Rome, Italy
June 3, 2008
More can be done now to increase
the amount of grain farmers harvest from their land and help
address the strong and growing global demand for grain, Mike
Gumina, vice president of DuPont
business Pioneer Hi-Bred,
told a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization
Conference being held here today.
“Improved farming practices and technology exist today that
could help farmers in both developed and developing countries
increase their productivity,” Gumina said at the conference on
world food security. “Better crop management practices and
better seeds – both conventional and biotech – have tremendous
potential to increase supply and improve the lives of farmers.”
Gumina said that of the three ways to increase available supply
– more land in production, drawing from stored supplies, and
increasing yield – the only sustainable option is increasing
yields. There is relatively little additional land that would
not be environmentally sensitive that could be brought into
production. Global stores of grain are at all time lows, he
noted.
“While implementing and sustaining new agricultural practices is
challenging, we’ve seen it work around the world,” Gumina said.
“Farmers in many countries like Ethiopia have increased corn
yields by switching from open pollinated varieties to
conventional hybrid corn. At the same time, farmers in countries
like Spain, Argentina and the United States are increasing
harvestable yield with biotech traits.
“Science companies like DuPont are investing heavily to develop
seeds and provide technical support to help improve farmer
productivity around the globe. By bringing together a number of
advancements, DuPont is planning to increase yields for both its
soybean and corn seed products by 40 percent in the next 10
years,” Gumina said. “Farmers, agri-businesses, grain handlers
and public extension programs should be encouraged to work
together to address the near-term needs. Longer term, it is
critical that government policies create an environment for
advancing sustainable productivity.”
Gumina outlined four long-term solutions that would increase
productivity and help alleviate poverty and hunger:
- Encourage research and
the dissemination of technologies and techniques for
sustainable agriculture and water management. Public and
private sector scientists must collaborate to develop
technologies that will help crops be more tolerant to
drought, salt and heat, and can utilize nutrients more
efficiently. Once produced, it is critical that they are
made accessible.
- Deliver extension and
agronomy programming at a local level to ensure productivity
increases are sustainable. The benefits of investing in
research and innovation can only be realized if the
technologies can be adequately disseminated.
- Increase stewardship
training in agricultural best practices at the local level.
For productivity gains to be sustainable, farmers must use
the best stewardship practices available to help improve
soil productivity and limit environmental impacts.
- Establish secure land
tenure and recognize female land owners. Women play a
key role across sectors and at all levels of society. Their
contributions must be recognized.
Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont
business, is the world’s leading source of customized solutions
for farmers, livestock producers and grain and oilseed
processors. With headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer
provides access to advanced plant genetics in nearly 70
countries.
DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded
in 1802, DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable
solutions essential to a better, safer, healthier life for
people everywhere. Operating in more than 70 countries, DuPont
offers a wide range of innovative products and services for
markets including agriculture and food; building and
construction; communications; and transportation. |
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