Letter: Oppose laws that hinder agricultural innovation
Believe it or not, farmers have always been among the most tech-savvy entrepreneurs. Widely hailed as the original "hackers," the earliest farmers had little choice but to tackle equipment challenges and crop issues through sheer will and ingenuity.
Today's farmers continue to embody resourcefulness, aided by innovations that have transformed farming from an art to a science. Illinois farmers now have access to a plethora of robotic systems and granular data, empowering them to make precise, real-time decisions. With every passing year, their hunger for innovation grows, as they seek ways to bolster their operations of all sizes and configurations. Automation is the latest innovation taking center stage, which led me to establish Sabanto, a company deploying an aftermarket system to help farmers automate their equipment to boost productivity and optimize labor resources.
These innovations - and those of tomorrow - are key to maintaining Illinois' agricultural leadership. The industry is essential to the state's economy, with local crops generating more than $25 billion in sales and agricultural-adjacent industries, including farm tech, fueling billions of dollars in added economic impact.
But this level of economic impact in the future isn't a foregone conclusion. Challenging times lie ahead, with global population growth expected to demand a 70% increase in farming output by 2050. Agricultural tech and innovation will remain central to Illinois farmers' ability to deliver on these increased demands.
Some in Washington are pushing policies to stifle American innovation, hindering tech companies and burdening farmers. This move threatens to outsource future agricultural opportunities, a lose-lose situation. Congress must recognize agriculture's vital ties to technology, empowering tech innovation instead of undermining it. Our collective commitment to strengthening the agriculture sector will ensure progress and prosperity for all.
Craig Rupp
Itasca