Sir
The world is set for a technological revolution that will upset things as we know them.
Artificial intelligence, robotics, and bio-engineering are a few of the scary terms that we will have to become familiar with.
The agriculture sector will not be spared from this changing future.
Breakthroughs in cultured meat grown in labs is one such example, of how innovation has the potential to throw an entire industry into disarray.
What will happen to the meat industry as we know it?
Drone technology and robotics are set to replace thousands of workers and allow farmers to produce more efficiently.
What will happen to labour?
How will Government respond, because it has always relied on agriculture to be a large labour absorbing sector?
To date, Government’s response to rapidly changing methods of production and the agricultural economy is ‘business as usual’.
Handouts of tractors, subsistence growing and under expenditure on research and development indicates the Government has not yet fully considered the impacts of change. Agriculture, just like any other industry, requires research, innovation, investment and planning.
This needs to extend to commercial farmers as well as emerging farmers.
Food security and job creation demands it.
If we consider climate change, socio-political instability and geopolitical influences, the world becomes more complex and unpredictable.
What is certain is that we need strong social and public institutions, a responsive Government and proper planning.
Chris Pappas: DA spokesman on Agriculture in KZN
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