AGRICULTURE SPEAKING OUT FOR FOOD SAFETY & GA Ag Ed Curriculum Office To accompany Georgia Agriculture Curriculum Lesson June, 2002

LIVING LONGER The average life expectancy in the U.S. today is 76.1 years, compared with 70 years in 1960, 60 years in 1930, and 47 years in 1900.

INCOME SPENT ON FOOD United States11%2% France28%14% Russia37%32% Brazil47%44% Yugoslavia39%53% India64%68% Percent of income spent on food Percent of population in agriculture

GROCERY COSTS Cost of a typical bag of groceries: United States:$18.79 Great Britain:$23.19 Italy:$27.38 Spain:$28.14 France:$30.10 China:$74.23

ADVANCES IN AGRICULTURE Food production has increased 230% since 1940 Today’s farmer feeds 129 people, as compared to 25 people in 1960 Americans would spend $195 billion more on food with 1950’s technology

U.S. EXPORTS The U.S. provides 19% of all cotton, 49% of all soybeans, 12% of all wheat and 36% of all corn American agricultural exports total more than $6 million per day

WORLD OUTLOOK World population will peak at 8.5 billion people in 2035, from today’s 6 billion and 1980’s 4.3 billion The world must produce as much food in the next years as the past years - and on less land Only 7% of Earth’s surface is available for farming

HOW CAN WE DO IT? Hybrid Seeds Fertilizer Food Biotechnology Food & Crop Protectants

WITHOUT MODERN TECHNOLOGY U.S. food production would decline 30% Americans would spend 30% more of income on food U.S. exports would be eliminated causing U.S. balance of trade to drop by $4 Billion Millions of people would starve

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT FOOD SAFETY? Am I being exposed to crop protection chemicals by eating fruits and vegetables?

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT FOOD SAFETY? Am I in danger of developing cancer from carcinogens found in my produce?

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT FOOD SAFETY? 150 pound adult could eat 875 pounds of broccoli every day Natural carcinogens are present in mushrooms, parsley, basil, celery, cola, coffee, wine, beer, mustard, peanut butter, bread and lima beans – to name a few Consumption of fruits and vegetables plays a key role in REDUCING the risk of cancer and heart disease

WE NEED CROP PROTECTANTS Crops compete with 80,000 plant diseases, 30,000 weed species, 10,000 insects and 3,000 worms We would spend % more of our income on food without them Insects destroy enough grain to feed 1/2 the population of Africa - even with crop protectants

WHAT FOOD AND HEALTH EXPERTS SAY “I tell my children to feed my grandchildren whatever they buy. They need not be afraid of any pesticide residue on food that’s bought in the marketplace in the U.S. because it’s regulated. I eat it all the time.” Dr. C Everett Koop, Former U.S. Surgeon General “…it seems the only people who want us to have pesticide free produce are the ones who don’t remember when all we had was pesticide free produce.” Art Ginsburg, Syndicated Food Expert

CONCLUSION Crop protectants will enable food production to thrive in the face of increasing world population and decreasing farm land. We must encourage the expansion of high yield farming methods. Like any other industry, Agriculture must continue to evolve with technology to meet the ever-increasing demand for food. U.S. food supply is safe and abundant.

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