New Horizons of Science, Technology and Culture Vol. 12

Global food systems are under unprecedented pressure from a confluence of demographic growth, climate change, resource depletion, and environmental degradation. Sustainable agriculture and horticulture have emerged as pivotal disciplines for reconciling the imperative of feeding a projected ten billion people by 2050 with the equally pressing need to preserve ecological integrity. This review provides a comprehensive narrative review of emerging technologies and research priorities in these fields, synthesising evidence from peer-reviewed literature and authoritative institutional reports published over the past two decades. The review examines precision agriculture tools including remote sensing, unmanned aerial vehicles, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain-based traceability systems. It further explores biotechnological advances encompassing genome editing via CRISPR-Cas9, genomic selection, and nanotechnological applications. Soil health management, microbiome engineering, biofertiliser science, and carbon sequestration strategies are critically assessed alongside sustainable water management approaches. Agroecological paradigms, biological control, integrated pest management, protected horticulture, and controlled-environment agriculture, including vertical farming, are discussed in the context of current and foreseeable technological trajectories. The review also addresses climate-smart agriculture, agroforestry, and the intersection of these approaches with global sustainability goals. Collectively, the evidence underscores that no single technology will resolve the multidimensional challenges confronting modern food production; rather, the integrated deployment of complementary innovations, anchored in sound agroecological principles and equitable access frameworks, is essential. The article concludes by delineating key research priorities and knowledge gaps requiring urgent multidisciplinary attention.