The role of soybeans in helping to feed a growing world population was emphasized at the World Food Prize events in Des Moines this past week by the prominent presence of soybean industry groups like the United Soybean Board.
I spoke with USB CEO John Becherer (pictured here on the right with World Food Prize Foundation president Ambassador Ken Quinn) about the mood at the WFP this year and the increased emphasis on biotechnology, even among countries that have been resistant to using the technology in the past. “I think that the last year with real or perceived shortages of wheat and rice on a global basis really was a shock to the system and I think it changed some people’s attitudes about biotech and the need for using every tool in the toolbox to be able to feed people not only now, but the expected eight and a half billion people that we might see by the year 2030.”
Becherer says the role of soybeans is important. “As you look at soybeans, 20 percent of the product is oil and that goes to multiple uses, but 80 percent is meal,” Becherer said. “Most of that is fed to animals, really providing the protein that people need.”
“We’re doing everything we can working with checkoff funds that farmers pay to increase yields, improve digestibility, and working on quality parameters that make it a better product,” he added.
Listen to an interview with John here:
wfp-08-becherer.mp3
You can also download the audio with this link: John Becherer at World Food Prize (mp3)