In developed countries primary industry has become more technologically advanced, for instance the mechanization of farming as opposed to hand picking and planting. In more developed economies additional capital is invested in primary means of production. As an example, in the United States corn belt, combine harvesters pick the corn, and spray systems distribute large amounts of insecticides, herbicides and fungicides, producing a higher yield than is possible using less capital-intensive techniques. These technological advances and investment allow the primary sector to require less workforce and, this way, developed countries tend to have a smaller percentage of their workforce involved in primary activities, instead having a higher percentage involved in the secondary and tertiary sectors.
Ascend services three areas within the "Agribusiness" market:
- Productive resources (feed, seed, fertilizer, equipment, energy, pesticides, machinery, etc.)
- Agricultural commodities – (raw and processed commodities of food and fiber)
- Facilitative services (credit, insurance, marketing, storage, processing, transportation, packing, distribution, consultancy, soil testing etc.).
Five critical concerns facing the Agriculture Sector moving forward:
- Demographic shifts
- Change in global economic powers
- Accelerating urbanization
- Scarcity of resources
- Evolving technologies