* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Cheryl Day is an advocate for agriculture who has followed in the footsteps of eight generations before her as an agriculture producer. In addition to her agriculture enterprise, Day has dedicated countless volunteer efforts to speaking out for agriculture and organizing grassroots efforts to protect the science of producing agriculture products for the next generation to come. The opinions expressed are her own.
On October 31, 2011 the world population clock reached 7 billion people – a milestone that sends most minds spinning.
The rapidly accelerating number of mouths to feed with fewer resources (land, water, and energy) would make most individuals throw in the towel. But I – a Woman Farmer – will roll up my sleeves and join growers around the world to face the challenge head on.
Fortunately, I will not face the quest alone. It will take all members of the agriculture community – growers, international organisations, government, researchers, and agriculture businesses – to provide abundant, nutrient-rich, affordable food for the world’s growing population.
These challenges spark innovation and the power of people. As a farmer in the United States, I have access to cutting-edge technology that not only allows me to advance yields but also helps me to minimize environmental impacts.
However, fear of new innovation may impede a successful end of hunger.
Ill-advised policies that are not based on science and pure common sense may be the number one thing that derails the ability to produce more food sustainably.
Advancements in crop protection technology help growers increase production, decrease food costs, and provide a high-quality product for consumers.
As much as 40 percent of the world's potential crop production is already lost annually to weeds, pests and diseases.
These crop losses would double if farmers were forced to abandon existing pesticide uses, and this would significantly increase food prices.
A seed firmly planted in the soil is unaware of the gender of the nurturer. Rural women across the world are valuable contributors to the world of agriculture.
Allowing my sister growers equal access to the necessary nutrients, new technology, and personalized local solutions could increase yields on their farms up to 30 percent.
In fact, according to the United Nations (U.N.) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), equal access could reduce number of hungry people by up to 150 million.
It is no secret that evolving technology can increase yields, protect natural resources, and provide reliable income for growers in developed and undeveloped countries.
As a community connected by the passion to grow food for the world, we must adopt policy that allows every grower to use science-proven technology to produce more while preserving the natural resources necessary for my children’s generation to farm and feed the world.
