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Panel: Technology will help feed the world

The producer of the film Food Evolution says farmers need to help consumers understand the benefits of technology in agriculture, like GMOs, and how it can help feed a growing population.

Trace Sheehan says through the movie-making process he learned there is a lot of fear surrounding GMOs and other technology used in agriculture. But, he says that fear can be used to benefit agriculture because it means people are interested in their food.

“We’re not going to change everybody’s mind about this technology, but maybe we’ll change a few, and at the very least we hope to prompt a more data-based, science-based conversation,” he says.

Audio: Trace Sheehan, producer of Food Evolution

A group of farmers and industry leaders gathered to watch a screening of the movie and listen to a panel of experts at an American Dairy Association of Indiana event at Fair Oaks Farms this week.

The cofounder of Fair Oaks Farms says ag leaders should proudly talk about innovation. Sue McCloskey uses one of their best-known products as an example.

“Our company Fairlife coming out with our high protein, low sugar, and lactose free milk has been such a success and what that points us to believing is that the consumer is looking for better and they’re looking for different,” she says.

Audio: Sue McCloskey, Fair Oaks Farm co-founder 

She tells Brownfield both technology and large-scale farming can get a bad reputation. But, McCloskey says their large-scale operation has been beneficial for their northern Indiana farm.

“Our anaerobic digesters that create electricity and now also create a renewable biofuel that runs 42 tractor-trailers delivering our milk to our vendors up and down the roads of the Midwest,” she says.

She says technology has reduced their diesel fuel usage by 2 million gallons each year and also helped to reduce their carbon footprint.

Find out more about the movie here.