Solar could offer greater food security in future
Growing technological advancement and globalization have oftentimes multiplied ordeals to the existence of the entire farming industry, primarily farmers. But these technologies have also helped them to sustain and thrive. An essential part of this new dynamic is solar.
Our biggest issue currently is climate change. Soon every nation will face hardships in its quest for food security. The survival of farming as a viable career and economic model will have growing urgency, locally and globally very soon. It is here that solar could be a very important element going forward.
How will solar help?
Solar agriculture is also known as “agrophotovoltaics” and “dual-use farming” allows farmers to install solar panels in a way to make their energy use more efficient, and directly enhance farming capabilities. For farmers with small tracts of land, solar agriculture would provide a way to offset energy bills, reduce their use of fossil fuels, and enhance existing operations.
According to a recent finding, agrophotovoltaics increased farm productivity by 160% when compared to an operation that was not dual-use across the same period.
Diverse varieties of crops such as wheat, potatoes, beans, kale, tomatoes and many more have proven to grow underneath the solar canopies in various locations, climate, and conditions. Growth season extended due to the optimal conditions offer warmer winters and cooler summers. A study of this in Maharashtra region found crops yielding around 40% more due to the reduced evaporation and extra shading.
For smart sustainability, we look forward to advancements in solar agriculture that allow solar arrays and agriculture to co-exist in a mutually benefitting manner.
The challenge in setting solar farms is mainly that the electricity infrastructure in regional areas would have to be upgraded to support the renewable transition.
Although the cost of solar as a whole is certainly reducing, in reality, solar agriculture installations can remain expensive—especially if they get damaged. One solution to this is to reserve prime land exclusively for farming, and nutrient-deficient for a solar installation. This arrangement could minimize the risk.
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