Growing up in Central Missouri, the topic of farming was as common as a beautiful sunset, so it should come as no surprise that I enjoy talking about new ideas in the agricultural world. If you want to be the top of your game, it is vital that you always consider new ideas, be aware of emerging technologies, and have a firm understanding of the world around you.
Agrivoltaics refers to a new and innovative farming technique that combines solar power and agriculture. It aims to improve the performance of both by utilizing the same land area for both purposes. With agrivoltaics, farmers can produce energy while growing crops, making it an eco-friendly and sustainable solution to meet the growing energy and food demands of the world.
How Agrivoltaics Works
Agriculture and solar power are combined in a way that maximizes the potential of both. Once a plant reaches its light saturation point, additional light doesn’t help it grow, and excess sunlight can actually increase its water demand. To overcome this issue, solar panels are mounted in an elevated position above the plants. This way, the crops receive just the right amount of sunlight and spend the rest of the day under the shade provided by the panels.
Additionally, the crops underneath the panels keep them cooler, which in turn increases their energy production capacity by up to 10%. This not only helps farmers generate more energy but also protects the crops from heat stress, increasing their yields and quality.
Agrivoltaics as Part of Regenerative Agriculture
Agrivoltaics is part of the larger trend of regenerative agriculture. Regenerative agriculture is an approach that aims to not just limit damage but improve agriculture's impact on the environment. In the last five years, searches for “regenerative agriculture” have increased by 658%, and early data suggests that it can be profitable over the long term.
One study showed that a $57 billion investment in regenerative agriculture practices could return $1.9 trillion in savings and increased farmers' profits. By implementing regenerative agriculture on 190,000 acres of farmland, it could remove around 173,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide yearly, which is equivalent to the yearly emissions from over 37,000 cars.
Promising Startups in Regenerative Agriculture
The trend towards regenerative agriculture has seen the rise of several promising startups in the field. The Ocean Ranch, The Crop Project, and Phinite are examples of trending startups that are developing regenerative agriculture products and technologies. These startups are using cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions to create sustainable and profitable agriculture systems that can benefit farmers and the environment alike.
In conclusion, agrivoltaics is a promising solution for sustainable agriculture. It combines solar power and agriculture to maximize their potential and reduce their negative impact on the environment. With the rise of regenerative agriculture, agrivoltaics is poised to play a significant role in meeting the world's growing food and energy demands in a sustainable manner.