Top ten things the student correspondents learned at the International Farm Management Congress last week:

10. Make sure the microphone is plugged in all the way when recording an audio interview.
9. When the British woman says she does not want her picture taken, she really means it!
8. Always be a half an hour early when waiting to on a tour, they may leave without you.
7. Do not bring any outside food such as Krispy Kreme or Panera inside teh Bone Student Center, they do not like it.
6. Do not let people print from your computer when they say their computer crashed at home.
5. Australian’s are from Australia and New Zealander’s are from New Zealand, never mix the two up.
4. Never say you like to eat kiwis in front of a New Zealander.
3. World Scholars know how to cut a rug on the dance floor!
2. Do not hit people on bicycles with your car on your way to the newsroom, to could potentially be dangerous, you could go to jail.
1. Thank you to Colleen and Carroll for giving us the opportunity to work in the press room and cover the IFMA 17! We had a great experience!

Bonus: Thank you to Chuck, Cindy and the staff at AgWired that helped us make IFMA 17 a success! Chuck, we hope you feel better soon!

Sincerely,
The IFMA Congress Correspondents
DeAnna J. Schertz – University of Illinois
Matt L. Spialek – Illinois State University
Joe Genzel – Alum – Illinois State University
Erin Yancey – Illinois State University
Ross Albert – Illinois State University
Jacquie Holland – Illinois State University
Savanna Anderson – Illinois State University

Colleen Callahan – Alumna – University of Illinois – Advisor

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The 17th annual International Farm Management Congress (IFMA17) drew to a close Friday at The Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University.

During the conference, IMFA17 members were privy to a slew of academic presentations from students and professors from the 30 countries that were represented. IMFA17 also took to the road with stops at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, John Deere, Monsanto, Twin Groves Wind Farm, an ethanol plant, hog farm and countless other agricultural destinations.

The theme of IMFA17 was food, fiber and energy, and patrons certainly were educated on all three, whether they were touring an agricultural high school in Chicago or riding on the Peoria Charter Coach buses that have been running on more efficient bio-fuels since 2004.

This year’s conference was one of the most diverse, and allowed for a free exchange of ideas between academics, administrators and farmers. IFMA prides itself on its ability to create an environment where agricultural concepts can thrive, and this years congress certainly allowed for that.

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Bob Swires, President of the Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, presented the association’s mid-year survey Friday at the 17th annual International Farm Management Congress Friday. Here are the findings for the first half of 2009:

1. Illinois Society members indicated that land values fell slightly during the first half of 2009. For excellent quality farmland, land prices declined by $171 per acre, or 2.3%. For fair quality farmland, the decline was $225 per acre, or 5.4%.

2. On July 1, 2009, farmland prices averaged $7,200 for excellent quality farmland, $6,300 for good quality farmland, $4,900 for average quality farmland, and $4,000 for fair quality farmland.

3. Volume of sales declined during the first half of 2009 compared to the first half of 2008. Eighty-eight percent of respondents indicated that volume of sales were less during the first half of 2009.

4. Fifty-six percent of the respondents expected sales to be less during the last half of 2009 as compared to the last half of 2008.

5. Half of the survey respondents expected declines in farmland prices over the next twelve months. Thirty-two percent expected stable prices.

6. Interest rates are expected to increase by 53% of survey respondents over the next year. Forty-seven percent expect stable interest rates. No respondents expect declines in interest rate
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The International Farm Management Association 17 (IMFA 17) Congress, held at Illinois State University this week, came to a close on Friday, July 24 with a unique keynote address from Dr. Lowell B. Catlett. His presentation, “New Frontiers that Change Everything,” was an eye-opening discussion about the future of farm management in connection to changes that have developed within society.

Dr. Catlett began his address with a story about antibiotics first being discovered by those in the agricultural world. “Change is tough, it ‘ain’t’ what we don’t know that will kill us, it’s what we know that we don’t want to be so,” Catlett said in reference to the medical world’s slow acceptance of the claims made by those in the agricultural field about antibiotics and neurogenesis.

“If you want healthy humans, you can’t separate them from animals and nature,” Catlett said multiple times throughout his address. He emphasized the importance of farm managers in providing for the changing needs of each generation. “What’s a luxury for one generation, is a necessity for the next,” he said.

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MEDIA ALERT!

Who: Bob Swires, AFM, Swires Land and Management

What: The Illinois Society of Professional Farm Managers and Rural Appraiser will release their Mid-Year Survey of Illinois land values for 2009. Did the value of land increase or decrease? Bob Swires of AFM and Swires Land and Management will tell all during the final session of International Farm Management Congress 17 2009.

Where: International Farm Management Association 17 Congress (IFMA 17) at Illinois State University, Brown Ballroom, Bone Student Center, Bloomington, Ill.

When: Friday, July 24 at 9:30 a.m.

Why: The survey highlights changes taking place in farmland value, and the results are only released once a year. Also, this marks a change in venue for the survey results that are usually unveiled at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Ill. Six weeks earlier than usual!

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Amin Ismail Abdou of the National Research Centre in Egypt presented the abstract of his paper on the role of Egyptian women in agriculture during Wednesday’s afternoon session of the 17th International Farm Management Association Congress.

Abdou acknowledged that Egyptian women have significantly improved their standards of living over the years. While the women’s suffrage movement during the 1920s and 1930s helped women to improve their social status in the United States, it was not until later in the century that Egyptian women were able to improve their quality of life. Since the mid 1970s, the number of women in the Egyptian parliament has increased from 30 to 65. Increased amounts of women are rising to high-ranking posts that were exclusively held by men in the past. Today, women constitute nearly 43 percent of Egypt’s labor force.

While women have made much progress, Abdou noted, these advances have been limited geographically. The rural sector has not made as drastic of improvements as the urban dwellers have and are still behind in most aspects. A mere 6.7 percent of rural women are in the official labor force, a small number compared to 28 percent of women in urban areas. Illiteracy rates range between 50 and 70 percent of women in rural areas, while less than 35 percent of urban women are illiterate.

There are many differences for this variance. Religion, traditions, education levels, geographic location and ethnic influence are major factors that prevent a better standard of living. North and South Egypt are vastly different in beliefs. In the South, women are not allowed to marry outside of their family for fear that the land will fall out of the family’s name once the woman marries. Therefore, genetic mutations such as blindness and lameness are common. Abdou also points out these factors are interactive.
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John Hewlett of the University of Wyoming teamed up with Jeffrey Tranel and
 Rodney Sharp of Colorado State University to develop a series of CD- and
 web-based courses to help producers manage different kinds of risk after
 studying the demographics of small-scale farming operations in the states of
Arizona, Colorado and Wyoming. The men presented their work yesterday at the International Farm Management Congress at Illinois State University.



After describing current trends in agriculture that have shown more
producers to be of older ages, with 86 percent of farm operators being over the age
of 45, and citing the increased amount of producers who have continued their
education beyond a high school diploma, Tranel emphasized the need for more
resources to be available to farmers who want to continue their education.
In addition, the agriculture industry has seen a tremendous growth in small
agriculture operations. Risk management is an important part of this, as many
producers want and need more education on this topic. Tranel encourages
good risk taking which he defined as taking the right risks to maximize
profits and reduce income variability in order to meet strategic goals.



Sharp introduced several programs that aid in risk management education.
The Ag Survivor Simulation Program helps producers to better understand
their own tolerances of risks. AGR Lite features courses that help farmers
with proper record keeping procedures that make tax preparations easier.
Proper record keeping also helps to enhance risk management. In light of
the research showing an increased population of aging farmers, the trio also
developed A Lasting Legacy. This program is for older producers who want to
make accommodations for their business operations, possessions, assets and
funeral arrangements before they die.


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It’s not only the IFMA17 members that are traveling around the state of Illinois this week, their spouses are getting in on the act to.
After participating in an Abraham Lincoln educational tour earlier this week, that included stops at the David Davis Mansion, The McLean County Museum of History and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the husbands and wives took to the road again Wednesday.

The first stop was to Mitsubishi Motors Manufacturing plant, just a short drive from the Bone Student Center at Illinois State University, where this weeks IMFA17 Congress is being held. The group had the chance to see the processes involved in manufacturing some of Mitsubishi’s most popular cars. Spouses could see cars being painted, windows being placed by robotic arms and the everyday nuances that occur on “the line” at an auto factory.

Next up was Mackinaw Valley Vineyard where guests were able to take a tour of the entire vineyard, as well as take part in a wine tasting, that included several differing fermented beverages.

After walking the grounds and enjoying some of the great panoramic views of the vineyard, the spouses had a relaxing lunch before moving on to the Funk Prairie Home and Gem Mineral Museum.

The Funk home is the restored 1864 residence of former Illinois State Senator Lafayette Funk, and included several Funk Family memorabilia and antiques. The group toured the home as well as a beautiful formal garden. Spouses were also able to take in what is considered to be one of the largest one-man rock collections in America at the Gem and Mineral Museum.

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In the wake of headlined disease outbreaks in livestock, such as the H1N1 virus and Avian flu among several others, Dr. Ann Wilkinson, associate director of Global Alliances for Pfizer Animal Health in Christchurch, New Zealand, spoke at Wednesday morning’s session of the International Farm Management Association Congress on issues relating to advancements in animal health and food safety.

In her presentation, Dr. Wilkinson outlined several hot topics in the current livestock industry. With the occurrence of many transboundary diseases over the past several years, there are many human health issues closely related to livestock production. While an intense amount of scientific research goes into the development of new products and use of drugs such as vaccines, antibiotics and hormones, consumers tend to create their own perceptions of these developments and practices- regardless of the benefits and scientific logic backing such discoveries. These misconceptions have had a significant impact on the livestock sector, which accounts for 40 percent of agriculture’s Gross Domestic Product.

Dr. Wilkinson explained Pfizer, which is an animal pharmaceutical company with operations in 60 countries, has shifted their primary focus to disease prevention. “Prevention, prevention, prevention,” Dr. Wilkinson emphasized. Prevention is less costly and easier to implement in an operation as opposed to treating an entire herd. Over the years, less emphasis has been made towards antibiotic use and more focus has been given to prevention methods, including vaccination. Vaccinations have evolved rapidly over the years.
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As delegates from over 26 countries convene in central Illinois this week for the International Farm Management Congress, they are sure to not go hungry courtesy of local organizations.

Each tour allows for a 10 minute “grab and go” break where conference attendees can snatch a quick snack and share stories with other delegates.

GROWMARK called on organizations like the Illinois State University Department of Agriculture, Ladies of St. Ann’s Rectory and various 4-H Clubs to sponsor the refreshments.

Jane Castellano of GROWMARK explained these sponsorships may appear as a simple gesture, but the organizations’ support contributes to the overall networking purpose of the Congress.

Castellano said, “It gives [delegates] the chance to interact with the local farmers hosting the tours.” Castellano added the “grab and go” is also a benefit for central Illinoisans as well to gain a global perspective from the international delegates as well.

And after a long day of touring, the refreshments also provide an opportunity to relax. Congress correspondent Erin Yancey said, “It was just nice to know people took the time to think of us. Traveling all day can be exhausting so it was nice to have a quick break.”

The efforts of these organizations are not going unnoticed. IFMA 17 is offering to reimburse organizations or to provide a donation.

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Attendees of the International Farm Management Association 17 Congress were witness to a very optimistic view of the future of renewable energy.

Dennis Magyar, a renewable energy industry leader with North American DuPont Biofuels, gave an insightful presentation on the future of bio fuels and bio fuel technologies. The presentation began discussing the desire for energy independence, establishing the importance of the future on renewable energy.

Magyar introduced DuPont’s role in the renewable energy industry along with the company’s latest goal and developments. Magyar expressed DuPont’s desire “to explore carbohydrate based businesses opportunities.”

The three main focuses included sustainable feedstock, cellulosic ethanol and advanced biofuels. DuPont is working to provide the means for a more sustainable feedstock by continuing to invest in seed and chemical development.

Their Pioneer seed corn brand has been a main focal point attempting to create hybrids that are more resilient to all adverse variables, higher yielding and higher profits for producers. Continuing to develop production of their seed corn is contributing to the goal of more bushels per acre and more ethanol per bushel.
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Wind energy is an up and coming technology in the U.S. and central Illinois. Attendees of the International Farm Management Association 17 Congress (IFMA 17) got a chance to learn more about this current, complex energy issue. Andrew Young, CDO of Horizon Wind Energy, addressed the IFMA 17 Congress today in the Brown Ballroom at Illinois State University. Young’s presentation outlined the wind energy industry, the company itself and the current policies and incentives in place to help grow the industry.

Horizon Wind Energy is the company that manages the wind farm located in McLean County. The Twin Groves Wind Farm is located five miles east of the Central Illinois Regional Airport. The wind farm produces 396 megawatts of clean energy per year enough to power around 120,000 homes in Illinois. With over 240 massive turbines the Twin Groves Wind Farm is one of the largest in the country.

One of the main factors in starting a wind project is getting land owners to sign on to the project. The ideal placement for wind farms is on open range and actively cultivated farm lands, thus relevant to many of the attendees of the IFMA 17 Congress.

Young also stressed the challenges that exist to furthering the wind energy industry in the U.S. Currently, the U.S. energy grid system is not structured to support the full potential capacity for wind farming technology. Lack of connection to the grid has tabled some wind farm projects in areas that are ideal for wind technology. Also, tax credits and incentive programs are another main factor in funding and starting a wind farm project, Also, community opposition and difficulty in obtaining permits can slow a wind project.
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IFMA 17 was not kidding when it came up with its concept for the second Congress ever held in the U.S. Conference planners have woven the theme of “Food, Fiber and Energy” throughout the past few days of the Congress. However, it may surprise a few of the international delegates to learn their transportation is also joining the IFMA 17 Congress to implement the “energy” component of the theme.

Since Sunday, delegates have had the opportunity to ride shuttle buses to and from the Congress’ events. These Peoria Charter Coach buses are currently running on bio-fuels.

This practice is not uncommon for the company, who has been running its shuttles on bio-fuels since March 2004. And in its five year history of using bio-fuels, the company is pleased with their decision.

Bill Winkler, president of Peoria Charter Coach said,” To me, it is a three win situation…It burns cleaner. It’s cheaper, and it helps the farmers.”

As delegates look to the future of the agriculture industry, the issues of sustainability and a poor economy are sure to arise. However, Winkler was quick to mention this clean-burning fuel is mixed locally, reducing the cost. With these incentives, Winkler looks forward to continuing this practice in the future.

Peoria Charter Coach Company has served over 400,000 passengers since its start in 1941.

For a complete itinerary of IFMA17 events, visit: ifma17.org.

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Typically farmers don’t take a city bus or elevated train to the fields each day. But Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences isn’t your typical farm.

Every year as many as 1,500 prospective students apply for 150 spots at the far south side magnet school, and the lucky few who are chosen travel long distances to be a part of school that is producing some of the top, young Ag minds in the U.S.

“Our students have a unique opportunity, that no other students in the city of Chicago have,” said Lucille Shaw, head FFA advisor at the school.

Members of the IFMA17 congress also had a unique opportunity Tuesday afternoon to tour CHSAS, which sits on a 72-acre plot of land just down the street from another of the city’s public schools, Chicago Morgan Park.

For all intensive purposes CHSAS is a fully functioning farm, while teaching its students traditional subjects like math and history. Included on the campus is a barn for pigs, goats and horses, a fish farm and of course midwestern staple crops like corn and soybeans. There is also a machine shop for students to fix machinery and a large hive of bees, where the students harvest honey and sell it, along with other items produced by students in a small store in front of the school.

“I think this school gives kids an opportunity to be exposed to something they otherwise would not have,” Shaw said. “It was an untapped resource, especially by minorities, for so many years.”

Before spending a few hours at CHSAS, the IFMA17 members gathered for a tour of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, where agricultural products such as corn, wheat and pork bellies are traded on the open market.

The group arrived in time to see the CME open at 9:30 a.m., to watch buyers and sellers go to work in the “pits.”

“I don’t know what to think of it,” said Heiko Zeller, a German student from the University of Applied Sciences in Eberswalde. “There’s a lot of money being made out there, but it seems a little crazy.”

Stops were also made at Millennium Park, a large vegetative outdoor area that sits in the shadow of the newly named Willis (Sears) Tower, and a lunch at the University of Illinois’ Illini Room, just a few blocks form the park.

“It’s an amazing use of a public space,” said University of Queensland senior lecturer Don Cameron said of Millennium. “You could just come here and relax with nature in the middle of the city.”

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Instead of traveling to 26 different countries to hear about the deregulation of South African dairy farmers or the sustainable practices of farms set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, IFMA 17 delegates can simply travel across the street to breakout sessions on the Illinois State University campus.

With several broad categories to choose from, ranging from farm management to marketing and trade, delegates are guaranteed to find a topic that sparks their interest or match their specialization.

Different academic voices present their papers for 20 minutes. There were a total of 39 presentations on Monday afternoon.

If interested in hearing one of 33 more global agriculture discussions, attend the IFMA 17 Congress on Wednesday afternoon at Illinois State University.

Bloomington, Ill. is only the second U.S. city to host this event in the Congress’ 38 year history. For a review of the complete itinerary, visit: http://imfa17.org.

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Populations are growing, diets are becoming healthier, land and water rights are being cracked down upon and the consumption of food is doubling as the years progress forward becomes, “The need for and acceptance of biotechnology in feeding a hungry world.”

Kevin Eblen, of the Monsanto Company, set the stage for his presentation Monday with a video that talks about the commitment of sustainability. Sustainability is defined as development that meets the needs of the present with out compromising the ability of future generations.

People’s lives are changing daily, with 70 percent of water being used by people and farmers and trying to develop better seeds by 2030. Things are going to have to change in the present to be sustainable for the future. Monsanto Company is trying its best to keep up with these demands of better seeds through biotechnology.

Monsanto as a company is trying to increase cotton yields, with better seeds, almost doubling production by 2030. On average per year, the company invests $1 billion to breeding and harvesting techniques, agronomic practices and biotechnology. In funding these techniques, farmers can reap the benefits of having higher yield and more money to give back to the community. On a global level the “US is expanding corn yields at four times the rate of the European Union.” Everything is the same in the European Union, except for biotechnology. Biotechnology is the way to go for a better yield, but in the future, conserving more is going to be of great importance.

Conservation is a key issue with regard to new farming techniques. In 1995, Monsanto created the first weed and insect free corn. The next is a climate resistant corn. People question these new corn seeds that could change planting techniques. Within this new seed corn, water consumption will decline and land can be used for other purposes for the increasing population. If the farmer stays with biotechnology corn, the added net income will be increased by $ 33.8 billion.

Farmers and residents alike are going to have to partner up to think about the benefits of the future and understand that change is necessary for the survival of future generations.

Normal, Ill. is only the second U.S. city to host this event in the Congress’ 38-year history. IFMA runs from July19-24.

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Genetically Modified Organisms or GMOs have become a topic of skepticism, especially in France, and the discussion was on tap Monday afternoon at the International Farm Management Congress.

Anti-GMO activists, who view the harvests as highly unnatural, have destroyed fields of these experimental crops. Mourad Hannachi, a PhD student the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, has studied the difficulties involved with “natural farmers” and GMO farmers coexisting.

“It is a scientific controversy,” Hannachi said. “It’s the consumers choice. And some consumers have a fear of the GMO.”

Hannachi conducted studies in the Alsace and southwest regions of France where experimental GMO maize crops are being grown right alongside natural crops. The problem that exists is France’s farmland is divided up much differently then here in the U.S. For example in Illinois, plots of land are broken up clearly into perfect-shaped plots.
But in France much of the land is scattered, and a GMO farmers crop could be in very close proximity to that of a natural farmer. The problem with GMO farmers and farmers that use pesticides is a cross-pollination takes place when the crops are in close proximity. The GMO takes over the natural plant, and there are many consumers that don’t want to buy a GMO product, and farmers that don’t want to grow it.

“It’s a big problem (between the farmers) because it’s cross- pollination,” Hannachi said. “The only way to stop it is to put the two different crops far away from each other.”

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John Alliston welcomed the agricultural world Monday to the Bone Student Center on the campus of Illinois State University for the 17th annual International Farm Management Congress.

Alliston, the President of the IFMA, stressed the importance of communication during this week-long seminar that includes a multitude of presentations dealing with world agriculture.

“By the end of this week, we want everyone in this room to know everyone else in the room,” said Alliston, who was preceded by IFMA17 host Fred Hepler, Illinois Ag director Tom Jennings and Illinois State President Dr. Al Bowman.

“One of the advantages of having a congress like this is that you get to share ideas with people from so many different countries,” Alliston said.

Dr. Robert Thompson, the Gardner Endowed Chair in Agricultural Policy, from the University of Illinois presented a world perspective of agriculture. Thompson’s overview of world agriculture ranged from the limited window of time farmers have to plant and harvest crops to the need for more investment in technology.
He expressed concern over the current economic climate and what effects that could have on agriculture in the long term.

“The rate of inflation as well as interest rates will have a profound impact on the well being of farming,” Thompson said. “I think there is a significant risk, at least in this country, of an outbreak of inflation in the future. The massive amounts of liquidity that are being pumped into the economy with the stimulus package, there’s a high risk for inflation, and this could come back to affect agriculture significantly.”

The world is also in need of more food production according to Thompson, who believes the global population will double by 2050. That places greater importance on finding the land necessary to grow crops, and an even greater importance on advancing farming technologies.

“Food demand is likely to double in the first half of this century,” Thompson said. “Half of that comes from about a 50 percent increase in population, the other half from successful economic growth.”

Thompson said that we are running out of space, and that only 12 percent of the land in the world is farmable unless forests are cut down to make room for crops. This is a last resort option of course. The destruction of forests would lead to displacement of animals and a virtual devastation of habitats.

Bloomington, Ill. is only the second U.S. city to host this event in the Congress’ 38 year history. IFMA 17 runs from July 19 to July 24.

For a review of the complete itinerary, visit: http://www.ifma17.org/

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The International Farm Management Association Congress began Monday, July 20 at Illinois State University. Gregory Traxler was one of several speakers discussing global agriculture issues on the opening day of the IFMA Congress. His presentation, “Toward World Food Security” highlighted the complexity and causes of the issue of food security.

Food security refers to the right to food for all human beings worldwide, that no one should go hungry, in Wexler’s words. The issue is a global problem, yet it is still relevant in the United States and locally. Local food security can be guaranteed by social programs and local government infrastructures. Without government support of research and development, countries cannot improve their agricultural yield, and thus cannot improve their overall food security. Developing technologies and making agricultural changes are “not something you ‘do’ to a country,” Wexler said, but rather choices that countries should make.

Globally, over 870 million people are hungry each day, a number that has increased by 50 million people in the last year alone. The main problem in solving hunger is not greater production of food, but better, more efficient distribution of food, according to Wexler. “Agriculture is the key to reducing hunger and poverty,” Wexler stressed.

Other causes of the global food crisis include rising fuel costs, urbanization, growing world population, and most importantly, neglect of agriculture in developing countries.

After highlighting the causes and the depth of the problem of world food security, Wexler briefly touched on the efforts of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in solving the global issue. He and his colleagues’’ work focuses on the policy and statistics portion in research and development of agricultural practices.

Wexler’s presentation is a prime example that many people, in a variety of fields other than agriculture specifically, can take part in solving the world food crisis.

For a review of the complete itinerary, visit: http://www.ifma17.org/

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