Thursday, August 11, 2011

USDA estimates 8,400 US Jobs for Every $1 billion raised from Agricultural Exports


With the economic hardships American’s are now facing, there are only so many financial solutions we can create. However, among the ever growing list of problems, we also have our ever growing population. As of this July, the estimated population for our planet has reached 7 billion. With that, comes a drastic growth in resources obtained. Consuming and maintaining these resources efficiently will be a challenge. Both farmers and consumers must develop a way to use these resources effectively in order to maintain a constant supply.

Researchers recently teamed up with Nourishing the Planet and traveled to countries all across Africa. Their results prove to be successful. “Nourishing the Planet's research in Africa has unveiled innovative and cost-effective approaches to agriculture where farmers are treating land as a resource rather than solely as a means for food production. Many of these solutions are scalable and can be adapted to farming systems around the world.

Many people also overlook the fact that the demand for agriculture produces a lot of jobs. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsak estimates that the demand for exports will be historical in 2011. “USDA estimates show 8,400 jobs are created in the United States for every $1 billion raised through agricultural exports.” Farmer’s markets are an easy way to promote local products and also encourage healthier lifestyles. “A study of the Springfield Farmers’ Market by the Lane Coalition for Healthy Active Youth in 2010 found that during the three years of market operation, customers reported an increase in the consumption of fruits and vegetables due to enhanced accessibility.”

I think as we continue to look for answers to help consolidate and solve our national debt, we will start to discover all of the opportunities that our Agriculture Industry has to offer.

For more information or to register, please visit www.ibclifesciences.com/globalaginvesting

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Comedian Paul Rodriguez, Water and Agriculture No Joking Matter

In this 2009 video, comedian Paul Rodriguez reflects on breaking bread with Cesar Chavez, being a farmer and having been a migrant worker, and puts a Latino perspective on the water shortage crisis and farming.

Definitely worth a view:

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Agricultural Technology Sector Primed to Explode!

AG Chat Interview Series Explores Opportunities & Investment In The Fertile Technology Bioeconomy

Some of you may recall the high-tech boom that began in the late 80s/early 90s when the IBMs, Apples, Unisys’s and Honeywells of the world unleashed a torrent of major innovation.

Well, it appears the agricultural technology sector is on a similar trajectory and may be about to break out in spectacular fashion.

According to Dave Smardon, President and CEO of Bioenterprise Corporation, ag tech is in the “embryonic” stage—teeming with innovations that may revolutionize everything from fuel to pharmaceuticals—and the venture capital community is watching closely.

In this episode of AG Chat, Smardon takes us on an in-depth tour of the burgeoning bioeconomy: Which technologies to watch? Who’s investing? Exit strategies? Deal size?

Listen to this episode of Ag Chat here.



Download a transcript of our interview here.

Editor’s note: Meet Dave Smardon and his colleagues from Bioenterprise at the Ag 2.0 Global Investments Conference taking place in Toronto, Canada, November 7-8, 2011.

For more information or to register, please visit www.ibclifesciences.com/globalaginvesting

ABOUT AG CHAT
AG Chat is an executive interview series featuring the business experts, investors and entrepreneurs at the forefront of sustainable agriculture. Each episode explores the trends, technologies and drivers shaping the world of sustainable agriculture today.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR/INTERVIEWER
Marc Dresner works closely with IBC Life Sciences as a communication lead with a background in trade journalism and marketing. He is the former executive editor of Research Business Report, a confidential newsletter for the marketing research industry. He may be reached at mdresner@iirusa.com. Follow him @mdrezz.

Monday, August 1, 2011

What Countries Lead Investing in Agriculture?

According to Oxfam's new report:Growing a Better Future, these are the leading countries investing in Agriculture:


Growing a Better Future shows how the food system is at once a driver of this fragility and highly vulnerable to it, and why in the twenty-first century it leaves 925 million people hungry.

The report presents new research forecasting price rises for staple grains in the range of 120–180 per cent within the next two decades, as resource pressures mount and climate change takes hold.