Information Systems and Sustainable Agriculture

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Photo Credit: AgroAmerica
The achievement of food security and environmental issues are becoming one of the greatest challenge of humankind. With the exploitation of natural resources almost reaching their limits, there is a global call for optimum utilisation and also conservation of natural resources (Saravanan, 2010)

In the field of agriculture, sustainability is endangered through the amount and kind of chemicals we use, the waste products we produce, the depletion of resources like fresh water, soil erosion and salinity. There are regional differences in the seriousness of these dangers (Ban, 1994). A communication system and strategy should be well planned on the basis of an analysis of the Agricultural Knowledge and Information System (Ban, 1994)

It is of vital importance that the information technology employed in an information system is sustainable in itself. A sustainable Information System should have the attributes of longevity, simplicity, accessibility, responsiveness, stability and adaptability, among others (Misund & Høiberg, 2003)

Information dissemination are being enhanced by new developments in communication and information technologies on the fly and cheaply. Widespread access to cellular/mobile telephones coupled with highspeed internet in the form of 3G and 4G LTE are making it possible for easy exploitation and establishment of verbal and visual communications. In this sense, rural people are becoming much less isolated from each other and from access to sources of advice and information. (FAO and The World Bank Group, 2000)

Development of models to predict growth, survival or inactivation of microorganisms in foods has been a most active area of food microbiology within the last 20 years and a considerable number of models to predict responses or growth limits in foods are available. (McMeekin, et al., 2006)
The development of unmanned aerial vehicles with autonomous flight control, together with the development of lightweight and powerful hyperspectral snapshot cameras that can be used to calculate biomass development and fertilization status of crops is opening the field for sophisticated farm management advice (Achim, et al., 2017). 

In responding to outbreaks, public health agencies rely heavily on communication networks. This is particularly important as foodborne outbreaks are more commonly spread over wide geographical areas, even internationally. (McMeekin, et al., 2006)

The development and deployment of future sustainable agriculture requires acquisition, application and adaptation of knowledge, with the support of appropriate Information Technology. The dual link between environmental sustainability and IS should be considered while addressing the sustainability either through design i.e. how IS can be used to promote more sustainable behaviours or in design i.e. how sustainability can be the governing principle of the design of the information systems themselves (Lindblom, et al., 2016)


References

Achim, W., Finger, R., Huber, R. & Buchmann, N., 2017. Opinion: Smart farming is key to developing sustainable agriculture. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 13 June, 114(13), pp. 6148-6150.
Ban, A. W. v. d., 1994. Communication and Sustainable Agriculture. Beijing, International conference integrated resource management for sustainable agriculture.
FAO and The World Bank Group, 2000. Agricultural Knowledge and Information Systems for Rural Development- Strategic Vision and Guiding Principles. Rome, FAO.
Lindblom, J., Lundström, C. & Ljung, M., 2016. Next Generation Decision Support Systems for Farmers: Sustainable Agriculture through Sustainable IT. International Farming Systems Association-Europe Group, Volume 1, pp. 49-57.
McMeekin, T. et al., 2006. Information systems in food safety management. International Journal of Food Microbiology, Volume 112, pp. 181-194.
Misund, G. & Høiberg, J., 2003. Sustainable information technology for global sustainability. Brno, Østfold University College.
Saravanan, R., 2010. Researchgate. [Online]
Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/47408100_AGRICULTURAL_KNOWLEDGE_INFORMATION_SYSTEMS_AND_INNOVATIONS_FOR_TECHNOLOGY_DISSEMINATION_AND_SUSTAINABLE_AGRICULTURE_DEVELOPMENT
[Accessed 21 June 2018].


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