With a decline in fossil fuel supply (inevitable in the medium to long term) the attention will switch to renewable sources for on-farm fuel use and to renewable and/or nuclear for off-farm electricity generation. The renewable fuel that is most likely to be suitable for use in tractors and other self-propelled machines is esterified oil from oilseeds.
Until the 1950s mechanization played only a minor role. The emphasis on biological technology was supported by conscious government choice: in the late nineteenth century Japan imported machinery from the United States, but did not find it useful. It then hired biologists from Germany to assist in developing its biological research program, which was successful. The United States, however, emphasized mechanical technology even before 1880. Although publicly funded biological research was initiated in the 1870s, it did not produce big increases in yields until about 1930, well after the major land frontiers had been closed and mechanization was far advanced.

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With a decline in fossil fuel supply (inevitable in the medium to long term) the attention will switch to renewable sources for on-farm fuel use and to renewable and/or nuclear for off-farm electricity generation. The renewable fuel that is most likely to be suitable for use in tractors and other self-propelled machines is esterified oil from oilseeds.
Until the 1950s mechanization played only a minor role. The emphasis on biological technology was supported by conscious government choice: in the late nineteenth century Japan imported machinery from the United States, but did not find it useful. It then hired biologists from Germany to assist in developing its biological research program, which was successful. The United States, however, emphasized mechanical technology even before 1880. Although publicly funded biological research was initiated in the 1870s, it did not produce big increases in yields until about 1930, well after the major land frontiers had been closed and mechanization was far advanced.

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