Any time we become reliant on technology, we put ourselves in jeopardy.

Just consider what happened recently when CrowdStrike’s faulty software update caused grounded flights, knocked media outlets offline, and disrupted hospitals, small businesses, and even government offices.

Now imagine technology having this type of grasp on the farming industry. 

It’s called surveillance agriculture.

And it’s being touted as the key to better crops, less harm to the environment, and a way for farmers to save money.

While this may be true, the downside is far more dark and dangerous...

What Is Surveillance Agriculture? 

Similar to the technology of smart cities, surveillance agriculture involves using advanced technologies such as remote sensing, IoT devices, and AI to monitor and manage agricultural production for optimized efficiency and sustainability.

At least, that’s what we’re being told...

While they may claim surveillance agriculture is a good thing because it will help farms and lead to more food security, it also manipulates professional productive behavior. 

And that’s a huge issue—especially when it removes decision-making from the farmer.

There are multiple companies that have created technology and systems that perform agricultural monitoring. They all claim it is beneficial for farmers and the rest of us.

But keep in mind that they are selling products. Of course, they are going to focus on the benefits!

Here are some of the claims these companies make:

• Simon IoT: “Farm monitoring offers numerous benefits. It’s not just about better crops, but also smarter use of resources, less harm to the environment, informed decisions, and substantial cost savings.”
  
  
• GMES: “Monitor and assess crop conditions, predict food production and potential yield to provide timely early warning information to decision makers and stakeholders. The service provides additional migratory and invasive pests monitoring and assesses impacts to crops.”

What they don’t mention are the potential downfalls of surveillance agriculture.

The Problem with Surveillance Agriculture 

• Dependence on Technology: As surveillance agriculture becomes the norm, farms will be more dependent on technology. Jobs will be lost, and people will be replaced by robots. Who needs the good ol' Farmers’ Almanac when you’ve got the Internet of Things, remote sensing, and AI? Yeah, we’ve seen how well that works...

• Security Issues: Like anything involving the internet and technology, there are security issues to consider. If a farm goes all in with surveillance agriculture, it will be at risk of a cyberattack. And cybercriminals are targeting food and water. We already saw it happen with meat processing giant JBS in 2021. Shard Secure explains:

• Lack of Flexibility: We want to grow the foods we want to eat. But, if you give all the farming over to a technological system, you are forced to do what it tells you to do based on the data it is fed. Heirloom seeds? Forget it. 

The Threat Surveillance Agriculture Poses to Our Food Supply

Just how dangerous is surveillance agriculture?

Shard Secure explains:

These technologies generate massive amounts of data — according to one IBM study, the average farm generates half a million data points daily — and unauthorized access to this data can have disastrous results. If attackers breach precision farming tools, they can remotely poison crops, disable millions of tractors, and raise temperatures on poultry farms enough to kill thousands of birds in a matter of minutes.

As scary as that possibility is, that isn’t the only threat.

Surveillance agriculture will significantly shift the way farmers produce our food.

These technologies are products that are being sold to farms. Again, they are being sold.

So, it’s important to consider the vested interests of entities behind surveillance agriculture, such as agri-capital, states, and nonprofits.

There are people with enough money, power, and influence to manipulate data systems to get what they want.

For instance, what if the data fed to the machine suggests that we need to harvest more bugs instead of meat?

Data is used to steer consumers to certain products. That’s why your Facebook algorithm may look different from your neighbors. 

Now imagine if farm algorithms were manipulated...

Glenn Davis Stone addresses this issue in “Surveillance Agriculture and Peasant Autonomy” for the Journal of Agrarian Change.

Here are some of his key arguments:

• Increased Use of Agrochemicals: Surveillance agriculture technologies can steer farmers towards using more agrochemicals by providing precise recommendations for fertilizer and pesticide applications, potentially increasing the presence of chemical residues in food​. Stone explains:

• Promotion of Specific Brands: These technologies can also influence farmers to use specific brands of seeds, fertilizers, and other inputs, often those produced by the companies providing the technology. This could lead to a reduction in crop diversity and increase the dominance of certain crops and food products in the market​.
  
  
• Dietary Homogenization: The emphasis on high-yield, monoculture crops promoted by surveillance agriculture can contribute to the homogenization of diets. This means a focus on a narrow range of staple crops, potentially reducing the availability of diverse, nutrient-rich foods.
  
  
• Dependence on Processed Foods: As surveillance agriculture integrates with large agri-food corporations, there may be an increase in the production of crops suited for processed foods, aligning with corporate interests in processed food markets. This could lead to higher consumption of processed foods, negatively impacting dietary health​.

Read the article in full here.

How to Prepare for Surveillance Agriculture Mishaps

Surveillance agriculture is expected to grow in popularity. 

There will be changes to the food supply. The time to prepare is now. Here’s how:

• Support farmers. It’s important to know where your food comes from. Visit the local farmers’ market. Get your meat from a local butcher. Show your support. Ask about what type of systems they use.

• Grow your own food. The best way to guarantee you are eating what you want to eat is to grow it yourself. Get started by investing in a seed vault today.

• Find a like-minded community. When it suddenly becomes difficult to get the foods you want and need from the grocery store, it’s helpful to know there are other ways to get it. Get to know others with a similar mindset toward growing your own food and not becoming reliant on technology. With these people, you can barter and build your own food supply chain.

• Stock up. Avoid running out of your favorite foods by keeping a pantry full of emergency food—especially protein.

Stick to doing things the old-fashioned way, friends.

In liberty,

Elizabeth Anderson

Preparedness Advisor, My Patriot Supply