TO feed the world’s population, farms must raise food production by about 60%, according to research published by the World Resources Institute recently.

By 2050, there will be an increase from seven billion now to over nine billion people living on Earth. There is a prevailing belief that rapid population increases cause a number of issues, one of which is food security.

This is related to the relative inequality in the patterns of large population growth and food production. Food supply that cannot keep up with a growing population is usually the cause of long-term food insecurity.

With concern about shortages and the rising prices of food continuing in Malaysia, we should consider using “precision agriculture” technology to grow our own food. An example of this is the mini FarmBot.

In 2011, the FarmBot project was launched by a California Poly-technic State University mechanical engineering student named Rory Aronson.

FarmBot aims to reduce reliance on physical labour once the system is engaged; the FarmBot robot can be set up to move around a growing area using tracks. Its software then keeps track of each plant and triggers nutrient and water supplies as necessary.

This means that with the help of FarmBot, a person with little to no knowledge about growing plants could have a food garden with a few clicks on a computer. Those who say they are too busy to garden would also benefit as FarmBot makes growing food less time-consuming.

Malaysians should really consider embracing technology like FarmBot in these difficult times when the cost of living keeps increasing. [Farmbot.com offers its kits for sale.]

DR YOGEESWARI SUBRAMANIAM

Senior lecturer

Faculty of Management

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia