Farmers Feeding the Hungry!

With all the bad news, it is nice to focus on some good news.

The bad news? According to the United Nation's Food & Agriculture Organization, another 40 million people were pushed into the "hunger" category in 2008. The total number of undernourished people worldwide is now estimated at 907 million.

There is, however, a silver lining that is rarely talked about: U.S. Agriculture's role in helping to feed the hungry. American agriculture continues to tap increased technology, better animal care, better genetics and overall increased efficiency.

In America, we take for granted this sustainable model of producing more food per acre with less inputs per bushel. Our friends on the farm continue to push the envelope of efficiency every day -- better business models, better financing techniques, better seeds, better conservation of the soil, better control of weather-related factors, better weed control and more efficient use of fuel and inputs.

Starting in the 1940's, Norman Borlaug initiated the first "green revolution" and proved that historic steps in technology could feed the hungry. He developed semi-dwarf, high-yield, disease resistant wheat varieties that drastically increased yields around the world. His work earned him the Nobel Peace Prize and is credited with saving over a billion people from starvation.

Efforts to grow more with less continue: from the Albert Lea Seed House's creation of greater yields through organic production to the global commitment of Monsanto to double crop yields by 2030.

As a socially conscious world, we need to push and expect our agriculture sector to continue to get better at what they do. I recently received a pamphlet from America's Second Harvest, the "Nation's Food Bank Network." They challenge us, "How to make sure the land of plenty has plenty for everyone." Well said!

Too often, the trend for greater efficiency is misconstrued as "bigger" and therefore bad. American farmers have access to amazing opportunities to fill the stomachs of the hungry. We should do our part to help farmers to promote their crucial role in "Feeding the Hungry."