What technological change had a significant impact on agriculture during the Industrial Revolution?

The significant technological change that had an impact on agriculture during the Industrial Revolution was the development and implementation of new machinery, which greatly increased productivity. Innovations such as the seed drill, mechanical reaper, and threshing machine transformed traditional farming techniques. These machines allowed for more efficient planting, harvesting, and processing of crops, leading to higher yields and the ability to cultivate larger areas of land. This shift not only made farming more efficient but also supported the growing urban populations as fewer laborers were needed in rural areas, allowing them to migrate to cities for work in factories.

While manual labor did change significantly due to mechanization, the assertion that it became completely obsolete is misleading; labor was still essential in many agricultural processes even with machinery in use. Additionally, while sustainable and organic farming techniques may have gained attention in later years, during the Industrial Revolution, the focus was more on increased productivity through mechanization rather than on sustainability.