Farming the future: contemporary innovations enhancing sustainability in the agri-sector

Threats from climate change, environmental degradation, and exhausted Green Revolution technologies have caused widespread concern for the future of global crop production and food security. Today, the agri-sector is transitioning on a global scale, away from traditional farming practices and towards adopting the novel technologies needed to sustainably intensify food production. With the global population projected to reach nine billion by 2050, with 68% of us living in urban environments, it is essential to find ways of producing food crops sustainably both in cities as well as out in the field. Modern innovation presents an opportunity to remedy these issues through the implementation of novel technologies and practices, including vertical farming, light supplementation via light-emitting diodes (LEDs), artificial intelligence (AI), advances within plant breeding genetics, and the application of biostimulants made from organic extracts. Throughout this review, we will provide insights into the future of farming by discussing a range of contemporary agricultural techniques and technologies, alongside the cultural, economic, and environmental contexts that necessitate their increased application.