We want you to get the facts about modern agriculture.

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COMING SOON! A video series on modern agriculture.

It’s no secret that modern agriculture is a topic of controversy these days. From news groups and activist organizations to social media posts and bloggers, there is a lot of “noise” about ag. With so much information out there, how can you begin to determine what is true and what is false?
 
Well, we are here to help! Chew on This is a video series dedicated to giving you the facts on modern agriculture. We have compiled facts and statistics from reliable resources like peer reviewed research, government census and scientific studies (not Wikipedia or just someone’s opinion) to give you the truth about modern agriculture topics. The series will begin in 2018.  

Why is Modern Agriculture Important?

The answer is simple. Modern agriculture is how our food is produced! Because of the innovations of modern agriculture, farmers and ranchers are able to feed a growing hungry world with a food supply that is safe, affordable and sustainable.

  • Food Security
  • Safety
  • Affordability
  • Sustainability
family eating dinner

Feeding People

Today, there are 7.95 billion of us on the Earth. The global population is expected to reach 9.5 billion in 2050.1 There will be at least a 60 percent increase in demand for high-quality, nutritious foods2 and today’s industry standards and practices simply aren’t productive enough to meet the expected agricultural demand.3 The answer to meeting the demand isn’t simply adding more animals; it’s increasing efficiency by implementing innovative, sustainable, modern farming practices in more areas of the world.4

Kharas, H. The Emerging Middle Class in Developing Countries. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Working Paper No. 285. January 2010. Retrieved from http://www.oecd.org/dev/44457738.pdf

World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Living Planet Report 2012: Biodiversity, biocapacity and better choices. 2012. Retrieved from http://www.footprintnetwork.org/images/uploads/LPR_2012.pdf

Global Harvest Initiative. 2010 GAP Report: Measuring Global Agricultural Productivity. 2010. Retrieved from http://www.globalharvestinitiative.org/Reports/GHI_GAP_2010/pdf/GHI_GAP_2010.pdf

The ENOUGH Movement. ENOUGH Report. Rep. no. GMAFCANON00186(1). Elanco Animal Health, n.d. Web. 24 July 2017. <https://www.enoughmovement.com/report/>.

man with clipboard near dairy carousel

Improving Safety

Agriculture is committed to providing a safe food supply. Our nation’s food products undergo stringent regulatory processes administered by government agencies like the FDA, USDA, EM, and many others.1 Modern technological advancements have made a significant impact in food safety.2 For example, in 1996 the number foodborne illnesses in the US were 34.8 incidents per 100,000 residents. In 2015, that number has decreased by over one-third to only 24.17 incidents per 100,000 incidents.3

Simmons, Jeff, “Making safe, affordable and abundant food a global reality” (2001). Range Beef Cow Symposium. 300. http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/rangebeefcowsymp/300

The European Food Information Council. “EUFIC REVIEW: An introduction to Food Risk Communication.” Accessed January 21, 2011. <www.eufic.org>.

“FoodNet Fast.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 Apr. 2017, wwwn.cdc.gov/foodnetfast/
grocery receipt

Increasing Affordability

Conventional agriculture creates a low cost and abundant food supply.1 In fact, the U.S. has the most affordable food supply than any other country in the world.2 In 1960, families spent 17.6 percent of their annual income on food.3 In today’s world, we spend a mere 6.4 percent2 thanks to modern agriculture’s technology and innovation to decrease cost and keep prices low.

Haspel, Tamar. “Is Organic Agriculture Really Better for the Environment?” The Washington Post, WP Company, 14 May 2016, www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/is-organic-agriculture-really-better-for-the-environment/2016/05/14/e9996dce-17be-11e6-924d-838753295f9a_story.html?utm_term=.41b35e5937e3.

Elitzak, Howard, and Abigail Okrent. “Food Expenditures.” USDA ERS - Food Expenditures, USDA ERS, Apr. 2017, www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-expenditures.aspx.

USDA ERS. “Americans' Budget Shares Devoted to Food Have Flattened in Recent Years.” USDA ERS - Chart Detail, USDA ERS, 8 Aug. 2016, www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/gallery/chart-detail/?chartId=76967
Tractor tilling under wind turbines

Using Less Resources

Sustainability is the key to our future food supply. In the past 60 years, a wide range of innovations have allowed farmers to produce more while freezing the environmental footprint. In fact, in the United States, output from agriculture has grown 250 percent using the same level of input.1

Alston, J.M., Anders, M.A., James, J.S., et al. The Shifting Patterns of Agricultural Production and Productivity Worldwide. The Midwest Agribusiness Trade Research and Information Center. 2010. Retrieved from http://www.card.iastate.edu/products/books/shifting_patterns/pdfs/chapter8.pdf

friends laughing watching phone

COMING SOON!

The Chew on This Video Gallery

Chew on This will be releasing videos starting in 2018! These short clips tackle some of agriculture’s biggest questions.