Washington, DC
December 29, 2008
Forty leaders from major
environmental organizations, food companies and grower
associations met with key leaders from
Bayer CropScience
to discuss sustainable agriculture at Bayer CropScience's fourth
annual Industry Relations Summit in Washington, DC, on December
2-3. Sustainable agriculture is a topic generating significant
attention because of concerns over the global economy and the
recognition of the need to meet increasing food demands while
protecting our environment.
According to the United Nations, the world's population today is
6.5 billion; by 2025 there will be 8.0 billion people to feed
and clothe. Growers will need to produce as much food in the
next 40-80 years as they have in the past 12,000 years on the
same amount of arable land in order to meet this demand.
Sustainable agriculture remains a focused topic for the entire
food supply chain.
"Increasing food needs go beyond the obvious link to growing
population. Massive job creation in developing countries has
lead to widespread prosperity. As people move from poverty to
greater abundance, their diets improve from cereal grains to
vegetable oils to protein (i.e. meat.) The growth of the global
middle class has placed tremendous strains on production
agriculture," said Al Ambrose, vice president of CHS Inc. (CHS
is a fortune 200 company; America's largest agriculture and
petroleum cooperative.) "The challenge we face is how to meet
this burgeoning demand without savaging the planet. The solution
lies in technology which provides greater productivity from
every acre utilized."
"Bayer CropScience is committed to working with the entire value
chain -- growers, seed companies, food suppliers, environmental
organizations -- to ensure high-quality affordable food is
available while ensuring the environment is protected," stated
Bill Buckner, president and CEO of Bayer CropScience, during his
opening summit remarks. "This annual summit brings together
leaders in the agriculture value chain so we all can better
understand our roles and challenges in providing food, feed,
fuel and fiber as we protect tomorrow today."
He continued, "We are potentially one drought away from a global
food crisis. Environmental organizations, food companies,
growers and agribusinesses like Bayer must work to feed the
growing population through innovation while maintaining critical
habitat and biodiversity."
"The fact that we are here to discuss the importance of working
together to meet global food demands and environmental
preservation is indicative of Bayer's commitment to
sustainability," said Dave McLaughlin, World Wildlife Fund's
vice president, agriculture. "We want future generations to ask,
'How did you do that?' not, 'What were you thinking?'"
Leaders from Ducks Unlimited, Duke University, National
Association of Conservation Districts, National Fish and
Wildlife Foundation, The Keystone Center, The Nature
Conservancy, World Wildlife Fund, Archer Daniels Midland,
Cargill, Inc., CHS, Inc., Cotton Incorporated, PepsiCo, The
Coca-Cola Company, The Kellogg Company, Ad Farm, American Farm
Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, Food Marketing
Institute, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Corn
Growers Association, National Cotton Council, National Potato
Council and the United Fresh Produce Association participated in
Bayer CropScience's Industry Relations Summit.
"Our hope is that all Summit participants left with a heightened
awareness and continued commitment to innovation and
collaboration to provide a safe, affordable and abundant food
supply while ensuring critical habitat is protected," concluded
Buckner.
Bayer CropScience LP is the U.S. business of Bayer
CropScience AG. Bayer AG is a global research-based and
growth-oriented enterprise with core competencies in the fields
of health care, nutrition and high-tech materials. Bayer
CropScience AG, a subsidiary of Bayer AG with annual sales of
about EUR 5.7 billion (2006), is one of the world's leading
innovative crop science companies in the areas of crop
protection, non-agricultural pest control, seeds and plant
biotechnology. The company offers an outstanding range of
products and extensive service backup for modern, sustainable
agriculture and for non-agricultural applications. Bayer
CropScience has a global workforce of about 17,900 and is
represented in more than 120 countries. |
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