Ag sector needs more tech specialists - Entrepreneur Generations

Agriculture may have an old-fashioned reputation, but it relies on innovation as much as any other industry. So states that want to continue being ag powerhouses need to invest in high-tech ag education.

"Science and technology will be core to the farming revolution, which teachers and agricultural leaders envision as including robots, temperature and moisture sensors, aerial images and GPS technology, alongside big data that affects everyone — suppliers, farmers, traders, processors, retailers and consumers," April Simpson reports for Stateline.

The farming sector needs more tech experts to help develop precision agriculture, but many have no idea that agriculture is even an option. Ag educators and advocates "say part of the problem is marketing: Most people, including students, equate agriculture with farming. The industry gets limited media exposure, they said, but also needs to do a better job of promoting itself, particularly as high-tech," Simpson reports. "But agriculture can be a tough sell to students when other flashy majors are competing for attention. Engineering programs, for example, often have ample resources and funding. Computer science academies can give students computers." 

Also, "the agricultural industry can feel insular and difficult to break into for those who didn’t grow up on a farm, in a rural area or with an industry connection," Simpson reports. The industry is 95% white and mostly male, indicating difficulty in attracting non-white and female students. And there aren't enough certified ag teachers in public schools to help more students see farming or ag tech as viable career paths.

It's worth the effort to develop more ag tech specialists though. A U.S. Department of Agriculture report found that, if farmers had better access to digital technologies, the U.S. could increase its agricultural production by almost 18%, meaning $47 billion to $65 billion in annual gross economic benefits, Simpson reports.

from The Rural Blog http://bit.ly/2Wv24Cd Ag sector needs more tech specialists - Entrepreneur Generations

Posted by Entrepreneur Generations

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