Food
Evolution and tech change
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XIX century
The Industrial Revolution reaches the agricultural sector
The introduction of more modern and robust machines in agriculture allows for increased production and cost reduction, significantly improving productivity.
Advance
Agricultural steam machinery
Transference of professionals to the industry
Impact
XIX century
Advance
Agricultural steam machinery
The replacement of hydraulic or animal power with the steam engine in the new generation of agricultural tools accelerates many tasks, such as threshing and winnowing crops or draining flooded fields.
Impact
Transference of professionals to the industry
Mechanization reduces the physical intensity of agricultural work, decreasing the need for labor on farms and in livestock. On the one hand, this results in a shift of professionals from rural areas to cities to work in the industry. On the other hand, workers in the sector need to learn how to operate, maintain, and repair the new agricultural machinery.
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1940-1950
More productive and resilient crops
The growth of the world population soars during the first half of the 20th century, and food production must increase to meet the high demand.
Advance
Chemical fertilizers and pesticides
Research in agriculture
Impact
1940-1950
Advance
Chemical fertilizers and pesticides
They are substances that contain chemical elements like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to improve soil quality or prevent and control pests, with the aim of promoting crop growth for human consumption.
Impact
Research in agriculture
Advancements in agrochemistry and biotechnology are essential to address the food crisis caused by population growth. Increasingly, crops with higher yields are required. Therefore, workers need to know how to apply chemical substances to agriculture, and this initiates a period of intense scientific and technological transformation of the sector.
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1950-1960
The processed food industry
The massive incorporation of women into the labor market reduces the available time for domestic work, creating the need for quick and easy-to-prepare meals.
Advance
Ready-to-eat food
A new industrial branch
Impact
1950-1960
Advance
Ready-to-eat food
Military-origin technologies, such as microwaves, cans, and plastic packaging, formed the foundation of a new market for convenience food products, designed to be prepared and consumed in a few minutes.
Impact
A new industrial branch
The expansion of processed foods makes work in the food industry much more industrial and less connected to the primary sector. Primarily, the expansion of product offerings creates jobs in food and beverage factories, such as production line operators, but also positions related to research and product design.
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1980-1990
Internationalization of the food industry
The end of the Franco dictatorship gives way to market liberalization and, as a result, an expansion of Spanish exports.
Advance
Adherence to the European Union
Job creation and technical modernization
Impact
1980-1990
Advance
Adherence to the European Union
Entry into the EU accelerates the modernization of the Spanish agri-food industry, thanks to factors such as the increase in exports and foreign investment and the assistance for agro-industrial development.
Impact
Job creation and technical modernization
Exporting abroad leads to an increase in production, and employment in the Spanish food industry grows by 10% between 1985 and 2002. In addition, foreign investments finance research and development activities for technical renewal of the sector and improving competitiveness. All of this contributes to the specialization and professionalization of various sectors within the industry.
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2000-2010
Food quality assurance
Globalization increases competition in the market. In response, many producers aim to differentiate their products by offering higher quality.
Advance
Quality assurance systems
Quality professionals
Impact
2000-2010
Advance
Quality assurance systems
Independent systems are created to provide consumers with reliable information about product quality. This includes geographical indications, designations of origin, or ISO 9000 and ISO 14001 standards
Impact
Quality professionals
Food control has limited relevance within the sector until increased competition leads to new professional opportunities in this field, both within producing companies (to ensure compliance with official regulations) and in external organizations responsible for food quality and safety control and assurance.
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2010-2020
Ecology and sustainability
It is estimated that the food sector produces one-third of human-origin greenhouse gases. Therefore, there is a need to drive a transformation towards sustainability.
Advance
Plant proteins
New occupations
Impact
2010-2020
Advance
Plant proteins
The primary source of contamination within the food sector is the meat industry, which is why it is essential to develop products that encourage the replacement of animal proteins with those of plant origin.
Impact
New occupations
Awareness of the effects of climate change is having a broad impact on the sector. For example, it has opened up new lines of research (hydroponic farming, compostable packaging, etc.), resulting in new professional profiles, such as Organic Agriculture Operator, Expert Researcher in New Foods, or Specialist in Sustainable Food Packaging Applications.
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2020 – Future
A new wave of technification
The current challenge of the sector, especially agricultural activity, is to ensure the provision of food for the entire population in a profitable and sustainable manner.
Advance
Agrotech
Technical innovation and professional recycling
Impact
2020 – Future
Advance
Agrotech
In Spain, more than 750 companies are dedicated to the development of innovative agricultural technologies, such as sensors for crop monitoring, artificial intelligence to prevent pests and diseases, or precision irrigation systems.
Impact
Technical innovation and professional recycling
Currently, the possibilities for growth and optimization in the sector depend on new technologies. This creates employment and business opportunities in the agrotech sector, and, in addition, it transforms the tasks of cultivation and farming professionals who need to acquire new skills to incorporate these new technologies into their regular activities.