Understanding Our Food: In West
Virginia and Our World
Kimberly Reed, Executive Director, International Food Information Council Foundation
I grew up on a small farm in Upshur County near
Buckhannon, West Virginia. Following the passing of
my mother to cancer in 1980 when I was just nine years
old, my grandparents – Max and Avis Reed – stepped
in to help my father Terry raise my younger brother
Mark and me. Although this was a time of big change,
it also introduced some important things into my life,
especially the love of farming and agriculture.
My grandparents, known as Mommers and Poppers,
who were long-time members of the WV Farm Bureau,
brought me to live on their farm on the Tallmansville
Road. Soon, I, a shy, book-focused child, was in the
out-of-doors doing all things associated with a farm,
from picking strawberries in our garden to helping
put up the hay to fishing in the pond. I found peace
in simple activities like climbing to the tops of trees,
interacting with the cows, riding the tractor with
Poppers, and helping Mommers clean and string beans
under our grapevine. And, how I loved going to those
WV Farm Bureau covered-dish dinners every year!
I now live in Washington, DC, and am Executive
Director of the International Food Information Council
(IFIC) Foundation. The IFIC Foundation (www.
foodinsight.org) is an educational nonprofit organization
dedicated to effectively communicating science-based
information about health, nutrition, and food safety for
the public good. As part of our organization’s efforts,
we want to build public understanding of things like the
importance of modern food production and the role of
food biotechnology, especially as we approach the year
2050. Between now and then, a mere 36 years away,
the population of our planet will increase by 2 billion –
from 7 to 9 billion people.
Along with this monumental population increase
comes an important role for those involved in farming
and agriculture, including those in West Virginia. It
is my hope that West Virginia Farm Bureau members
will join me and many others in building awareness
of the important role that you play feeding our
16 West Virginia Farm Bureau News
communities, state, country, and world. According to
the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United
Nations, by 2050, we will need 100 percent more
food and 70 percent of it must come from efficiencyenhancing technologies. Here are a few science-based
communication resources that can be helpful to you in
sharing this story:
Understanding Our Food Communications Tool Kit
(includes Leader’s Guide and five handouts): http://
www.foodinsight.org/understandingourfood.aspx
Food Biotechnology: A Communicator’s Guide
to Improving Understanding (also available in
foreign languages): http://www.foodinsight.org/
foodbioguide.aspx
The Role of Biotechnology in Our Food Supply
(PowerPoint Slides for you to download and use in your
own presentations in your communities - please attribute
to the IFIC Foundation): http://www.foodinsight.org/
Default.aspx?tabid=1477
Alliance to Feed the Future (a 121 partner
organization and growing) Lunchbox Lessons
(which meet common core educational standards)
for teachers, club leaders, home school parents,
etc. focused on students in grades K-8: http://www.
alliancetofeedthefuture.org/new/FarmtoForkResources/
ForEducators.aspx
I also want to recommend a fantastic new movie –
Farmland – that I recently had the privilege of seeing at
its press debut at the National Press Club in Washington,
DC. American Farm Bureau Federation President
Bob Stallman, a wonderful advocate for Farm Bureau
members across the nation, provided the introduction
and also took questions from the journalists in the
audience. If you want more information on where to
see the film or to watch the trailer, go to: http://www.
farmlandfilm.com/.