The way we obtain and cook food now is very different than the way we did in the past. That’s thanks to numerous technological innovations—things we often take for granted or don’t even think about when we eat a sandwich or pasta. Here’s a look at the technology that changed how we got our food throughout history.
Ploughs
Arguably one of the most important inventions in the agricultural industry, the plough made larger farms possible and sped up farming efforts greatly. The move from gathering food to farming it was a huge change that revolutionized civilization. The plough made it possible for one person to feed many.
Fishing Nets and Reels
Fishing is one of the best ways to get food, and it was especially important in the past, when farming wasn’t as advanced as it is now. Fishing nets were powerful tools that helped people feed their families. Fishing reels are now the most common forms of individual fishing; you can learn more about their history here.
Cold Storage
Another one of the most important inventions that changed the course of history, cold storage makes it possible for us to store a wide variety of food for longer. This is very important, as stockpiling food could prevent famine and death and has helped cities quickly grow in size. However, cold storage as we know it today is a very recent development, as ice was the only way to keep things cool before the invention of refrigeration.
Irrigation
Irrigation is another great technology that makes farming and living away from water a possibility. Farms and cities needed to be located near large water sources until irrigation became a main way to fight drought, keep crops alive in dry soil, and feed people.
These are just a few of the technologies that changed how we got food throughout history, but they’re some of the most important. People still use these technologies today, and they’re why anyone can eat the way they do now.