Danielle Grant
Getting the Message Across: The Need for Technology in Agriculture
Danielle Grant
In 1903, if you had seen an ad asking for a volunteer to test the Wright Brothers’ first airplane, would you have taken the ride? Or would you have liked to be the first person to insert a plug into an electrical outlet? Technology, though beneficial and necessary, can cause some apprehension. These concerns can lead to a lack of trust, innovation and support. Today, when the phrase“ technology in agriculture” is used, it is often followed by terms such as‘ Genetically Modified Organisms,’‘ producer data,’‘ biotechnology’ or‘ precision agriculture.’ These phrases cause fear among the public, and sometimes apprehension within our government. As consumers, producers and Farm Bureau members, what can we do to protect our right to technology and gain support from the public and our government officials?
Education and transparency are two key components to assuring producers are able to utilize technology. Scroll through the Yahoo! homepage, and you will usually find an article regarding a new restaurant that is no longer using GMO products. This is a terrific marketing tool for these restaurants, because it takes advantage of consumers’ lack of knowledge. The average consumer does not know genetic modification occurs naturally; or that 75 % of all products consumed are genetically modified; or that, thanks to advancements in technology, the average farmer now feeds over 150 people. Consumers do not realize in order to feed the 9 + billion people who will populate our planet by 2050, we must keep moving forward by adopting new technologies, so the food supply can keep up.
The public is supportive when there are medical advancements using genetic modification to fight cancer or cure diabetes because they understand the necessity of these solutions. As producers, we must make the public understand the necessity of genetic modification to sustain and grow an abundant, healthy food supply. Additionally, we must emphasize
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