Jun 10, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC – “The many, intricate aspects of the agricultural industry are closely linked and provide a productive and efficient food system,” said Jay Vroom, president and CEO of CropLife America (CLA), at a symposium on Tuesday, June 8. Vroom spoke before a crowd of policy decision makers on the local and federal levels, representatives from the agricultural industry and consumers at the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) Symposium. Titled “Sustaining Animal Agriculture: Balancing Bioethical, Economic and Social Trends,” the CAST event brought together leading experts in the field to discuss new and emerging issues related specifically to livestock and agriculture.
“Modern agriculture’s many sectors, such as crop protection and livestock production, are intrinsically linked together, and regulatory and public opinion issues affecting one arena ultimately affect all of us,” said Vroom. “Data proves how close our respective markets are and that we all contribute to helping U.S. farmers meet food needs today and in the coming years.”
The United Nations predicts that the world population will exceed 9 billion by 2050, and that a 100 percent increase in world food production is necessary. Similarly, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations estimates that, due to no change in available land base, 70 percent of the world’s additional food needs can be produced only with new and existing agricultural technologies. To help address the worldwide demand for animal protein such as meat and dairy products, an ever-increasing, synergistic relationship between livestock and crop production is vital.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), over 40% of all grain production in the U.S. is used as feed for livestock and poultry. USDA data also show that the value of crop production and the value of livestock production have increased continuously and in parallel since the 1970s to levels near or more than $140 billion. America’s livestock producers depend upon an affordable and abundant grain supply to help feed their livestock. As such, modern agricultural practices such as the responsible application of crop protection products help farmers provide more than plant-based foods, but also meat, milk and eggs.
“Organizations and sectors must work together to meet the regulatory challenges which affect all of modern agriculture,” Vroom continued. “Through unifying these systems, we can help address the many issues impacting today’s farmers, as well as help build an enhanced trust in the food system by the public.”
