Unit 12 High Tech Farming

1. Unit 12: High-Tech Farming

2. Do you like to eat these….

3. … or these watermelons?

4. The Sunday Times, July 12 2009

5. Note
You are to fill in the blanks in your notes.
The answers are found in the slides and
are highlighted in red.

6. What is High-Tech Farming?
High-tech farming is a
-knowledge-based agricultural system
-makes use of technology to increase the value
and quality of the farm’s produce.
Quality
, Value

7. It uses computer technology and
automation to manage processes such as
watering, fertilizing and pest control to
ensure high-quantity and high-quality
outputs.

8. Distribution of High-Tech Farming
High-tech farming usually takes place
in or around densely populated urban
areas where land is limited and costly.
It is practiced extensively in Europe,
North America, and countries such as
Japan and Singapore in Asia.

9. Characteristics
• Purpose
• Inputs
• Outputs

10. Purpose
Outputs produced in high-tech
farming are mainly for commercial
purposes.
They are either sold locally or
exported overseas.

11. Inputs
• High-tech farming requires high capital
inputs. Initial set-up cost of high-tech
farms can be as much as a few million
dollars.

12. • Technology: hydroponics, aeroponics,
aquaculture and tissue culture.
AeroponicsHydroponics

13. • Shelters and Greenhouses: to create
condition close to ideal for plant
growth.

14. • Research and Development: continual
improvement of existing technologies,
to know the needs of the market and to
meet market demands.
• Computers and Automation devices: to
automatically adjust the temperature
and amount of moisture in the special
buildings to suit the growth of crops or
animals.

15. Outputs
• Variety of high-quality outputs are
produced.
•Some examples if outputs
include:
vegetables, flowers,
fruits, ornamental fish,
eggs and other diary
products.

16. Example:
Singapore
•High-tech farming is carried out
in agrotechnology parks.
•These agrotechnology parks are located in
Murai, Lim Chu Kang, Sungei Tengah,
Mandai,
Nee Soon and Loyang.

17. •The agrotechnology parks are about
1500 hectares in size.
•They produce a variety of
outputs such as
fruits and vegetables,
ornamental plants,
ornamental fish,
aquatic plants,
orchids and other flowers.

19. Benefits
• Release farmland for other uses
• Higher harvests and income
• More vegetables consumed by
Singaporeans grown locally

20. Challenges
•There are some constraints faced by high-tech
farmers.
•High-tech farming requires high capital
investment.

21. • Competition from imported fruits and
vegetables which are cheaper
•shortage of trained workers to work in
these high-tech farms.

22. Methods to Curb Challenges
•High-tech farmers can venture into
agribusiness by
•offering educational programs
•opening restaurants
•provide farm-stays

23. Impacts on the Environment
•More environmentally friendly than soil-based
farming.
⁻ Nutrients are in
solution. They can
be easily absorbed
directly by the
roots of the plants
rather than
seeping into the
soil.

24. -Minimal effect on
the environment.
⁻ Pesticides are seldom used.
Instead, the crops are protected by netting or
placed in greenhouses to keep out pests and
insects.

25. •Helps to conserve land and water
resources.
-HDB Style Farming: Crops are grown in troughs
that can be placed on top of one another to
minimize
wastage of
land space.

26. -Controlled amounts of water is supplied
directly to the plants’ roots, thus wastage of
water is minimized.

27. •High-tech farms are usually located
close to markets. Thus less fuel is used
in transportation of goods.
•Production of crops is done closely in
relation to market demands. This helps
to minimize overproduction or wastage
of resources.

28. Assignment!
Go to the supermarket!
Find an agricultural product that is Made in
Singapore
Find out HOW this product is grown:
Hydroponics?
Traditional Methods?
You may use the internet for this!
Submit by taking a picture, and posting on
our tumblr page