Editor's
Note: Agri-Pulse and The Chicago Council on Global Affairs are teaming up to
host a monthly column to explore how the U.S. agriculture and food sector can
maintain its competitive edge and advance food security in an increasingly
integrated and dynamic world.
Show
me a nation that cannot feed itself, and I’ll show you a nation in chaos. I’ve
said it before and I’ll surely say it again.
A
nation’s ability to feed itself depends on farmers. Farmers depend on
agricultural research.
As
the Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and former Chairman of the
Senate Intelligence Committee, I can confidently say that there is no issue in
global security more timely or relevant than food security.
Tonight,
one in nine people – that’s almost 800 million worldwide, will go to bed
hungry. That’s more than double the population of the United States.
Around
the world impoverished regions are facing increasing challenges in feeding
their people – from political unrest and social conflict like what we face in
places like Syria, to weather driven crises like what we currently see in East
Africa.
Yet
American farmers and ranchers are so efficient at producing food that we can
aid less fortunate nations. In fact, in 1953 a farmer in Kansas by the name of
Peter O’Brien had the idea that American farmers could give aid to other
countries in the form of food. Eventually this idea led to what is now called
Food for Peace, a program that provides aid to nearly every country in the
world.
But
that’s not all that American agriculture is doing to fight world hunger. For
just over 30 years, USDA has been using the Food for Progress program to help
developing countries advance their own agriculture systems. By increasing
productivity and expanding market and trade opportunities, countries are better
able to grow their economies and respond to regional crises.
I’d
be remiss if I didn’t give due credit to my friend U.S. Senator Bob Dole
(R-Kan.). Through the McGovern-Dole School Feeding Program (or as we say in
Kansas, the Dole-McGovern program), USDA and partners have the ability not only
to provide a child with a nutritious meal for the day, but also offer the
opportunity to receive an education.
The
issues of global food security and agriculture research are not standalone
issues. Both overlap with multiple issue areas. Both require the cooperation of
multiple public and private agencies and organizations.
Also
required is the cooperation of both Republicans and Democrats. Ranking Member
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and I cosponsored an amendment to the African
Growth and Opportunity Act, which expands agricultural trade technical
assistance with an increased focus on sectors that support women.
With
the backing of Senator Stabenow and myself, the last Farm Bill authorized the
Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research. This is a perfect example of the
potential for public-private partnerships to find innovative ways to support
and advance agriculture research. This Foundation is going to make a
difference, both domestically and internationally.
This
year the Global Food Security Act was signed into law. I worked closely with
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to ensure that agriculture, and the
expertise of the agriculture community, play a strong role in this whole of
government strategy to address global food security.
As
with any good policy, we cannot just look at the past or present. We must look
to the future – a future where the world population will grow to 9.6 billion by
2050. Continuing to invest in agriculture research now will mean less hungry
mouths in the future. As I said, a hungry nation is sure to be a nation in
chaos.
Though
many things remain uncertain with regards to the future of global food
security, one thing is certain: agriculture must play a central role. USDA has
invaluable expertise in agricultural development and has the capability to
offer important technical assistance to nations establishing critically needed
infrastructure. We are leading by example with Extension services that are
second to none. The agriculture community relies heavily on the expertise of
USDA, probably in no greater way than its support for research and its
partnerships with research institutions. The work being done at land grant
universities and other agricultural higher education institutions is a critical
tool in combatting global hunger.
We
must continue to build upon the time-tested infrastructure of research in the
U.S. to make an impact around the world. Building the capacity of public-private
partnerships will produce real results in addressing issues related to hunger,
and developing economies of food insecure populations. There are many seats at
the table, and we need every one of them.
About the Author: U.S.
Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., is the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. He is the first member of Congress in
history to have chaired both the House Agriculture Committee and now the Senate
Agriculture Committee. Senator Roberts also serves on the Finance Committee;
the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee; the Rules Committee; and
the Senate Ethics Committee. Chairman Roberts is a fourth generation Kansan.
Following graduation from Kansas State University in 1958, Roberts served in
the U.S. Marine Corps for four years, then worked as a reporter and editor for
several Arizona newspapers. He was elected to the House of Representatives in
1980 and the U.S. Senate in 1997.
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