U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told more than 300 attendees at the U.S. Grains Council sponsored Global Food Security Symposium that the United States and Japan have a special and unique responsibility to respond to challenges in food security.
The Global Food Security Symposium was part of the “Partners-in-Agriculture� series of events, targeted to commemorate the 50 years of agricultural trade partnership between the United States and Japan. The Symposium was held in Tokyo, Japan, April 7.
“Last year’s economic woes caused a dramatic increase in the number of people around the world who do not have enough to eat. Estimates suggest that in 2009, for the first time ever, more than 1 billion people around the world were chronically hungry. It saddens me to say that a great percentage of that is children. We have a moral obligation and need to respond,� said Vilsack.
Along with the moral concerns, Vilsack said the environmental challenges will force us to find ways to be more productive with land.
“Emerging technologies hold the promise of creating crops that better tolerate drought, toxicity, disease and salinity. The United States believes the role of biotechnology will enhance productivity, prevent additional post-harvest loss and ultimately enhance the role of trade,� said Vilsack. “Japan and the United States are leading efforts of moral responsibility to feed the hungry.�