GMO

 

FEEDING THE WORLD TODAY AND IN THE FUTURE

By 2050, it is expected that the world’s population will grow to nearly 9 billion; thus increasing our need for food by more than 100 percent. Currently, 1 in 8 people, or 842 million, struggle with hunger every day. Even more so, roughly 1 billion people in the world are food insecure, meaning they lack access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. While agriculture has evolved in order to meet these intensely growing food demands, farmers will need to increase food production by 70-100 percent to meet global nutrition needs.
We already know that there is relatively little available land on which to cultivate food. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) projections indicate that 80 percent of the additional food required to meet demand in 2050 will need to come from land already under cultivation. The result is that our farmers and food producers must produce those higher yields using the same (or less) acreage than they use today while relying on fewer natural resources.

We are very fortunate in the United States to have a strong economy, a dedicated workforce, and good, diverse land from which to cultivate crops. In 2016, U.S. consumers spent only 10% of personal disposable income on food. However, there are still nearly 24 million Americans living in food deserts today, without ready access to affordable nutrition. These food deserts are not just in one area of the country; they exist throughout the United States.

The success of our country is dependent on the success of other countries. Consumers in other parts of the world must spend 50% or more of their income on food, and this is devastating for them. By providing people with the tools they need to lift themselves out of poverty, achieved by first fighting malnutrition, we create a more stable world. For every 5% drop in income growth in a developing country, the likelihood of violent conflict or war within the next year increases by 10%.

Humans have an innate desire to access more knowledge on a wide variety of subjects; biotechnology must be included in that. Farmers who utilize these modern agriculture techniques are contributing to our healthy, nutritious, and sustainable food supply. The more we can learn about biotechnology’s safety and applications in the real world, the more likely the general public will be to accept it as a major segment of agricultural production.

GE Foods and the Ecosystem

When farmers plant genetically modified crops, they can produce more end product per acre. This is because GE crops have been designed to produce more and to be resistant to pests, weeds, and diseases. GE crops have also been produced to be drought tolerant, requiring less water. With the resistance coded in the genetics of the crops, farmers can use fewer pesticides and herbicides, leaving a lower environmental impact. As with golden rice, GE food can be engineered to provide greater nutritional value, so it is healthier to eat than its similar counterparts. And, the shelf life of GMOs can be extended for less waste. All of this increases the efficiency and production capacity of food producers, making it easier to feed the world.

The Results of Improvements in Breeding and Animal Welfare

The math is simple, improved breeding and cultivation leads to better yields and a positive impact on our food supply. We can also ensure that the animals we raise are maximized to their full potential by giving them proper nutrition in their feed (improved through biotechnology) and breeding them for desired traits. Selective breeding improves animals’ ability to convert feed to meat, milk, or fiber more efficiently, making the final product more nutritious. The proper management and attention to the welfare of animals in agriculture allows farmers and ranchers to provide better products to consumers. For example, modern housing systems streamline production while simultaneously improving animal welfare by protecting animals from disease, predation, fighting, and injury.
Combining science, new technologies, and best practices allows farmers and ranchers to continue to provide food for our nation and our world.