United Nations\u2019 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General Jos\u00e9 Graziano da Silva called for a paradigm shift towards sustainable agriculture, higher productivity and a reduced use of inputs in a Sept. 29 speech to members of the Committee on Agriculture, a UN technical advisory group. Graziano da Silva emphasized the importance of reducing the intensity of water and chemical use and exploring new technologies.<\/p>\n
Graziano da Silva noted that global food production must grow by 60 percent by 2050 to meet anticipated demand from a projected global population of 9 billion people. Graziano da Silva also said a wide range of new approaches will be needed including agro-ecology, climate-smart agriculture, biotechnology and the use of genetically modified organisms or GMOs.<\/p>\n
\u201cDirector-General Graziano da Silva\u2019s remarks are right on target,\u201d said Ron Gray, USGC chairman. \u201cWhen you begin by defining sustainability in terms of long-term food security, which is FAO\u2019s objective, the logical conclusions start to fall into place. Farmers will be challenged to grow more with less, and we need new tools and technology to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Graziano da Silva\u2019s remarks coincidentally overlapped with the visit of a MAIZALL team to Europe to meet with key officials of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the European Union and the FAO. Composed of representatives from Argentina, Brazil and the United States \u2013 the three major corn exporting countries of the Americas – the MAIZALL group focused on the EU\u2019s chronic failure to meet its own standards for science-based regulation and a timely, predictable regulatory process.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe met with Director-General Graziano da Silva shortly after his COAG remarks and complimented him on his leadership,\u201d said USGC Past Chairman and MAIZALL President Julius Schaaf. \u201cBiotechnology is an essential tool for meeting global food security goals. MAIZALL looks forward to working with FAO to provide the farmers\u2019 perspective on the environmental benefits of biotechnology and its contributions to agricultural sustainability.\u201d<\/p>\n