From cultivation to processing and storage, the advent of technology in the food industry cannot be overemphasised.
In the past, agriculture used to be for the strong. Due to the much work needed in tilling, cultivating, planting, weeding, watering, and harvesting, many people tend to shy away from it, preferring to rather buy from the market.
Advantages
Today, agriculture has seen tremendous advancement. The production and use of tractors and other types of farm equipment have greatly improved production and output.
Again, with technology came better formulation of manure and fertilisers which has in turn led to high productivity. With high productivity, comes the problem of storage to avoid spoilage.
A few decades ago, nobody ever imagine that wheat could be processed into noodles. Now wheat is processed into flour and stored for a long period. It is further processed into noodles and is greatly enjoyed by both adults and children.
Technology has made it possible for food to be processed, preserved, and kept for future use. It has reduced the production of waste and improved varieties of food choices.
Corn is processed into cornflakes. Now we can choose between corn and cornflakes. This creates more variety in the food industry.
The impact of technology is not only limited to crops; it extends to livestock farming as well. Technological advancement has made it possible that livestock can be raised within a confined space.
Nowadays, one can successfully build a fishpond and grow thousands of fish with the help of modern technology.
The process of milking and treating milk for human consumption has greatly improved too. Now we have milk in various varieties.
Through advancements in technology, scientists have been able to find out ways of producing better and improved crops and livestock using crossbreeds. New plants and livestock are being discovered every day and this is all as a result of technology.
Disadvantages
With all the advantages of technological advancements in our world today, we cannot deny that it has its downtime.
The influx of improved livestock feeds filled with growth hormones has affected the growth and development rate of children in recent times. It has made teens appear much older than they are. This may have health implications.
Food scientists and dietitians have advised that people eat organic produce, that is, farm produce cultivated and grown without the use of fertilisers and manure. They believe they are healthier.
Well, there is nothing advantageous that doesn’t have its disadvantages. The advantages of technology in the food industry, however, greatly outweigh the disadvantages.
