Monsanto...

[madamesilverspurs]

LOVELAND — The world's farmers will need to double the amount of food they now produce to feed an expected worldwide population of 8 billion by 2025.

That sobering statistic was part of the 2009 Colorado Ag Classic that drew about 200 people from the region Thursday. The classic is the joint annual convention of Colorado wheat, seed, corn, sunflower and sorghum producers. It was conducted at the McKee 4-H Building at The Ranch in Loveland.

Participants heard a video presentation by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack, updates by Colorado State University officials including President Tony Frank and Craig Beyrouty, dean of the ag school, and how farmers will be asked to help meet budget constraints in the coming years by Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture John Stulp.

But it was the presentation by Jennifer Ozimkiewicz, new business development director for Monsanto, who said there “are some tough challenges in agriculture for all of us to face” in meeting the world's future food demands. In seven of the past 10 years, she said, the world has consumed more wheat than it has produced, resulting in a shortage of stored supplies.

Adding to the problem, she said, “there are, as of last year, more people living in cities around the world than in rural areas,” which means there are less farmers producing food. In the U.S., CSU's Beyrouty said, only 1 percent of the nation's population is involved in food production, which offers a wide range of job opportunties for graduating college students.



(this is excerpted from a longer article that will appear in tomorrow's newspaper -- www.greeleytrib.com)

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[FarCenter]

1. Why would an increase in population from 7 to 8 billion require a doubling of food production

Besides, with more demand, the price of food will go up and per capita consumption will go down.

[HopeHoops]

2. AAAAARRRGGGGHHH!!!

I did NOT need to hear that name tonight. :grr:

[BanzaiBonnie]

3. And Monsanto is part of the problem