I have to agree that it seems that the new innovations of the past have increased the productivity, but at what costs?  All these new technologies have bad side effects including soil degradation, run off from pesticides, etc.  It might seem that the previous knowledge of the farmers has been replaced with the knowledge of all the companies marketing to the farmers.  The current techniques for farming might be only a temporary solution.  Once the soil and land becomes less productive there will need to be another solution.  Perhaps beginning the change now and using less modern technology in order to provide more organic goods is the future.