Today 35,000 people from around the globe tuned in to learn what experts had to say about meeting 21st century challenges related to food needs. The event, “Now Serving 9 Billion: A Global Dialogue on Meeting Foods Needs for the Next Generation,” was held at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. It was truly an international event with participants from throughout the United States and over 30 nations across the world.
The event opened with a short video about the life and times of Dr. Norman Borlaug. As the father of the green revolution, he often spoke about the importance of science and technology in reducing international hunger challenges. Building upon this theme, a panel of expert speakers listed current hunger issues relating to technology, energy, water shortages, arable farmland, and economics. Once the audience was invited to join the discussion, questions ranged from topics like President Obama’s organic garden to the definition of sustainability. One particularly interesting question was sent via email from a farmer in Kenya, who asked about seed import restrictions in Kenya. The panelist said that there is not yet a good model for import barriers, and as a result, millions go hungry across Africa. This single question led to other questions about politics and the bureaucracy within agricultural circles. Another interesting point, made by a European panelist with a biotechnology background, was that the world could learn from Europe’s mistakes with respect to the agricultural politics that are due to individual national desires.
Fundamentally, basic food and health are essential for all human survival. We can learn from other nations how to better not only our own, but also others.
You can continue to follow this event, hosted by Biotechnology Industry Organization, Crop Life International, and CAST on Facebook and Twitter (@CropLifeEvent and #AgCAST). If you’re interested in learning more, you can download a recently published article by CAST entitled, “Agricultural Productivity Strategies for the Future: Addressing U.S. and Global Challenges.” Or you can e-mail Gale Buchanan (gableb@uga.edu) who helped write the CAST article listed above. He is currently seeking fresh ideas for a second green revolution.
The event opened with a short video about the life and times of Dr. Norman Borlaug. As the father of the green revolution, he often spoke about the importance of science and technology in reducing international hunger challenges. Building upon this theme, a panel of expert speakers listed current hunger issues relating to technology, energy, water shortages, arable farmland, and economics. Once the audience was invited to join the discussion, questions ranged from topics like President Obama’s organic garden to the definition of sustainability. One particularly interesting question was sent via email from a farmer in Kenya, who asked about seed import restrictions in Kenya. The panelist said that there is not yet a good model for import barriers, and as a result, millions go hungry across Africa. This single question led to other questions about politics and the bureaucracy within agricultural circles. Another interesting point, made by a European panelist with a biotechnology background, was that the world could learn from Europe’s mistakes with respect to the agricultural politics that are due to individual national desires.
Fundamentally, basic food and health are essential for all human survival. We can learn from other nations how to better not only our own, but also others.
You can continue to follow this event, hosted by Biotechnology Industry Organization, Crop Life International, and CAST on Facebook and Twitter (@CropLifeEvent and #AgCAST). If you’re interested in learning more, you can download a recently published article by CAST entitled, “Agricultural Productivity Strategies for the Future: Addressing U.S. and Global Challenges.” Or you can e-mail Gale Buchanan (gableb@uga.edu) who helped write the CAST article listed above. He is currently seeking fresh ideas for a second green revolution.
