2011 March/April Issue - Land O'Lakes Inc.

PERSPECTIVESPRESIDENT’S COLUMN by Chris PolicinskiBridging a Growing DivideBringing facts to the discourse on agriculture and food productionEach year at the Land O’LakesAnnual Meeting, along with reportingon the state of the cooperative,I have the opportunity todiscuss issues affecting Land O’Lakes andthe agriculture industry.This year, I addressed what is really acontinuing story – how producers canfeed a growing world population, whilethe public discourse about agriculture andfood production becomes more complicatedand contentious.A shift in focusIn today’s world, America’s farmers arefacing a challenge. They are continuallybeing called on to deliver increased productivitywith fewer resources and less impacton the environment.Given the importance of a safe, economicaland plentiful food supply, you mightexpect widespread public support for thetechnologies and management practicesthat have driven productivity and environmentalstewardship over the decades.But, ironically, we are nowhere near aconsensus of opinion. In fact, the publicdiscourse about agriculture and food productionhas moved from a discussion to adebate, and now to a growing divide.During the Annual Meeting, I discussedthree steps we can take to bridgethat divide and address the issuesand assumptions that are affecting ourindustry.1. We must continue telling the great productivitystory of agriculture – creatinga fact-based understanding among thepublic and policymakers.2. We need to do a better job of listeningand responding to messages from themarketplace.3. We need to make the case for co-existenceand choice in agriculture and foodproduction.Presenting the factsBecause only 2 percent of Americans aredirectly involved with agriculture, manypeople have no idea of the complex systemthat puts food on their table.One important message is that the 250percent increase in agricultural productivityover the past 60 years didn’t happenby chance. It was achieved through innovativetechnologies and advanced on-farmmanagement practices.The global population is expected toincrease from 6.8 billion people today tomore than 9 billion by 2050 – requiring an80 percent increase in food production.Although certain factions oppose the useof technology in agriculture, the realityis that we need even better technologyand production techniques to meet thegrowing demand.Why is this so important? Today, evenwith the strides we’ve made, 1 billionpeople worldwide are undernourished– a 19 percent increase since the 1990s.Because only 2 percentof Americans are directlyinvolved with agriculture,many people have no idea ofthe complex system that putsfood on their table.In the U.S., 50 million people – or onein every seven households – live withfood insecurity.Those are startling statistics, and hungercould become more prevalent as the populationgrows. We need to use safe, beneficialtechnologies to end the cycle of hungerand poverty that affects real people, and cancreate economic and political turmoil thatthreatens peace and stability in the world.Marketplace messagesWhen we hear misperceptions about ourindustry, it’s easy to dismiss those concerns.But the marketplace is sending ussome important messages, and we need tolisten and respond.4 growingtogether www.landolakesinc.com