According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), in 2050 the demand for food will increase by 70 percent over current levels. FAO has already warned since 2009 that the world population will increase from 7,000 billion today to 8.000 billion by 2030 and probably to more than 9,000 million by 2050, bringing the global food production will to increase by 70% in order to meet existing needs.

And all this in a context of climate change that is beginning to threaten some crops and that is affecting the agricultural and livestock productions across the globe, why international organizations, non-profit organization, administrations and governments are calling based agriculture conservation and sustainability of natural resources. Everyone seems to agree that the challenge is to move towards an agriculture that prevents soil erosion, water pollution, energy consumption and CO2 emissions as well as to reduce costs, but to remain efficient and productive. This means you have to achieve an increase in productivity, but sustainably, using existing technology and knowledge.

Experts estimate that the annual production of cereals, for example, will have to increase by almost one billion tons, and meat production by over 200 million tonnes, to a total of 470 million tons in 2050.

To climate change and competition for scarce resources, all the food system must become and be much more efficient in the use of resources, constantly reducing its environmental impacts, including emissions of greenhouse gases. It will be necessary to increase yields while reducing dependence on agrochemicals, reduce food waste and consumption of foods intensive exploitation of resources and the emission of greenhouse gases, such as meat.

The National Statistics Institute (INE) shows that in 2015 again exceeded in the region 6,000 sales transactions of rural properties, which had not happened since 2008, and is a trend that is being maintained in the first half of 2016.

Specifically, last year were sold in Extremadura 6,046 farms representing an increase of 16% compared to 2014, when operations were 5,200, and 26% compared to the worst year of transactions in the last decade, that was 2010 with just 4,781.

The figures are still far from pre-crisis levels, but the increases in the past two years show that the market begins to stir, at least in the number of operations.Those responsible for the rustic estate also agree that this is an especially sensitive to political instability market because retracts to investors, and likewise influences the uncertainty about the possible end of CAP support that can stop doing profitable uses some crops and livestock.

To meet the challenge of global competition, farmers have to optimize their return on investment. The technology has established itself as a strong ally either through the development of drones or through partially or fully automatic machines. We are facing the so-called Agriculture 4.0.

Currently, drones are about to conquer agriculture from the sky. Especially when it comes to monitoring soil and water, there are many advantages with speed as the central added value. Browse for instance the health of the plants from the sky is significantly faster than from the ground, which makes drones are a serious alternative for farmers.

 Drones are the method of choice when efficiency is required

Efficiency is also key when it comes to automation and therefore another technological trend. Partially or fully automated machines can work quickly and reliably and help people to invest efforts where their labor is really necessary. This has several advantages in many agricultural settings where often only a limited number of workers available.

However, automation is more than this. Separation between man and machines for example with the help of GPS technology improves safety at work. And as automated machines work quickly, accurately and independently, also help reduce fuel consumption and energy.

The company Technology Based at the University of Cordoba IWES is revolutionizing irrigated agriculture with the Solar Inteligent irrigation System that is achieving a drastic drop is achieved energy costs of farms and irrigation communities and the consequent increase in profitability of the activity and improving sustainable management of water and energy resources models.

Due to the rise in electricity rates in recent years, energy costs have skyrocketed irrigation, which has caused a loss of yield in irrigated agriculture. As an alternative to this problem appears Intelligent Solar Irrigation.

The solar irrigation involves pumping water from wells, ponds, rivers, or other water storage system, using solar radiation energy, which is converted by photovoltaic modules into electrical energy with which the pumps are working.

Irrigation Solar Smart incorporates an intelligent system of energy management from photovoltaic modules, works with any pump AC of any power, integrates an advanced control system controls the zoning of the property and can integrate a remote management system .