October 2023

Innovation, what comes to mind when you hear or see the word? 

Images of hi tech, drones, even artificial intelligence. Or, perhaps, it is a new cultivar that is resistant to disease. You might picture many things.

But what about a windmill? 

If you had never seen one before and suddenly you learned about is that innovation? What if you learned about crop rotation for the first time, is that innovation? Controlled Environment Agriculture are innovations, but the concept is not necessarily new. What is fascinating about it today is that because more people are learning about it, they are bringing those innovations forward to more people.

In my opinion, all of this is innovation. As I think about innovation more, it comes down to whether this is a new idea to the person who is learning about it. 

If the definition is limited to new discoveries, that limits the scope. Discoveries breed innovations in many ways and in many peoples’ lives. Whether you need innovations that work for you or want to see what the future holds, let Virginia Cooperative Extension guide you!