- Technology, talent, better infrastructure, reduced regulatory burden are keys
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--U.S. agriculture can continue to feed a growing world and meet consumer
demand for healthy, nutritious foods by leveraging new technologies,
expanding research and development, attracting top talent, and working
with governments to shore up critical infrastructure.
This was the message Juan Luciano, chairman and CEO of Archer Daniels
Midland Company (NYSE: ADM), brought to the National Grain and Feed
Association in a keynote address Monday in New Orleans.
Luciano said his confidence stemmed from the central role U.S.
agriculture has played in improving the human condition in recent
decades. “Led by the U.S., the world has been able not only to feed a
population that has increased by 5 billion since 1950, but also to feed
the world a better diet,” he said.
He noted that global poverty had fallen faster in the past 20 years than
at any time in history, and that the global infant mortality rate in
2015 was about half the 1990 rate.
He cited several global trends with broad implications for the
agriculture and food industries: the emergence of China and India as
economic forces rivaling the U.S.; growth in consumer demand for
nutritious foods; and rapid technological innovation, which has led to
the widespread use of sensors and satellite imagery in precision farming.
Luciano proceeded to suggest several ways the industry could help feed a
global population of 9.6 billion people by 2050 and serve as a provider
of nutrition and health, and not just as a supplier of consumer goods.
Expanding research into yields and drought resistance; deploying
emerging technologies; and investing in inland waterways, bridges,
roadways and other infrastructure would help meet the need for greater
crop volumes, Luciano said.
He added that the industry would need to continue innovating to develop
new products that meet consumer demand for foods that promote health and
wellness. Ongoing technological advances—including increases in
computing capacity and cloud storage—may ultimately usher in a new era
of “personalized nutrition” as the food industry develops better
functional ingredients that target specific health issues, Luciano said.
In terms of public policy, Luciano noted that the industry must make the
case that trade in agricultural products is not a zero-sum game.
“Climates, crop seasonality, and the impact of weather patterns make
trade essential for feeding the world, for the health of global economy,
and for farmers worldwide,” Luciano said.
Finally, he noted that continued investment in innovation, research and
development, and young talent were essential for the industry’s
long-term success.
“Working together, we can ensure that U.S. agriculture will continue the
transformational, life-altering gains that have made our world a better
place, a more humane place—a place of hope, promise and shared
prosperity,” he concluded.
About ADM
For more than a century, the people of Archer Daniels Midland Company
(NYSE: ADM) have transformed crops into products that serve the vital
needs of a growing world. Today, we’re one of the world’s largest
agricultural processors and food ingredient providers, with
approximately 32,000 employees serving customers in more than 160
countries. With a global value chain that includes approximately 500
crop procurement locations, 250 ingredient manufacturing facilities, 38
innovation centers and the world’s premier crop transportation network,
we connect the harvest to the home, making products for food, animal
feed, industrial and energy uses. Learn more at www.adm.com.
Archer Daniels Midland Company
Media Relations
Jackie Anderson
media@adm.com
312-634-8484