The United States has tools to raise productivity in sustainable ways that poor countries don’t. One of these is a sophisticated research and development (R&D) sector.
Historically, U.S. public investments in agricultural R&D have paid off handsomely, with cost-benefit ratios of 20:1 or even higher.
The United States also contributes to global agricultural R&D, primarily through the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Established in 1971, CGIAR is a network of research centers around the globe, all focused on innovations to support poor farmers in developing countries—something that the private sector tends to neglect. Investments in CGIAR have a comparable track record, with a rate of return on investments estimated up to 17:1.
The market for local and regional foods is small but growing rapidly. One reflection of that growth is that Wal-Mart, the largest food retailer in the world, announced in 2010 that it plans to double its purchases of sustainable, locally grown produce in the United States by 2015. Wal-Mart and other food retailers are responding to consumer demand for what marketers are calling “sustainability brand” products—a demand that stems from a backlash against mainstream agribusiness and what is seen as the relentless production of highly processed, unhealthy foods.
Climate change is no longer avoidable. The only questions are how soon, and by how much, we allow it to happen. The last decade was the hottest on record; the one before that was the second-hottest. Residents of developed countries have more choice than others about when and how to get serious about containing the damage caused by climate change.
Tim Nissen is considered a medium-sized producer. A decade ago, he was farming 700 acres of conventional corn and soybeans in eastern Nebraska. In Bread for the World Institute’s 2007 report, Healthy Food, Farms and Families, Nissen explained why he got out of farming these crops. Without government support, he was barely able to survive. Nissen wanted to be more entrepreneurial, and he found farming conventional corn and soybeans too constraining. Once he was no longer forced to follow the rules required for recipients of government payments, he diversified his farm operation by adding fruits and vegetables, including grapes to establish a winery. At the time we met, the winery was about a year away from beginning production.
Mozambique, like other Feed the Future countries, is poor but committed to taking ownership of its own development. As mentioned earlier, four of every five people live in poverty and spend a large portion of their incomes on food; soaring food prices led to riots in the capital city of Maputo in fall 2010. The country’s turbulent past includes a 16-year civil war that ended in 1992.
Michigan’s economy had plunged into a deep recession well before the rest of the United States followed in 2008. From 2000-2009, Michigan led the nation in job losses: nearly one of every four jobs lost was in Michigan. The manufacturing sector has been the mainstay of Michigan’s economy ever since Henry Ford and the rise of the U.S. auto industry. Despite the recent hard times, manufacturing is still a significant sector. As in much of the rest of the Rust Belt, many manufacturers in Michigan have scaled back production, moved overseas, or simply gone out of business.
As health problems related to diet become more and more common, farm policies have come under greater scrutiny. Two-thirds of Americans are overweight or obese, and this condition is linked directly to dietary choices. If current trends continue, obesity and overweight will account for one-fifth of all healthcare expenses by 2020.
Iowa farmer Arlyn Schipper hopes to see the family business he has built over decades carried on by his son, Brent, who is now farming alongside his father. At this stage of Brent’s career, it is impossible to overstate the benefits of having a parent as successful as Arlyn. His father’s mentoring alone is priceless. A more tangible benefit is the physical assets -- such as tractors and land -- that Brent stands to inherit.
