Urbanization's Impact on Agriculture | Aryan Sharma | TEDxBrushy Creek Youth

Agriculture & Urbanization Challenges - Rapid loss of farmland: The industry loses 175 acres of farmland every hour, which could harvest 12.9 million apples [7][8] - Farmer attrition: From 2017, farm operations in the US declined by 7%, with Texas losing nearly 18,000 farm operations [9] - Environmental degradation: Approximately 33% of the world's agricultural soil is degraded, and 80% of wastewater is discharged without adequate treatment [10][11] Potential Solutions - Integrated land use planning: Building communities (agrihoods) around active farmland to support local food systems [12][13] - Artificial intelligence (AI): AI can help decrease water usage in farms by 30% and improve farming efficiency [15][16] Implementation Barriers - Outdated zoning laws: Urban planners prioritize maximizing land use, viewing farms as obstacles [18] - Limited access to resources: Farmers, especially in rural areas, lack access to the training, funding, or broadband needed for AI adoption [19]