Agricultural News
Ambassador Kennth Quinn Makes Case for GMO Crops as a Tool of Peace and Global Security
Mon, 06 Jan 2014 05:30:00 CST
State Legislative Ag Committee Chairmen from across the US gathered in Oklahoma City over the weekend for the 13th annual Legislative Agriculture Chairs Summit. Sessions covered a lot of policy ground- covering topics from animal welfare through rural first responders to water policy. On Saturday morning, the state lawmakers heard from Ambassador Kenneth Quinn of the World Food Prize Foundation, who told the ag leaders that they represent the most important Committee that their state legislature have- namely a committee that is directly involved in the our food production efforts in this country, which impacts the entire world.
Dr. Quinn talked with Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director Ron Hays after his presentation midday Saturday- and they talked about the connection of the World Food Prize with Dr. Norman Borlaug, as well as the challenge of feeding a rapidly growing global population. You can hear that conversation by clicking on the LISTEN BAR below.
Dr. Quinn told lawmakers that the world- and especially the poorer parts of the world- desperately needs all the tools that the developed world can provide to help them raise enough food in the years ahead to feed a population that is expected to double by the year 2050. Quinn says that includes biotechnology- adding that those who are well nourished have no right to withhold such advances from the developing world as some who fear GMOs might like to do.
Dr. Quinn also says it will take more than just improving food production efforts to help remote and often unstable parts of the world. He related how improving the roads in Cambodia which allowed improved food production techniques to be carried into the countryside helped root out the Khmer Rouge- stopping their genocidal rampage through the rural parts of Cambodia in the 1970s. Of these efforts in Cambodia and in other parts of the world- "in the third world, where good roads end- hunger and unrest begins."
Dr. Quinn also told the lawmakers that the state of Iowa will be placing a statue of Dr. Norman Borlaug in the Statuary Hall of the US Capitol this coming March 25th- National Ag Day. He is hopeful that state legislatures, farm groups and others will stop on that day and recognize the accomplishments of Dr. Borlaug and what the Green Revolution has done in the battle against hunger- and how it needs to be carried forward in the days ahead.
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