National Ag Day Puts Spotlight On Critical Nature Of Industry
Every day of every year, American farmers and ranchers provide the food, feed and fiber that form the foundation of society. On March 19, society takes one day to say, “Thank you.”
“Every American should understand how the food we eat and the seeming endless stream of goods from agriculture are produced,” said Bill Buckner, president and CEO of the Noble Foundation. “We should value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy. Nothing is more fundamental to our existence than food and the land it springs from.”
The Noble Foundation, which is the nation’s largest nonprofit plant science and agriculture institution, joined numerous other organizations in celebrating National Ag Day.
“The Noble Foundation is one of many organizations focused on advancing agriculture worldwide,” Buckner said. “Support for our agricultural producers and the industry as a whole is pivotal because of the looming agriculture crisis.”
Currently, global population stands at 7 billion people with more than 1 billion individuals already classified as “malnourished.” Food riots are becoming more frequent.
Through the course of the next 40 years, the Earth’s total population is predicted to bulge to more than 9 billion, meaning that global agricultural producers will need to increase food production by 70% to meet demand.
At face value, the challenge is daunting enough, but the agriculture crisis is compounded by decreased availability of quality land (due to increased desertification and urban sprawl), decreased water and soil resources, and the need for more efficient fertilizer and pesticide use.
“These are real challenges that will affect us all. We cannot run from them. We must face them together,” Buckner said. “We must increase our commitment to agricultural research and our support to our farmers and ranchers. That is why we celebrate National Ag Day. These men and women are the stewards of the land. For generations, they have provided safe, affordable, abundant food for our families. In the next generation, they will have to do even more.”
Editor’s Note: This release is from the Noble Foundation. Lloyd Noble established the Noble Foundation in 1945 to educate and encourage area farmers and ranchers to practice land stewardship and resource conservation.
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