Preface

In the last two centuries, there has been rapid industrialization with the use of electrical energy in all fields, including agriculture, following the discovery of new inventions like steam-powered machines that convert potential energy into kinetic energy. This process has led to great changes in the residential areas of the world's population, especially in developed industrial societies, reflected by a change in the distribution of the population from rural to urban areas.

The rapid increase in the world's population (estimated to reach 10 billion in 2050) necessitates increasing food production on a global scale. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), world food demand will increase by 70% by 2050. In addition to food insecurity, the world is experiencing climate change and global warming. The predicted effects of global warming will affect settlements, lifestyles, and production systems. As such, new production systems that are compatible with increasing temperatures brought about by global climate change should be developed.

Agriculture is vitally important to humanity. Climate change, environmental pollution, global warming, and the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the importance of food safety and food security. Although awareness of these challenges is greater today than it has ever been, there is still much work to be done to increase sustainable food production. Today's existing agricultural production systems are not sufficient to ensure food security and overcome the negative effects of supply chain issues. Thus, new production approaches and technologies in agriculture, such as Industry 4.0 and Society 5.0, are imperative.

Sustainability is a concept that is spreading widely to various fields and industries. It encompasses notions of zero waste, renewable energy, and green, circular, and blue economies. This book discusses sustainability in terms of rural activities.
