Description

In this brief of Platforms for Sustainable Food Production, we show how blockchain technologies, combined with artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and other digital innovations, can secure our global food supply, one farm at a time. The solutions we discuss focus on topsoil—mitigating the effects of chemicals, aggressive tillage, monocultural crops, and climate change. The goal is to give farmers the tools and training they need for sustainable food production, transforming the long-term viability of their businesses in the process.

Highlights

Smallholder farmers are the most vulnerable to climate threats and the least able to cope. With access to digital technologies, they can begin to implement sustainable practices. »Dimitra is a start-up company that aims to deliver agriculture technology to millions of these farmers worldwide. »Blockchain technology is an indispensable tool for agriculture. It can transact payments, aggregate seed quality data, monitor crop growth, and track yields from farmer to retailer. Farmers accrue Dimitra points within the app and exchange them for agricultural products and services. Such as agrochemicals, crop insurance, and expert advice.

Subheading – PLATFORMS FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION

Dimitra created an ERC-20 token (DMTR) to drive its farming platform as a circular economy. Liquidity providers stake DMTR tokens to power this economy. The future of farming and our food Family-run farms. Produce an estimated 70 to 80 percent of the world’s food in terms of value. On average, the poorest of these operate on less than two hectares of land. One hectare of land is roughly the size of a football pitch (i.e., soccer field). Such smallholders account for 84 percent of all farms globally, grow roughly 29 percent of the world’s crops yielding 32 percent of the world’s food supply, but manage only 24 percent of all agricultural land.

Farmers are under constant pressure to achieve a maximum yield to feed their families and make a living. Typically, smallholder farmers reserve much of their own yield for their own subsistence, especially at the start of each season.3 For example, Nicaraguan smallholders sell nearly half their produce, whereas Nepalese sell only 12 percent.4 If farmers could increase their yields and sell more throughout the season, they would improve their livelihood as well as their impact on the global food supply.

The effects of climate change

Constancy, predictability, and balance are keys to successful agriculture initiatives over time. Yet, according to National Geographic, “Global climate change is destabilizing many of the natural processes that make modern agriculture possible.”6Changes in climate that alter seasonal patterns, distress crops or animals, or incubate pests and diseases all increase farming costs. Erratic weather patterns, drier conditions, and an increase in global temperatures have a negative impact on farmers’ crop yields.The effects of climate change disrupt farms of all sizes at all stages of the production cycle, from seed selection to transportation.

These seasonal changes and increased variability are pushing the limits of what farmers can grow and control. They can no longer rely on historical farming data. Instead, they make decisions based on predictions of how climate change will affect their farm. For example, they may need to prepare for flooding or drought events and change their growing methods, crop choices, and agricultural practices. Smallholder farmers in developing countries are the most vulnerable to the climate threat and the least able to cope.8 Yet, only 1.7 percent of climate finance is set aside for these smallholders.9Moreover, of the $50–70 billion spent in low- and middle-income nations each year on agricultural innovation, less than seven percent goes to climate action initiatives.

The effects of industrial agriculture – PLATFORMS FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION

The drive to feed a fast-growing global population at low cost has led to the use of industrial agriculture, referring to “techno scientific, economic, and political methods” and “food systems … largely dependent on fossil fuels for the production of food by way of machinery and mechanization, agrichemicals, transportation, food processing, food packaging, [and] assimilating waste.”11Industrial agriculture uses aggressive farming practices such as the exhaustive application of fertilizers (e.g., superphosphates), herbicides, and pesticides to maximize yields. The use of these chemicals disrupts natural ecosystems so that farmers become dependent on them to maintain maximum yield. Moreover, these chemicals can seep into water supplies and strip away naturally occurring elements in the ground.

Another common practice is tilling. Farmers use tillage to aerate the soil, prepare seedbeds, and suppress weeds, to name a few reasons. However, over time, tilling degrades soil quality, erodes soil further, and damages soil structure. Also, as people consume more processed food, they create a higher demand for a limited range of crops resulting in monocultural farming practices. The global food system relies on only 12 plants and five animal species to supply 75 percent of the world’s food; such reliance makes this supply highly vulnerable when shortages or disasters occur.12 Therefore, we must prioritize biodiversity to keep many climate-resilient, heritage varieties and breeds alive. According to the UN Environment Programme, the estimated toll of industrialized agriculture on the environment each year is $3 trillion.

Dimitra Agriculture Awarded Technology Contract. Dimitra Incorporated has been awarded a contract from the OBC Indian Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture.

The OBC Indian Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Agriculture is a not for profit established with the goal of enhancing farm productivity by regenerative farming with Agri-processing of Agri commodities, the conservation of biodiversity within a sustainable development frame work in India.

Dimitra Incorporated is a global technology company that provides an eco system of agricultural technology products. Aimed at advancing small holder farming performance. Through the use of mobile technology, IoT sensors, AI, block chain, satellite imagery and drones.

Subheading – Dimitra Agriculture Awarded Technology Contract

This contract will focus on enhancing farming productivity while doubling farmers income through the application of digital technology. And regenerative farming methods in crop and live stock farming.

Jon Trask, Dimitra’s CEO says “We are excited to work with Dr. Pradeep Kagane and his team to collect data through a combination of mobile, sensor and satellite technology and then analyze the data with machine learning to quantify soil organic content across an area of 1.3 million farms.” Once the assessment phase is under way the teams will work on developing and implementing sustainable strategies. And actions to remediate the soil and transition farms to leading soil management practices.

Dr. Pradeep Kagane, GREAT-VET, National Technical Advisor says “Dimitra is the right combination of emerging technologies like satellite, AI, Blockchain, and DNA analytics to support small farmers across India. Our farmers will greatly benefit from Dimitra’s technology innovation.”

Dimitra Incorporated currently provides services in 47 countries, for more information please contact Jon Trask.