me, as death is always frightening and devastating. I cannot imagine that such labor conditions exist in the modern world, where most of us have access to medicine, masks, and necessary medicaments.
There are many political and economic reasons for hiring migrant workers for seasonal work. For instance, their labor is cheaper than the labor of Canadian employees. Moreover, migrant people often fail to find a job in their countries, and migration is the only option for them for work purposes. Many articles prove a violation of human rights and terrible working conditions (Dubinski, 2020). Many employees come with no grasp of English and little formal education, which allows dishonest employers to manipulate (Mojtehedzadeh, 2020, p. 3). Though these reasons are inhuman, programs such as SAWP continue to invite foreign workers.
Some activists say that migrant workers should have more rights and abilities to have necessary resources and a proper day schedule. Some sources state that Canada is creating a program to avoid abusive workplaces (Mojtehedzadeh, 2020). Probably, one of the best options is to implement supporting programs that will honestly assess employers. Moreover, it is worth arranging periodic checks of the living and working conditions in the workplace. Many people strive to help migrant workers, for example, local volunteers. These people often are connected with the public administration, and in case rules are violated, volunteers can report, as migrants often do not know English. Volunteer programs might help improve the situation with abusive workplaces through checks, gathering reviews and complaints, and voluntary help if needed.
References
Dubinski, K. (2020). Migrant worker who died on Ontario farm identified as Mexican father of four. CBC News. Web.
Mojtehedzadeh, S. (2020). Canada saw the migrant farmer COVID-19 crisis ComingAnd its our job to fix it. Chatelaine. Web.
One of the main challenges of the process of urbanization is the fact that the land around the urban areas is allocated to other economic activities at the expense of agriculture. It is clear that every urban area in the United States is characterized by the lack of food production through agriculture, and this challenge results in the dependency on the rural areas for access to fresh food from the farms. The industrialization process in the United States led to the development of alternatives for agricultural products through processed foods.
It is clear that processed foods have more calories and are cheaper; hence, the urban populations, especially the people living in poor neighborhoods, prefer buying the processed foods rather than the expensive Fresh agricultural products. Urban agriculture is a viable solution to the underlying issues that have caused the inability of the urban populations to access Fresh agricultural products.
Urban Agriculture
Urban agriculture is a movement in different urban areas across the United States, including Chicago, which has developed innovative ways of utilizing the little agricultural land available in urban areas to produce fresh food products. The movement has developed various groups in the urban areas that provide education to the people in the poor neighborhoods on the innovative ways that can help them in producing Fresh agricultural products.
For instance, the movement has been advocating for the use of greenhouse technology in agriculture to produce vegetables within the urban areas. The climatic changes that have adversely affected the ability of farmers in the rural areas to generate high yields in their farms have led to a reduction in the number of fresh products reaching the grocery stores in the urban areas. The urban agriculture movement looks to ensure that every family in the cities can afford some fresh products in the grocery stores ( Promoting Farms, Community Gardens & Home Growing in Chicago par. 1).
The Urban Agriculture Movement in Chicago
One of the main reasons that the urban agriculture movement has targeted Chicago is the fact that the city is one of the largest cities in the United States, and it has been associated with a dense population of commercial buildings and residential flats. This has led to the inability of the urban dwellers in the city to produce fresh agricultural products in the city. One of the reasons that the population in Chicago has been growing sluggishly is the fact that the economic vitality of the metropolitan region has lost its vitality; hence, many people have been migrating to other urban areas.
Another reason is the fact that more than 1.3 residents in the region are living in poverty, and they compete for the available, affordable resources, including Fresh agricultural products from rural areas. While more than 14% of the population lives below the poverty line in the metropolitan region, it is apparent that the unemployment rate in Chicago will continue to increase; thus, people will have a harder time in accessing Fresh agricultural products because of their elevated prices (Tray par. 2).
In 2013, the Mayor of Chicago launched the Farmers for Chicago network to enhance urban farming. By 2011, urban farmers accounted for over 13,000 pounds of the locally produced farm products, which fetched about $45,000 in sales ( Mayor Emanuel Launches New Farmers For Chicago Network For Chicago Urban Farmers par. 8). The network has actively engaged in the recovery of dormant land in the city of Chicago because of the lack of land to farm is one of the main challenges facing the urban farmers. The network currently holds over 15 acres of land in Chicago, which is used for commercial farming and training farmers in the city.
The Advocates for Urban Agriculture (AUA) is one of the movements that have developed agricultural projects in Chicago to increase access to fresh products. The movement has helped the residents to start small farms in their homesteads, and group farming projects through the use of technology to utilize small lands to increase productivity ( Promoting Farms, Community Gardens & Home Growing in Chicago par. 1). There are 62 urban farms in Chicago, and 54 business entities are involved in the promotion of vertical farms in the city. The farms have been increasing the products in the 24 seasonal markets in the metropolitan region (Popovitch par. 9).
Environmental Benefits of Urban Agriculture
It is apparent that the food miles in the United States have been increasing as access to Fresh agricultural products decreases. People have to drive long miles before accessing a grocery store with affordable products. Similarly, producers from rural areas require transportation to deliver products to various stores in urban areas. These transportation activities have led to an increase in the carbon footprint associated with access to fresh food products in the United States (Howard par. 2).
Urban agriculture has been identified as an environmentally sustainable approach to access to food products because it has a relatively lower carbon footprint. The reduction of carbon dioxide in the cities will have a positive influence on the health and wellness of the urban dwellers. People at risk because of the high air pollution rates in the urban areas will enjoy serene environments in urban farms. Additionally, in cities like Chicago, the urban farms and the associated markets will provide employment to some of the people.
Rooftop farms and other areas associated with urban agriculture will ultimately provide serene environments for people to relax in the cities because of the fresh air and green environment. It is apparent that an increase in the vegetation within the urban areas will have a positive effect on the quality of air because the plants will naturally reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the air while increasing the supply of oxygen through the process of photosynthesis (Howard par. 3).
As the world fights to reverse the effects of global warming on the climate, urban agriculture is one of the most effective ways of producing organic farm products without incurring any pollution, especially regarding water and the air in the urban areas (West par. 9). Over the past half-century, the carbon footprint of Chicago has increased by more than 25%, and the transportation system accounts for 21% of the footprint, whereas buildings and energy production and consumption processes account for 70% of the pollution ( Climate Change 101 par. 4). By increasing the vegetation in the city, the authorities look to reduce the amount of carbon in the environment.
Challenges
One of the main challenges of urban agriculture is the lack of space for agricultural practices. For instance, Chicago city has been developed into a concrete forest in some regions because of the large number of buildings that hinder access to sunlight, which is required for agriculture. Lack of water is also a major issue that might hinder the success of the various projects aimed at producing vegetables and fruits in residential farms.
Additionally, the technology required to support urban agriculture is relatively expensive; hence, most of the people in poor neighborhoods cannot finance the projects. The target population also lacks the knowledge and skills to practice urban agriculture, and the various movements advocating for urban agriculture lack sufficient resources and personnel to educate the entire urban population (West par. 12).
One of the challenges facing farmers in Chicago is the lack of sufficient water for irrigation in their city gardens. The authorities have revealed that more than 86% of the farmers are still using public water networks in their farms, which could create a water shortage in the city (Baskoro par. 5). There are also worries that the use of fertilizers and herbicides might lead to soil and water pollution in the urban areas through the runoff water from irrigated farms.
Solutions
Different research groups have developed innovative ways of ensuring that urban farmers use smaller amounts of water in their farms. For instance, the FarmHere organization has developed an irrigation approach that reduces the water required in a farm by 95% ( Farmed Here: Sustainable Indoor Farming par. 1). Additionally, urban agriculture associations are actively providing training to farmers looking to establish vertical farms. The 24 seasonal markets in Chicago have also been giving commercial farmers in the city a positive reception to their products.
Conclusion
The urbanization process in the United States led to the dependency of the urban dwellers on the rural populations for the production of Fresh agricultural products. The growth in population in the urban areas has led to an increase in the demand for fresh vegetables and fruits, but the environmental challenges in the rural areas have limited the ability of farmers in producing sufficient food crops. This has led to an increase in the prices of farm products, which has subsequently led to the inability of the poor members of the urban communities to afford Fresh agricultural products.
Works Cited
Baskoro, Harkyo. Whats The Problem with Urban Agriculture? 2015. Web.
The geographic Pacific Northwest region (PNW, Cascadia) is situated in the western part of North America and surrounded by the Pacific Ocean on the west and by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Geographers and other scientists have different points of view on the definition of its boundaries; however, it is commonly accepted that the Pacific Northwest includes the Canadian province of British Columbia and the U.S. states of Washington and Oregon. The large variety of marine and terrestrial resources made agriculture the secondary food source and allowed for the development of storage-based subsistence economy in the Pacific Northwest, especially in Oregon.
At early stages, the Pacific Northwest dwellers did not develop agriculture because of abundant natural resources. Hunting, fishery, and gathering were enough to procure food ( Northwest Coastal People par. 2). The Pacific Northwest dwellers benefited from the fact that the Northwest Coast was abundant in Pacific salmon. In their continuous learning of how to exploit this, they developed a system of fishing tools and used it for procuring other marine species such as shellfish, whales, oysters, etc. In summer, the Pacific Northwest dwellers gathered berries and roots and hunted for elks, bears, mountain goats, and deer. With such a variety of food sources and relatively low mean minimum temperatures, the Pacific Northwest dwellers were not particularly interested in agricultural development (Olen et al. 8).
Scientists often study the importance of aquatic and terrestrial resources in the evolution of the Pacific Northwest peoples. Ames samples five sites where archeologists found the evidence that marine mammals, large and medium land mammals, such fish species as salmon, smelt, sturgeon, mollusks, and plant foods were the significant part of the Pacific Northwest societies economy (216). The list includes the Five Mile Rapids site that is situated near the Dalles, Oregon. The economy of Oregon may be defined as a storage-based subsistence economy, in which salmon industry took the predominant part. According to Ames, deposits at Five Mile Rapids at the upstream end of the Columbia River Gorge dating ca 7600-9800 B.P., produced 150,000-200,000 salmon vertebrae , which makes it possible to conclude that storage played an important role in the development of Oregon subsistence economy (216).
There are six pieces of evidence that suggest the salmon storage-based economy in Oregon: rectangular surface dwellings and villages (major food processing and storage facilities); use of wooden boxes as coffins indicates that the technology and skill needed to make storage boxes was present ; use of mass-harvesting techniques, including nets and weirs ; large numbers of smelt and salmon remains ; tools that might be a part of a gear for processing fish for storage ; and head element/vertebrae ratios are currently viewed as the definitive indicator of salmon storage on the coast (Ames 217). Moreover, Oregon hunter-gatherers way of life may be characterized by a concept of sedentism, which means living in one place for a long period of time. All these factors make it possible to define the Oregon economy as a storage based subsistence economy.
The U.S. states of Washington and Oregon and the Canadian province of British Columbia are often defined as the Pacific Northwest territory. At the early stages of their development, they widely used the natural marine and terrestrial resources to procure food. Archeologists found many shreds of evidence that the abundance of the Northwest Coast in food resources contributed to the development of the storage-based subsistence economy in those regions.
Works Cited
Ames, Kenneth M. The Northwest Coast: Complex Hunter-Gatherers, Ecology, And Social Evolution. Annual Review of Anthropology, 1994, pp. 209-229.
Northwest Coastal People. First Peoples of Canada. 2016. Web.
Olen, Beau, et al. What are the Major Climate Risks for Agriculture in the U.S. Pacific Northwest? Oregon State University. Web.
Jethro Tull is regarded as one of the influential change agents who contributed to the development of the agricultural industry. He was born in 1674 in Berkshire ( Jethro Tull ). He received a good education as he studied at Oxford University. He wanted to become a politician, but weak health made him change these plans. He was a representative of the British gentry, so he had some land. When he married, he started farming just, which was common for his class.
Tull contributed significantly to the development of new methods and strategies, but he is widely famous for his invention. Brodie et al. note that there are certain doubts that he was the inventor of the seed drill (8). Nevertheless, the majority of researchers agree that Tull created a seed drill that was a revolutionary invention for that time. In the 17th century, seeds were simply thrown to the ground, which was associated with quite significant losses. Tull notices that this method was ineffective, and losses were not to be tolerated. He believed that the majority of seeds were lost as they could not root ( Jethro Tull ). First, he told his people to be more exact and throw seeds to the whole, but his commands were ignored.
Therefore, the inventor decided to create a machine that would put seeds into exact holes that were covered with land. The drill also had blades that pulled up roots making the soil better for crops. His seed drill was very effective as seeds were distributed evenly and did not overcrowd each other, which resulted in good harvests. In order to prove the effectiveness of his methods, he did not use manure for over a decade. His seed drill proved to be effective.
However, people did not want to use his invention at first. Farmers did not believe that they could achieve good results without manure as they saw fertilizing as the most important thing. Some people opposed it as they were afraid that the machine could take away their jobs. Irrespective of opposition and disbelief, Tull continued promoting his invention and his methods. The inventor published the book, The New Horse Hoeing Husbandry, where he revealed his innovative ideas. The interest in the scientific method and innovation in agriculture made people pay attention to Tulls seed drill. It is noteworthy that similar drills were developed at that period, but Tull made his invention well-thought and effective. His major principles are still used in agriculture.
It is possible to note that the inventor undertook quite the correct steps to promote his machinery and methods. Using the approach, making other people use it was the first measure. The effectiveness of the strategy was proved, but rather a limited number of people knew about it. Writing a book was the next step that helped Tull make his invention famous. Importantly, his book was associated with certain controversy as some people did not believe in his method, but still, the drill and his strategies were discussed.
To sum up, Jethro Tull contributed considerably to the development of effective agricultural methods. His seed drill can be regarded as a prototype for modern drills. It is also noteworthy that Tull managed to promote is innovation successfully, even though it faced certain opposition. The inventor drew peoples attention to his ideas, which facilitated the change and evolution of agricultural tools and methods.
Works Cited
Brodie, Graham, et al. Microwave and Radio-Frequency Technologies in Agriculture: An Introduction for Agriculturalists and Engineers. Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG, 2016.
Regarding the decision to invest money in worthy projects, the one worth the attention pertains to organic agriculture. The reason for this is that regenerative organic farming not only preserves resources but additionally enhances them. According to the Rodale Institute (n.d.), nothing else will be as valuable. Based on existing methods, there are only roughly 60 years of topsoil left (Rodale Institute, n.d.). As a result, while technological products might take years to reach their objectives, the soil will continue to deteriorate. In turn, organic farming will persist in enriching the soil and the products,
Additionally, products that are certified organic continue to be in high demand due to consumer preference. In the coming decades, it is anticipated that the organic business will expand substantially (USDA, 2015). USDA mentioned that between 2002 and 2011, the presence of organic farms increased by 240 percent (USDA, 2015). Therefore, it is vital to supply the public who possesses improving environmental consciousness with organic products that sustain health.
Finally, as organic farmers cultivate crops, they work to enhance the soil and ecosystem around their property. They achieve this, among other factors, by adding organic material to the soil, which enriches it with minerals and enhances its oxygenation and capacity to retain moisture (USDA, 2015). This encourages the formation of roots of the goods (USDA, 2015). Organic farming methods support the growth of healthy soil microbes like root-associated fungi, which may improve a plants ability to absorb nutrients and fluids (USDA, 2015). There has been a research that suggests organic crops may be more drought-resistant (USDA, 2015). As a result, considering that many countries and states lose their crops due to unfavorable weather conditions, people might experience hunger. Moreover, many foods, unlike organic ones, might be contaminated with unhealthy ingredients, which has a detrimental effect on overall human health. Therefore, organic farming should receive more funding to maintain preserving human and ecosystem health.
