Agribusiness in a technological age

Agri from Latin ager, meaning field, and culture from cultura, meaning cultivation, put together provides the literal translation 'tillage of the field's soil'.

In today's world, agriculture is the science and art of cultivating the soil, growing and harvesting crops, and raising livestock. But agriculture is more than soil, animals and crops.

It is an integration of product, producer, distributor and consumer and how these are interdependent on each other for survival. Agriculture has to be considered in its entire range of modern technologies associated with plant and animal products, including soil cultivation, crop and livestock management, and also activities related to processing and marketing.

The continual steady development in tools, equipment and techniques employed over the centuries has led to increased agricultural output, as did mechanisation, selective breeding and hybridisation and, in the 20th century, the introduction and use of agricultural chemistry which included the application of chemical fertiliser, insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides, soil make-up, analysis of agricultural products, and nutritional needs of farm animals.

The kind of agriculture practised in a particular area is influenced by different factors, among which are climate, soil, water availability, topography, transportation facilities, land costs and a general economic level.

Climate, soil, water availability, and topography vary widely and bring about a wide range in agricultural production activities. However, as more new technologies are introduced and adopted, environmental factors become less significant in influencing agricultural production patterns.

Agribusiness is a term used to include all technologies incorporated and used and which make up the total inputs and outputs of the farming sector. In view of this, agribusiness covers the whole range of all economic activities involved in manufacturing and distributing the industrial contribution used in farming; the farm production of crops and animals, the processing of these materials into finished products; and the provision of products at a time and place required by consumers.

Being a successful farmer today requires knowledge of the advanced technology available, a sound education as well as commercial and business skills. Agriculture today is high-tech. It has become inevitable that farmers make use of electronic equipment, such as business computer applications, spreadsheets, etc.

Lifelong learning in this sector has become extremely important to keep up with new technology, IT and entrepreneurial competencies. Moreover, farmers need to be keep abreast of new regulations and consumer concerns, such as food safety, animal welfare, use of labour, organic produce, record-keeping, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCPs), European Good Agricultural Practices (EUROGAP), pesticide use, sustainable development, business management, business planning and environmental pollution.

The Institute of Agribusiness has identified this change and incorporated both agricultural education and commerce in all courses. Businesses deal all the time with the hastening of change determined by technology and global economics, and these forces are now being faced by farmers and educators.

Business and education go hand in hand and are key factors leading to economic security in this sector. Agriculture is a more challenging subject than one might realise. Without agriculture, the raw materials required in industry will be absent, including ordinary routine materials, such as a burger and fries.

It is astonishing to note how many issues need to be incorporated in ensuring low-priced, high-quality and safe products. This means taking into account everything, from animal welfare to environmental and socio-economic needs.

MCAST's Institute of Agribusiness is highly concerned with the professional and personal development of its students. It has embarked on a vocational and training educational programme offering courses that include all educational factors which strongly focus on combining knowledge, technology, business, and social and technical skills.

These vocational qualifications, which are work-related, are internationally recognised. MCAST is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for leadership, personal growth, values, attitudes, determination, skills, team work, respect, honesty, accountability, responsibility, and career success through a balanced academic curriculum in agricultural education.

Ms Camilleri is director of the MCAST Institute of Agribusiness