CropLife America Hosts Ag Policy Forum

WASHINGTON, DC –- CropLife America (CLA) hosted Modern Agriculture: Exploring its Relationship with Technology, Science & Society, at the Newseum in Washington, DC, on July 13. CLA’s inaugural national policy conference united experts from across the US in the fields of agriculture, food safety and security to present diverse perspectives on the issues facing modern agriculture and how these issues will impact the 2012 Farm Bill.

In his opening remarks, CLA Chairman Bill Buckner told attendees agriculture must accomplish three goals to be sustainable: It must produce enough food, protect natural resources, and it must be financially viable for farmers. “Modern agriculture has accomplished this better than any other system that preceded it,” says Buckner, who is also president and CEO of Bayer CropScience. Modern agriculture emphasizes productivity, the wider adoption of which was emphasized in the first panel discussion, Nine Billion Hungry People Coming to a Planet Near You. The world must raise its food production between 70% and 100% to meet the caloric needs of the growing population by 2050, and much of that production lies in more widely adopted plantings of biotechnology. 

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Julie Borlaug, associate director for partnerships at the Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture at Texas A&M and granddaughter of the institute’s namesake, emphasized the potential for seed technology. “My grandfather thought that the only way we will feed all the people in 2050 is through technology, specifically GMOs,” she said.

Among the participants were James McWilliams, associate professor, Texas State University-San Marcos; Margaret Mellon, director, Agricultural and Biotechnology Program, Union of Concerned Scientists; and Andrew Kimbrell, executive director, Center for Food Safety. Marc Gunther, contributing editor at FORTUNE magazine and a senior writer at Greenbiz.com, served as the Master of Ceremonies. Luncheon remarks were given by Michael Specter, author of Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet, and Threatens Our Lives.

CLA President and CEO Jay Vroom discussed future ag policy and the 2012 Farm Bill with two politicians who played key roles in the development of previous Farm Bills, Senator Blanche Lincoln from Arkansas, current chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Representative Bob Goodlatte of Virginia, former chair of the House Agriculture Committee.

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The conference consisted of four main sessions:
Session 1: Nine Billion Hungry People Coming to a Planet Near You.
Panelists were Julie Borlaug, associate director for
partnerships, Norman Borlaug Institute for International Agriculture at Texas A&M; James McWilliams, associate professor,
Texas State University, San Marcos; and Johanna Nesseth Tuttle, vice president, Center for Strategic and International
Studies
.

Session 2: Modern Agriculture: What is it? What Stands in its Way? Panelists were Bob Thompson, former Gardner endowed
chair in agricultural policy, University of Illinois; Jon Entine, visiting fellow, AEI; Christine Bruhn, consumer food
marketing specialist, UC Davis; and George Gray, professor of environmental health and occupational safety, School of
Public Health and Health Services, The George Washington University.

Session 3: Planting the Seeds for the 2012 Farm Bill: What factors should lawmakers weigh and who should they listen to?
Panelists were Paul Rozin, professor of psychology, University of Pennsylvania; Margaret Mellon, director, Agricultural
and Biotechnology Program, Union of Concerned Scientists; and Andrew Kimbrell, executive director, Center for Food Safety.

Closing Session: Through a Political Lens with Senator Blanche Lincoln (Democrat,Arkansas) and Representative Bob Goodlatte
(Republican, Virginia).

 

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Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:

La industria responsable continua con sus programas adecuados.
Saludos
Mario Paz
Lima – PerĂº
FMC Corporation

Avatar for Anonymous Anonymous says:

La industria responsable continua con sus programas adecuados.
Saludos
Mario Paz
Lima – PerĂº
FMC Corporation

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