Global Food Security Index Adds New Feature

Joanna Schroeder

During events at the 2012 World Food Prize taking place in Des Moines, DuPont announced an enhancement to the Global Food Security Index that was commissioned by DuPont and developed by the Economist Intelligience Unit (EIU). The tool was designed to capture the impact of changes in global food prices at the national level. In response to the rising cost of food, the Index recorded a slight decline in global food security.

“This tool increases the chances of creating sustainable, science-based innovations that target specific challenges, collaborating with others on solutions and bringing know-how to the people and places that need it most,” said DuPont Executive Vice President James C. Borel. “Knowing where the impact is the greatest can help focus our collective efforts where they are needed most.”

The World Bank estimates that global food price spikes in 2008 pushed 44 million people below the poverty line globally, most of them in poor countries. In the United States, almost 15 percent of households experienced food insecurity in 2011, up 11 percent before recent price jumps. Today, the driver of price increases were the U.S. drought and other global weather issues.

“Many factors affect food prices, from rising demand in emerging markets to abrupt changes in the weather,” said EIU Global Forecasting Director Leo Abruzzese. “The new Price Adjustment Factor tool will assess, quarterly, the impact of price changes on a country’s ability to afford food. High and volatile prices can impact food security by limiting consumers’ purchasing power and calorie consumption.”

The Global Food Security Index addresses the underlying factors of food insecurity in 105 countries and points to areas for improvement and reforms. Features include:

  • Ability to capture the impact of changing food prices on each country’s ability to afford food.
  • Analysis of key findings.
  • Definition of 25 global indicators that measure specific aspects of food affordability, accessibility, availability, nutritional value and safety.
  • An interactive heat map of overall scores and detail of category results.
  • Adjustable weightings to allow for scenario planning.
  • Ability to compare multiple countries simultaneously and adjust rankings by indicators.
  • A country details page that allows a food-security drill down into individual economies.

View the World Food Prize Photo Album here.

AgWired coverage of the World Food Prize is sponsored by Elanco
Elanco, World Food Prize

Iowa Hunger Directory Unvield at WFP

Joanna Schroeder

To kick of the 2012 World Food Prize in Des Moines, the 6th annual Iowa Hunger Summit took place. The summit brings attention to issues related to hunger, poverty and malnutrition and is the largest gathering of hunger related organizations based in Iowa. During the luncheon portion of the event, Iowa Governor Terry E. Branstad designated October 16 as Dr. Norman E. Borlaug World Food Prize Day.

In addition, a new initiative was announced by Ambassador Kenneth Quin, President of the World Food Prize, called the Iowa Hunger Directory. This program will provide a year-round extension of the Hunger Summit and a vehicle for organizations and individuals to participate in hunger efforts.

“We want to create a comprehensive listing of Iowa organizations combating hunger at home and abroad,”said Quinn during the event. “We know there are dynamic organizations and dedicated people who are working diligently fighting hunger throughout the state and around the world and we want to facilitate their collaboration and connectivity. Also, this will allow us to collect more accurate information on their efforts.”

Between October 2011 and October 2012, over 26 million pounds of food were donated to the fight against hunger in Iowa. The Iowa Hunger Summit is sponsored by Iowa Farm Bureau and FBL Financial Group.

View the World Food Prize Photo Album here.

AgWired coverage of the World Food Prize is sponsored by Elanco
Elanco, World Food Prize

Report on Global Agricultural Productivity

Joanna Schroeder

Today the Global Harvest Initiative (GHI) released its 3rd annual Global Agricultural Productivity Report (GAP Report) during the World Food Prize Symposium in Des Moines, Iowa. The GAP Report details efforts to increase global agricultural productivity, and notes that despite gains, it may not be enough especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia, and other regions to meet demand.

During a presentation to unveil the report, Laura Barringer, who has been on loan to GHI for the past 18 months, gave a brief overview on how regions were doing, opportunities and challenges, and presented strategies that will need to be deployed, to feed the anticipated global population of 9 billion by 2050. Barringer will become the Global Customer Product Support Manager for the Intelligent Solutions Group this November for John Deere.

There were several key areas that Barringer highlighted including the conclusion that we cannot meet future global demand unless agricultural productivity increases are achieved in every region of the world, at par with today’s levels. This was determined, in part, from the GAP Index, that measures global regional agricultural productivity growth against regional growth in food demand.

Barringer highlighted four key strategies that must occur if global food demand is to be met:

  • More investment – the GAP Report estimates that today there is an $80 billion dollar investment gap.
  • Agriculture Research & Development – this is the most important predictor of TFP growth.
  • Need for Science-Based Technologies – these technologies need to rural-based and have a supportive regulatory system to allow the tools to be used.
  • Trade Liberalization – Strong trade strategies will help to further expand market access.

You can listen to Dr. Margaret Zeigler’s, Executive Director of GHI, remarks here: GAP Report Opening Remarks

You can listen to Laura Barringer’s remarks here: GAP Report Overview

Download the full report here.

View the World Food Prize Photo Album here.

AgWired coverage of the World Food Prize is sponsored by Elanco
Audio, Elanco, Farming, Food, World Food Prize

Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative Conference Set

Melissa Sandfort

The Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative (GLCI) will host its 5th national conference in Orlando, Fla., Dec. 9-12, 2012, at the Caribe Royale Hotel and Convention Center. GLCI conference organizers expect over 1000 ranchers, professors, land managers, researchers, public officials, ecologists and students to participate in the exchange of information on ‘cutting edge’ grazing management technologies.

This year, Temple Grandin, noted animal behavior expert, author, speaker and professor will be one of a number of featured presenters. Grandin will conduct a book signing at the conference.

Monday evening will culminate with a special ‘Florida Night’ dinner banquet featuring Florida cowboy poet Stephen Monroe.

The conference will continue its past format of providing information along four tracks that will include Eastern, Central, Western and dairy grazing issues. Some of the issues to be highlighted include the value of rotational grazing and of riparian habitat, carbon sequestration, and the flexibility within grazing systems.

Agribusiness, Events

Are we REALLY educating consumers about ag?

Melissa Sandfort

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “What is most important for feeding growing world population? ”

Our poll results: Fifteen percent said Precision ag technology; thirteen percent said Biotech hybrids; nine percent said Crop protection products; seven percent said Information technology; twenty-two percent said Natural resource conservation; six percent said Less government regulation; twenty-three percent said All of the above; and six percent said Other.

There is not a simple answer to this question. We put a number of options up there but through comments others were suggested too. One thing we can all agree on though is that farmers will do all they can to produce the safest, affordable food to feed our growing population that they can!

Some of the suggestions were: Reduce food waste, Reduce post-harvest losses, Unleash the potential of Africa, Develop infrastructure, Improve farmers’ access to market, Give farmers the means to succeed through financing and extension services and Educate consumers to reduce over-consumption. All great ideas!

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “Have our efforts to educate consumers about agriculture been successful?” Agri-marketers continue to try to help educate the growing population of non-ag consumers. Another great example is USFRA, the largest agricultural communications effort of its kind and the goal is to speak with “one voice”. So how are we doing? Let us know here.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

Food, ZimmPoll

Zimfo Bytes

Melissa Sandfort

    Zimfo Bytes

  • Alltech recently presented the results of the 2011 Alltech Feed Tonnage Survey along with results from previous surveys, showing a steady increase in feed production year on year.
  • S&W Seed Company announced that Dan Gardner has joined S&W as Vice President of Seed Breeding and Genetics.
  • The American Meat Science Association recently announced winners from the Eastern National Intercollegiate Meat Judging Contest.
  • Woodruff Sweitzer has added two staff members to the talented team, Erin Nash as public relations manager and Shannan Baker as account manager.
Zimfo Bytes

Winterize Farm Equipment With Slip Plate

Chuck Zimmerman

With the fall harvest ending in the near future it’s time to look at winterizing all that equipment. That means you need a good lubricant and that means you might want to check out Slip Plate. You can find out all they ways you can use this product from Superior Graphite on their website. Go ahead. Visit now. Here are a few places where you can use Slip Plate:

SLIP Plate dry film graphite coatings (SLIP Plate No. 1, SLIP Plate No. 3, SLIP Plate No. 4, and SLIP Plate Aerosol) significantly reduce sliding friction on corn picker heads, combine cutter bars, hay elevators, planter plates, hay bailers, gravity wagons, and many more applications around the farm.

Slip Plate is a dry lubricant that is very environmentally friendly unlike petroleum based products. More reasons to use Slip Plate!

I visited with Barry Lee, Superior Graphite, once again to talk about Slip Plate products for the agricultural market. This is part of a periodic series of interviews I’m doing to help the ag industry come to know this company and their products. In our interview Barry not only talks about products for specific farm applications but also one I think you hunters our there should know about and that is Black Ice.

A unique formulation combining a unique solvent cleaner with a friction reducing mineral that first cleans the surface, and then deposits a layer of pure, lubricous graphite powder.

This makes it perfect for gun cleaning!

Our discussion also focused on “What’s inside a can of graphite?” You might think all cans of graphite are the same but they are not. Barry did some research on this subject that finds two things that govern the performance of the graphite product you are using: amount of graphite and the type of graphite. You can find details of his research findings on the Slip Plate website.

Listen to my interview with Barry here: Interview with Barry Lee

Agribusiness, Audio, Farming

National Grange Releases Third e-Book

Chuck Zimmerman

The National Grange just released their third e-Book. They’re using my e-book store of preference, the Kindle Store.

On Oct. 12, the National Grange released “Notes and Quotes: On the Origin of the Ritual and Early Years of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry” as a Kindle download available through Amazon’s Kindle Store.

The text, written by author C. Jerome Davis, delves into the early history of the Grange as well as the meaning of many of the ritualistic aspects of the organization.

The digital version of the 1974 text has 121 pages, including index, introduction and footnotes.

“‘Notes and Quotes’ provides an unprecedented amount of insight into the founding of our Order,” National Grange President Ed Luttrell said. “C. Jerome Davis spent years researching and collecting the information that shaped this book. Not many people were able to read it when it was first published, due to a small run of printed copies, so I’m glad that people will finally get the opportunity to get their hands on this excellent book.”

The National Grange has signed a 90-day exclusivity deal for “Notes and Quotes: On the Origin of the Ritual and Early Years of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry” with Amazon and the Amazon Kindle Store. The e-book will be added to the Barnes and Noble Nook Store after the exclusivity deal expires. Read More

Ag Groups, Animal Agriculture

Discussing the Future of Hi-Tech Farming

Melissa Sandfort

The U.S. agriculture industry is facing a serious problem with being able to feed a rapidly expanding global population, as well as responding to climatic changes much like the recent drought that hit the United States. Technology is now playing an ever increasing role on the farm, allowing farmers to make the most out of every acre and to prepare against future climatic changes.

Over 200 of the most advanced farms, agribusinesses, dealers and technology businesses will be meeting in San Francisco on October 24-25 at the Future Farm Americas conference. The very latest case studies will feature key speakers include Village Farms International, Trimble, PepsiCo, Blair Farms, SLC Agricola Farms, Netafim, Olam Americas, Lindsay Irrigation, Pittman Farms and the USDA.

This event is designed to help farmers and agribusinesses learn about the latest technologies and on-farm strategies that help drive yields and keep costs down. Hearing from all parts of the Ag-value chain, including top investors, the event focuses on SMART Farming, irrigation, sustainability and hi-tech agriculture.

This year’s conference will take place alongside the 3rd annual Agriculture Investment Summit Americas, providing additional access to investors, funds and VCs.

Agribusiness, Events, Precision Agriculture

Monsanto Commits to Invest An Acre Program

Melissa Sandfort

In keeping with the company’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and improving lives, Monsanto Company is partnering in Invest an Acre, which is focused on addressing rural hunger in America.

In partnership with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, Feeding America and Archer Daniels Midland Company, Monsanto is proud to be the first seed company to join the program and match the contributions of U.S. farmers who are working to fight hunger in their own communities.

The Invest an Acre program is the first effort of its kind to mobilize farmers, agri-business and a nonprofit on a national scale to support rural hunger relief. Through the program, participating farmers can go to an ADM elevator to invest a portion of the proceeds from their harvest to support their local food bank connected with Feeding America.

Monsanto will support Invest an Acre through a $3 million contribution, in which the company will match the contributions of U.S. farmers, dollar for dollar.

Agribusiness