WV Farm Bureau Magazine March 2016 | Page 14

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
14 West Virginia Farm Bureau News