How can innovation- spec technology/ automation be used to benefit agriculture?

Topic Suggested by: Andrew Bauer

Participants: Michael Day, Vaj Banday, Paul Nijjar, Christtaan Groelaar, Andrew Bauer, Mathew Lucid

To assist them the formers to get the wind-turbines on their land, so that they can have additional source of income

Also allow formers be able to use micro-hydro generation plants, geo- thermal

Better efficiency of the land use

Machinery more robust & efficient

Better irrigation techniques (Currently used for certain crops like lettuce, tomatoes)

Smaller scale farming

Tools to analyze geography (local conditions), examples, heat flow, drainage, soil pump flow

Resource optimization on a smaller scale

Green Houses

Keep soil warm in the winter by embedding pipes in the land?

There is an idea to build up farmable land in deserts by planting indigenous ground cover to retain moisture, then to slowly introduce crops.

Energy generation again: there is a payback time to recoup the costs. 

There was an idea about getting people to generate electricity through exercise. 

Where can we learn techniques that people use?

• Mennonites
  
  • Getting by without electricity
  • Multi-use sources (like horses)
  • Mechanical efficiencies
  • Trading off efficiency vs. scalability 
• African development
• Organic farmers

What about biofuels? You can grow biofuels in salt water. 

Seeds and patents are a problem. Seed saving is an opportunity.