Feature Articles
Plant Science Industry Must Take Leadership to Feed a Hungry World
With global hunger steadily on the rise, world leadership must find ways to feed everyone, and innovations in plant science technology are a significant part of the answer, according to the chair of the International Advisory board of the World Agricultural Forum, James Bolger.
"To feed the world, all the responsible science available will be needed," he told the audience at the first GrowCanada Conference. "We have to produce more from Mother Earth's finite resources if we're to feed everyone."
Bolger, who was New Zealand's prime minister from 1990 to 1997 and New Zealand's ambassador to Washington from 1998-2002, claimed the plant science industry must take a more proactive role in promoting the benefits of enhanced plant science. "Don't look for a messiah. I'm looking at groups like yours to step up and address these issues."
Given the prediction of a world population increase from 6 billion to 9 billion in the next 40 years, Bolger claims it is time to examine and re-evaluate commercial agriculture and plant science around the world. "The world needs more commercial agriculture, not less," he claimed. "The world needs more science, not less."
However, even though Canadians are beginning to show a greater acceptance of food science technology, there is still work to be done, according to Bruce Anderson, president of Harris Decima research firm.
His company's polls showed that while Canadians' acceptance of using GM and pest control science to feed the world's hungry was slightly higher, they were less inclined to accept it for their own families. "Right now, there is a brand reputation challenge for pest control and GM products," said Anderson. He suggested this imbalance shows that many Canadians are disengaged from political decisions relating to world hunger. "The main resistance to genetically modified foods is family or personal, not global," he said.
Changing this perception won't be easy, but he believes acceptance will continue to increase if the food sciences industry continues to promote the health benefits of products. "Don't talk about cheaper food. Talk about healthier food," he advised.
He also suggested the industry start talking about the steps they are taking to provide healthier, more abundant food to fight starvation in third world countries.
"Don't fight for yesterday. Figure out what you need to fight for tomorrow."
Bolger reiterated the belief that the plant science industry must promote the message that innovations in plant science are both necessary and desirable. He admitted that taking a leadership role will not be easy. "Reform is not for the faint-hearted," he said. However, even though changing attitudes won't be easy, the money is already there, so it is just a matter of adjusting priorities and redirecting dollars from things like wars to addressing world hunger.
"Global military spending was up four per cent from 2007 to 2008." With one billion people who are going hungry each day, these spending priorities are skewed. "It will take strong leaders to stare down racial prejudices and old-fashioned bigotry," he said.
According to Bolger, the good news is that many of the major issues can be solved with the current state of knowledge in the industry. "You are in the right business, but your start-to-finish processes are going to have to change," he said.
Referring to results from the Decima poll, he echoed Anderson's comments, saying the industry has to find ways to get consumers to realize that plant technology will play a key role in feeding the world's hungry.
"Give consumers a higher ambition," he urged. "If we want a peaceful and stable and secure world, we have a desperate need to feed it."