In a recent Fortune report, industry leaders warned that the rapidly expanding AI infrastructure — especially data centers — is placing unexpected pressure on agriculture. These centers require massive amounts of electricity and water for cooling, resources that are also vital for food production. As one startup executive put it, the power used by AI chips is the same power farmers need to grow food.
This competition for resources could pose a real threat to food security. As data centers gobble up more water and energy, there’s a risk that the resource pool available to farmers could shrink just as global demand for food is set to surge. The report highlights that countries are already planning for higher agricultural demand, especially for protein-rich diets, which could further stress limited water sources.
That said, technology could also offer solutions. Vertical farming companies, for example, are using controlled environments and AI-driven systems to dramatically increase yields, sometimes as much as fivefold — while using significantly less water than traditional, open-field farming methods. Such innovations demonstrate that AI can help produce more food with fewer resources, but scaling them across regions remains a challenge.
Still, some experts argue that simple, existing agricultural practices may be more immediately effective than cutting-edge AI tools. Techniques like drip irrigation, better data monitoring, and improved greenhouse designs could reduce water use and emissions without the heavy energy and water costs that data centers incur. The report suggests a balanced approach: leverage AI for its benefits, but don’t overlook tried-and-true farming methods that are already making a positive impact.
