the economic impact of removing products with
GMOs from the market place. In order to keep food
affordable, GMO products are necessary, because
they yield higher amounts while using fewer inputs
such as fertilizer and pesticides. No matter if you
are a consumer or a producer, everyone can relate to
saving money.
American Farm Bureau supports programs
educating consumers about biotechnology and
GMOs. One such program is the AFBF’s partnership
with a large seed company to create and sustain
“GMO Answers.” This valuable resource allows
individuals to ask questions and receive answers from
professionals from various industries such as plant
scientists, food scientists and medical professionals.
Currently, over 900 questions have been asked and
answered. Monsanto has created their own program,
“Talking Biotech,” with a similar mission of assuring
the public is receiving accurate information from
professionals. If we don’t tell our story someone
else will tell it for us, and then we have no way of
assuring it is correct.
West Virginia Farm Bureau has also taken
a stance in assuring consumers are receiving
agriculture education from credible sources
through programs like the Summer Agricultural
Institute. By educating teachers about various
agriculture practices including biotechnology, and
giving them resources to deliver the curriculum
to their classrooms, WVFB is helping to assure
the next generation of producers and consumers
are educated about the foods they grow and eat.
Additionally, individuals completing this program
will be able to offer real world examples to others
with questions regarding the agriculture industry,
and can make educated decisions about agricultural
issues. As producers, we often feel the need to
defend ourselves regarding our various agricultural
practices, but are we prepared to protect ourselves
from our own technology when necessary?
During the 2016 AFBF Annual Convention, one
of the issues addressed was data protection. Our
industry has become incredibly advanced and
like all businesses, agriculture producers rely on
information to help them be more efficient and
productive. With developments such as GPS,
precision ag and drones, a tremendous amount of
data is often collected during crop production. Who
does this data belong to and how is it being stored?
According to AFBF policy, proprietary information
collected from farms should remain the property
of the farmer. Although this sounds like a simple
concept, many producers must send their data to
consultants to have it analyzed. Producers need to
educate themselves concerning their rights regarding
this information and should also carefully read the
agreements they sign to ensure the privacy of the
material. Data is powerful, and if this power is given
to the wrong individuals the information can be used
against the agriculture industry.
Animal producers must equally be aware of their
rights concerning the data they share. Regulatory
groups such as the EPA may use production data
inappropriately to regulate farmers, which could
hurt productivity. AFBF could offer assistance in the
issue of “Big Data” when it pertains to agricultural
producers. One suggestion would be pairing with
another group to collect and store information in a
safe, private manner. This service would be valuable
for members and would allow them to choose how
their data will be used and shared.
As Farm Bureau members, we can each play a
role in assuring our industry thrives utilizing the
technology available. First of all, we must educate
ourselves on the innovative practices available to
improve our operations. Secondly, we must become
more technology-transparent about our industry,
sharing with consumers and our government the
benefits they receive because of the use of technology
in production agriculture. Additionally, we must
assure elected officials making decisions on our
behalf are educated about the scientific practices
involved in agriculture. Lastly, we must understand
the important role relationship building plays in the
success of the agriculture industry. Agriculture will
only be sustainable and thrive if producers are able to
benefit from technological advancements. Producers,
consumers and our government must collaborate,
so that improved technology continues to be part of
American agriculture.
As the West Virginia Farm Bureau motto says,
“We pull the most when we pull together.”
West Virginia Farm Bureau News 15