The growing world population and the fact that each year we need to feed more mouths, means that farmers are forced to derive the maximum out of the same agricultural land available. The problem with such an approach is that most often synthetic materials and pesticides creep into the local ecosystem due to their excessive usage and it is just a matter of time before their adverse effects are being felt along the food chain.

Valley Farm, West Wratting

But there’s hope as organic farming is the fastest growing sector of the American food marketplace today. And is gaining greater acceptance in nations like UK, India, Australia or Japan.

Although studies across have found a 20% smaller yield from organic farms, it should be considered that it’s a result of using 50% less fertilizer and 97% less pesticides. In other words, there is just a marginal decrease in yield when compared to the huge reduction in costs and energy that is spent when compared to conventional farming.

It has also been concluded with evidence that organic food tastes a lot better, has more nutritional values and greater health benefits due to lack of synthetic and chemical compounds in them when compared to other food material.

However, the most important aspect of course is that the production of organic food actually helps build clean, pollution-free and sustainable ecosystems devoid of chemicals— making them invaluable environmental assets. And there’s hope. There are companies like Abel & Cole Organic Food in UK that are at the cutting edge of producing organic food and hopefully will soon oversee a revolution towards farms that stop becoming pesticide dumps, while offering nutritious diet hat builds a healthy society.

We’re game!

Image courtesy of stawarz

At this point, the hydrogen fuel cell industry seems like the way to go when it comes to an emission-free future. But the concept is still a long way away both in terms of striking the technological and economic balance that is needed. However, that hasn’t stopped the folks from New Holland in taking the revolutionary green technology to the farmlands. We’re talking about their brand new hydrogen fuel cell tractor, the NH2.

Still a concept and a blueprint that is not likely to hit the market at least till 2013, New Holland NH2 is a revolution that forever changes the way farmlands will be ploughed.

Powered by a fuel cell that generates 106 horsepower and a hydrogen tank that allows it to rub for 1.5 to 2 hours, there’s a long, long way to go before it becomes a viable option. But just like fuel cell powered cars, the first step of the hydrogen-driven tractors is here and that is a heartening sign indeed.

Apart from making the countryside greener and more pollution-free than it already is, it highlights the growing interest in the hydrogen fuel cell technology and how we can adapt it to various aspects of life around us. And to be honest we’d definitely take the “sexy” NH2 for a quick ride …

[via Ecogeek]