Food Security - National Agricultural Biotechnology Council ...

they are safe. Cultural barriers can preclude acceptance of data produced by goodscience. Research is needed on how to close gaps between cultural concepts andscience.• The global economy will prosper best when all of its members are self-sufficientin food. The Gates Foundation provides a useful model for tackling problemsaffecting the developing world, and with US federal funds potentially significantlygreater than those provided by Gates, better progress may be made.• There is a grass-roots movement in the farming community to return to traditionalmethods of food production and sale. Concerned about the nutritional value ofthe food they produce, these farmers wish to contribute to their local economies.Extension programs are encouraging them, but are there sufficient economicincentives?• In general, consumers understand local food-production systems and place valueon locally produced food. With the qualifier “organic,” there is a perception ofgreater healthfulness, albeit not verifiable. Research is needed into improvingpublic understanding both of the risks and benefits of local systems.• Research is needed to examine whether local food systems are “better” and conduciveto food security. Are they more likely to provide environmentally beneficialsolutions to current acute public-health issues, with opportunities for closermonitoring and rapid diagnoses of problems?• Farm-Bill policies influence farmers regarding when and how to use their land.What incentives may be introduced via the Farm Bill to encourage maximumfood production?• The United States and Canada continue to enjoying cheap food, costing