By Whitney McFerron, Farm Journal Foundation
The world is facing an “unprecedented global food crisis,” according to the United Nations World Food Program. COVID-19, extreme weather and the Russia-Ukraine war have wreaked havoc on supply chains, driving up input costs for farmers, raising food prices for consumers, and causing significant increases in hunger worldwide.
One of the most effective ways to solve this crisis is through agricultural innovation. For decades, U.S. farmers have been increasing production to meet rising global demand, with the help of improved seeds, better soil management, precision farming and more. Agricultural science has helped feed the world, but there is still work to do.
Farm Journal Foundation is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that recognizes today more than ever, the agricultural sector must stay on the cutting edge. More investments are needed in agricultural research and development (R&D) to improve global food security, U.S. national security and economic growth.
The Foundation delivers this message through its Farmer Ambassador program, which brings farmers to Washington, D.C., to talk to policymakers about global food security issues. The Foundation also runs a range of programs focusing on agricultural education, global malnutrition and conservation.
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2022: A YEAR OF IMPACT
Over the past year, Farm Journal Foundation has driven home the message that agricultural R&D deserves public support. Some highlights from 2022 include:
National policy engagement: Farmer Ambassadors held more than 100 meetings with members of Congress and their staffs, officials from USDA and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). In these meetings, farmers discussed why it’s important to increase funding for agricultural R&D conducted at universities, public laboratories, and other institutions including CGIAR, the world’s largest agricultural research consortium.
Connecting Leaders and Farmers: The State Dialogues program connects policymakers with farmers and scientists in their home states to see the value of research firsthand. The events held through mid-November included a panel with Senator Mike Braun at Tom Farms in Indiana; a tour of Iowa State University agricultural research facilities with Senator Joni Ernst; a tour of Mississippi State University research facilities with Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith; and a tour of University of Delaware research facilities and Brubaker Farms in Pennsylvania with a bipartisan group of Congressional staff.
Joining the Global Conversation at COP27: Farm Journal Foundation was on the ground at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, discussing the role of innovation in making smallholder farmers more resilient to climate change. The Foundation co-hosted an event with CGIAR that included remarks from U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and USAID Administrator Samantha Power.
Tackling Big Challenges: The Foundation held several virtual events this year, including a series for university students covering food waste and a virtual side event at the World Food Prize discussing the livestock sector’s role in addressing global malnutrition and improved sustainability practices.
Conservation Partnership: Through a partnership with USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service, the Foundation is doing on-the-ground work with farmers to increase the adoption of conservation practices.
New Educational Content: The Foundation is finishing up a new suite of educational content through a partnership with Dirt to Dinner. The Next Generation Science Standards curriculum for K-12 students tells the story of food’s journey from the field to the dinner plate.
LOOKING AHEAD
A slate of influential programming is planned for the coming months. This includes:
- Launching a veterinary ambassadors program to address shortages of food animal veterinarians in the rural U.S.
- Releasing a policy paper covering the veterinary shortage issue.
- Launching a research paper on the impact of climate change on smallholder farmers.
- Publishing research on the impact of global food security on U.S. national security.
Join Our Mission
Today, the Foundation’s purpose of educating consumers and advocating for modern agriculture’s leadership role in achieving global food security is more important than ever. Please consider supporting the Foundation’s ongoing work.
Donate to the Farm Journal Foundation.
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Whitney McFerron uses her Missouri farm roots and business journalism experience to oversee the communications strategy for the Farm Journal Foundation.
