Surreal illustration of a farmer in a genetically modified field.

The End of Farming? How Tech and Consumerism Are Reshaping Agriculture

Beau Callahan in Tech & Innovation June 2025 • 4 min read.

"From bioengineered seeds to changing consumer tastes, agriculture is undergoing a radical transformation. Are traditional farms becoming obsolete?"

Agriculture, at its core, is a process of converting energy and biological information into food for human consumption. However, the way we achieve this is changing rapidly. Sophisticated biotechnology in agricultural inputs is redefining agriculture as primarily a flow of information, not just a physical process.

The traditional model of farming, characterized by independent farmers making decisions based on their knowledge and experience, is being challenged. The rise of bioengineered inputs and the increasing influence of consumer preferences are shifting the balance of power in the agricultural supply chain.

This article examines how agriculture is evolving into an 'end-to-end' system, where intelligence and decision-making are concentrated at the beginning and end of the supply chain, potentially leaving farmers as mere conduits in the production process.

How Have Bioengineered Inputs Transformed the Role of Farmers?

Surreal illustration of a farmer in a genetically modified field.

The rise of bioengineered seeds and other inputs has significantly reduced the role of farmers in shaping the genetic makeup of crops. In the past, farmers selected and bred plants based on desirable traits, adapting them to local conditions and evolving their characteristics over time. This evolutionary contribution of farmers is becoming obsolete.

Conventional breeding is yielding to genetic manipulation at the molecular level. Companies now engineer seeds with specific traits, such as resistance to herbicides or pests. Farmers using these bioengineered inputs have less influence over the characteristics of their crops, reducing their contribution to brute labor.

Herbicide Resistance: Crops are engineered to withstand specific herbicides, allowing farmers to control weeds more effectively.
Pest Resistance: Some crops produce their own insecticides, reducing the need for chemical sprays.
Increased Yield: Genetic modifications can enhance crop yields, leading to greater productivity.

This shift has led to concerns about the loss of biodiversity and the potential for unforeseen consequences. The focus on a limited number of traits can make crops more vulnerable to new pests or diseases. The increasing reliance on a few large companies for seeds and other inputs concentrates power in the hands of these corporations.

Navigating the Changing Landscape of Agriculture

The transformation of agriculture presents both challenges and opportunities. While traditional farming practices are under pressure, there is also growing interest in sustainable and alternative agricultural models. Consumers are increasingly demanding transparency and traceability in the food supply chain. New technologies, such as vertical farming and precision agriculture, offer the potential to increase efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.2139/ssrn.3218894, Alternate LINK

Title: Agriculture, End To End

Journal: SSRN Electronic Journal

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: James Ming Chen

Published: 2018-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

How are bioengineered inputs transforming the fundamental nature of agriculture?

Agriculture is being reshaped through the use of sophisticated biotechnology in agricultural inputs, transforming it into a flow of information, rather than solely a physical process. This shift challenges the traditional model where farmers made decisions based on their knowledge and experience. The rise of bioengineered inputs and the influence of consumer preferences are concentrating decision-making at the beginning and end of the supply chain, potentially reducing farmers to conduits in the production process. However, the role of sustainable and alternative agricultural models, along with consumer demands for transparency, also impact this transformation.

In what ways have bioengineered inputs altered the traditional role of farmers in crop development?

Bioengineered inputs, like herbicide-resistant and pest-resistant crops, have reduced the farmer's role in shaping crop genetics. Traditional breeding involved farmers selecting and breeding plants based on desirable traits. Now, companies engineer seeds with specific traits at the molecular level, diminishing the farmer's influence over crop characteristics. Farmers now spend less time on brute labor. This has led to concerns about biodiversity loss, vulnerability to new pests, and the concentration of power in large corporations.

What specific advantages do herbicide-resistant and pest-resistant crops offer to farmers, and what are the potential downsides?

Herbicide resistance allows crops to withstand specific herbicides, providing farmers with more effective weed control. Pest resistance involves crops producing their own insecticides, decreasing the need for chemical sprays. Genetic modifications can also enhance crop yields, leading to greater productivity. However, the use of these technologies raises concerns about the potential for unforeseen consequences, the impact on biodiversity, and the increasing reliance on a few large companies for seeds and other inputs.

How does the increased reliance on bioengineered seeds and inputs affect the autonomy and control of farmers in the agricultural supply chain?

Farmers are becoming more reliant on bioengineered seeds and inputs developed by large corporations. This reduces their control over crop genetics and increases their dependence on these companies. While bioengineered crops can offer benefits like herbicide resistance, pest resistance, and increased yield, they also raise concerns about biodiversity, potential unforeseen consequences, and the concentration of power in the agricultural sector. Farmers are increasingly becoming conduits in the supply chain as decision-making is concentrated at the beginning and end.

Besides technology, how are consumer preferences influencing the direction of agriculture and potentially reshaping traditional farming practices?

Consumers are increasingly demanding transparency and traceability in the food supply chain. There is also growing interest in sustainable and alternative agricultural models. New technologies, such as vertical farming and precision agriculture, offer the potential to increase efficiency and reduce environmental impact. These technologies could challenge the prevailing transformation that diminishes the role of the farmer. The demand for transparency also encourages a shift away from heavy reliance on the practices of the traditional supply chain.