Satellite farming, food, and human wellbeing

James E. Addicott

pp. 171-214

in: James S. Ormrod (ed), Changing our environment, changing ourselves, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2016

Abstract

Imagine for a moment that human beings could take the same vantage point as God; up in the skies above, looking down upon farmers and the countryside, while coordinating human activities within a greater scheme of things. Through almost miraculous advances in modern science and technology, this has virtually become the case. Satellite farming means that different farming activities can now be calculated and coordinated from the skies above. Self-driving, self-regulating, and self-operating tractors, combines, and other farm equipment are increasingly becoming an everyday reality for more and more farmers in the UK.