Food Security: Today's Challenge Requires Tomorrow's Leaders

Editor's Notes

1. ‘Today’s Challenge Requires Tomorrow’s Leaders’ Remarks delivered by Paul SchicklerChicago Council Symposium, Tuesday, May 21, 2013 Thank you to The Chicago Council for convening this Symposium and helping to advance the key issues affecting global food security. Thanks also to the young leaders featured in the video you just saw – some of whom are guests here today as part of the Council’s Next Generation sponsorship.As we listen today – I ask you to consider what you are doing to support not today’s leaders, scientists, or farmers – but tomorrow’s. Because – the unprecedented task we face depends as much on those outside of agriculture and the next generation – as it does on all of you.We must create new forms of collaboration. And the enthusiasm of the next generations is needed most of all. In the whole of human history, the revolution to modernize agriculture is probably the greatest story of scientific and technological achievement. It's a journey more profound than Samuel Morse and his telegraph setting out on a path leading to Steve Jobs and the iPhone; it transcends most any of the other amazing feats of human ingenuity. And here's the thing:This is a revolution that hasn't ended yet.This is a problem that desperately requires the focus and attention—and yes, the enthusiasm—of the very best and brightest of the next generations.My parents' generation put a man on the moon. My generation put a computer in every pocket. But they are child's play to the challenge of food security.No other generation has been privileged to confront a task of such enormous complexity, compelling urgency or sublime consequence. It is a challenge that will need to engage the best minds in IT to food processing, international trade to water and land resources, political reform to culinary sciences. Luckily, agriculture is an optimistic science. And, if the challenges we set out today sound dauntingly complex, keep in mind the astonishing innovation that has already occurred.Those who are not farmers are usually unaware—or just dimly aware—of how technologically sophisticated modern farming has become. Today in North America, Brazil and other areas of the world, some farmers drive machines guided by satellites that can increase efficiencies by precisely planting and weeding and fertilizing and harvesting.A farmer with a smart phone, Internet, and GPS is practicing a profoundly different kind of agriculture than her great grandfather did behind a mule. And someday soon she may be growing crops tailored specifically to the conditions of her own fields and plant them using a joystick and a flat screen while sitting in the comfort of her office.On the other hand, of course, in many regions across the globe we still have smallholder farms planting and harvesting by hand.How can these completely different realities be meshed in a seamless global system that can feed 9 billion? Can one person make any kind of significant contribution?
2. A quote from noted plant scientist, George Washington Carver comes to mind – "When you do common things in life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world."In 1894, Carver joined the faculty at Iowa State University’s agriculture school. While there, he befriended the Wallace family. And on a free day, Carver would take their young son, Henry, on nature walks, inspiring in him a lifelong fascination with the botanical classifications of wild flowers and prairie grasses.Henry Wallace grew up to be the Secretary of Agriculture and later, Vice President of the United States under FDR. He was also the founder and president of the world's first hybrid corn seed company, Pioneer, the business that I am privileged to lead today.
3. Consider this – what will you do to inspire the next generation of scientists, farmers or entrepreneurs? Can you make a difference in one person’s life? How about change the world?You see, Wallace’s story doesn't end with the creation of Pioneer, or even with becoming Vice President of the United States. When Henry Wallace was the Secretary of Agriculture, he led efforts to start Mexico’s first experimental agricultural research centers to find more productive strains of wheat.The program hired young Norman Borlaug as the project geneticist and plant pathologist.While in Mexico, Borlaug developed semi-dwarf, high-yield, disease-resistant wheat varieties and later introduced these varieties to Mexico, Pakistan, and India. Between 1965 and 1970, wheat yields nearly doubled in Pakistan and India, and Norman Borlaug—at a station dreamed up by Henry Wallace who had been inspired by George Washington Carver—is today credited with saving over one billion lives worldwide from starvation. By your actions large and small – by the way your enthusiasm sparks the interest of a young professional in agriculture, by the uncommon way you do common things – you can make a real difference in this world.For the leaders in the room, listen to the issues outlined today and make a personal commitment to engage the next generation. Because regardless of the specific challenge we face – solving it requires their commitment.
4. To young leaders, consider how you will get involved. And then take action.Make your commitment known because it will inspire others.Like the young leaders in the video, we want to help you tell your story. Together, I know we can feed the world.Thank you.