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As the reality of climate change takes effect around the world, Democrats of the House Committee on Small Business are working to ensure that small agriculture firms have access to the technology they need to grow sustainable food. In front of a key panel today, Democrats pushed for robust public initiatives to help agriculture-technology (AG-Tech) start-ups receive the support they need to succeed. 

“This sector offers an opportunity to combine the newest technology and ideas with agriculture in a way that has the potential to revitalize our economy and our future,” said Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL). “This hearing focuses on rural America, and I am lucky to have constituents who are working hard to sustain our food supply.”

In coming years, global agricultural production is set to face a number of overwhelming challenges. As worldwide food demand is expected to rise by 70 percent by 2050, food production will be expected to keep up with this increased demand. Coupled with the predicted dramatic impacts of climate change, farmers will rely on innovative new technologies to jumpstart sustainable food production.

“As we have seen in the past year, there is no denying that our planet is experiencing more frequent and more damaging natural disasters,” said Schneider. “These often result in scarce supplies, decreasing nutrient levels, and other factors that threaten the continuing success of the agricultural industry. As technology moves to respond to this new reality, we cannot allow family farmers to be left behind.”

As an industry, AG-tech harnesses innovative technology to increase the productivity and efficiency of farming and food production, while curbing ecological impacts. One such example is “smart” machinery. By collecting environmental data, smart machines are able to provide farmers with updates on temperature, crops and is even leading to self-driving tractors and other vehicles. Throughout the hearing, Democrats stressed the importance of expanding broadband to rural areas so that smart machines can run on a reliable local internet connection.

“Whether it’s high tech, internet connected tractors used in precision farming or robotic milking machines or genetically engineered crops or ‘big data,’ technology now touches every aspect of farming and ranching,” said Michael D. Fernandez, Ph.D. a Senior Fellow at the George Washington University Food Institute. “But even while technology has flourished, many rural communities have been left behind. Public investment supports basic research that isn’t driven by short short-term economic reward, and helps maintain the scientific talent pipeline that is critical for our future,” Fernandez added.

During the hearing, Democrats pressed for an increased federal investment in America’s small business agricultural industry. Such investments include: rural broadband expansion; expanding the Small Business Administration’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program; and implementing sensible environmental regulations.

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