????? 機(jī)器自動化技術(shù)將幫助農(nóng)民減少所需要的水、化肥和種子數(shù)量。NIC稱，未來五至十年，“自動拖拉機(jī)”將使用計(jì)算機(jī)技術(shù)進(jìn)行更高效的耕種。所謂“自動拖拉機(jī)”可以看成是高度自動化的移動生產(chǎn)設(shè)施。NIC報告還稱，高層結(jié)構(gòu)的“垂直”農(nóng)業(yè)，也有助于提高產(chǎn)量和降低用水量。

?????農(nóng)業(yè)灌溉系統(tǒng)所用的水約有60%被浪費(fèi)。微灌系統(tǒng)利用IT技術(shù)測量植物所需水量，可以大幅提高產(chǎn)量。但目前的微灌系統(tǒng)成本仍然過高。

????與任何預(yù)測一樣，我們很難說這些技術(shù)多久就可以產(chǎn)生影響力，或者是否能夠產(chǎn)生影響力。但至少對于希望在21世紀(jì)經(jīng)濟(jì)中尋找獲利途徑的投資者來說，這些技術(shù)確實(shí)是很有吸引力的想法。

????翻譯：劉進(jìn)龍/汪皓

????? Robotics might be able to help farmers reduce the amount of water, fertilizer and seed they need. The NIC says that with in the next five to 10 years, "autonomous tractors"—think of them as highly automated manufacturing facilities on wheels—can use computer technology to farm more efficiently. The NIC also reports that "vertical" farming in high-rise structures could help raise yields and reduce water consumption.

????? Irrigation systems on farms waste roughly 60% of the water used. Micro-irrigation systems that use IT to gauge exactly how much water needs to be dripped on plants could boost yields dramatically. The cost of today's micro-irrigation systems, however, is still high.

????As with any set of predictions it difficult to say how fast or even whether any of these new technologies will gain traction. At the very least, they do present some intriguing ideas for investors looking for a way to profit on the 21st century economy.