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Producing more food with fewer resources is the ethical choice
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Gardeners are preparing to sink seed into soil in these first days of spring, starting the process to produce their own personal harvest. Being involved in food production is a noble pursuit. Food is one of the few necessities of life, and having a garden is a wonderful opportunity to capture nature's goodness to share with family and friends. However, those who suggest the entire food system should be slowed down or rolled back to a simpler time are risking dangerous and unintended consequences. Producing some of your own food, making smart choices about nutrition, and supporting responsible and efficient food production systems that produce more food using fewer resources should not be mutually exclusive. The more everyone can be involved in producing their own food, or connecting with those who grow it, the better off we all are. In fact, an informed public discussion about responsible choices for people, animals and the planet is exactly what we need. "Fortunately, consumers in the U.S. frequently have the choice between purchasing organic and conventional foods and make food purchasing decisions that reflect their values, concerns, and lifestyles," stated Carl K Winter, Ph. D, Director of the FoodSafe Program and an Extension Food Toxicologist at the University of California-Davis. According to the World Wildlife Fund, we are currently consuming more food than can be produced by our planet; in fact, our consumption rate is that of 1.25 planets. If China develops as expected, our consumption capacity increases to two planets. If all other developing countries continue the current projected path of growth and consumption, that becomes 11 planets. With our planet's current growth, our monthly population increase is 6.3 million people - equivalent to the populations of Los Angeles and Chicago put together, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Based on current projections we need to increase food production by 70% in the next 40 years. That will not happen by slowing down improvements in productivity. According to the United Nations, 80% of future production growth must come from increased yields, roughly 10% from higher cropping density and 10% from expanded land use. In other words, to meet the growing global demand for food we have to produce more, using less through innovation and the responsible use of technology. The good news is that America's farmers have been doing that for decades. Decades ago for example, consumers told the U.S. pork industry they wanted meat with a leaner profile. The pork industry did what any good industry would do - it worked with nutritionists to carefully adjust diets and with veterinarians to ensure proper animal husbandry and care. Advancements in technology on the farm lead to a higher quality, safer food product for consumers. Consider the bacon, eggs, toast and milk you may have enjoyed for breakfast. Today, we produce 29% more eggs with 36% fewer hens, 145% more pork per sow with 47% fewer sows, 120% more wheat on 23% fewer acres, 474% more corn with 4% more acres and 63% more milk with 68% fewer cows than in 1950. Through responsible innovation, we are producing more food using fewer resources. Farmers in Illinois and around the U.S. are committed to responsible management of the land and all our natural resources. In fact, farmers across the US have reduced the amount of fertilizer needed to grow corn by 36% in the last 30 years. Farmers drink the same water and breathe the same air as their neighbors. Treating our natural resources with respect is what ensures that the farming industry will be here tomorrow. That's what guarantees our children the opportunity to also grow food for the world. The public has a right to expect food producers to act responsibly, and because we have the most affordable food supply in the world, U.S. consumers have an amazing array of options from which to choose: the supermarket, a farmer's market or your own back yard, to name just a few. But choices carry consequences. Decisions that limit the ability to increase productivity will affect future generations in the U.S. and around the world. Decisions that roll back productivity improvements have immediate consequences on food availability and affordability. If you want to do the right thing for people, animals and the planet, learn more about food production and nutrition; better understand the consequences of market and political decisions that limit productivity, and be supportive of responsible, efficient production systems that allow us to feed more, using less. That's the ethical choice. Respectfully, Brent Scholl - President, Illinois Pork Producers Tim Lenz - President, Illinois Corn Growers Association Ron Moore - Chairman, Illinois Soybean Association Trevor Toland - President, Illinois Beef Association Phillip Nelson - President, Illinois Farm Bureau
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