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Page added on March 7, 2014
The Math Of Feeding The World
The next time you’re enjoying a meal, take a moment to think about where the food came from. Think about the family farmer or rancher who helped put it on your plate—not only that day, but all 365 sunrises a year for you and the other 7 billion and counting people around the world American agriculture feeds. The family farmers and ranchers across the country—less than 2 percent of the U.S. population—produce the food, fuel and fiber people around the world depend on to survive.
Simply put, one farmer today produces enough to help feed and clothe more than 144 people on Earth. They contribute to the food and energy security of the nation, providing the safe, healthy, abundant and affordable food we expect each time we visit the store or restaurant. All without fail.
It’s one reason for the annual celebration of National Ag Day—this year, on March 25 (though any day is a good time to be grateful to America’s farmers)—a nation’s tribute to thousands of farm families.
According to the Agriculture Council of America (ACA), the national organization charged with promoting National Ag Day, it’s important that consumers understand where their food comes from and that many of today’s farmers use the latest technologies and safe, modern, sustainable practices to raise vegetables, fruit, meat, milk, eggs and other foods.
The ACA believes an accurate, basic understanding of how food is produced and how it gets from farms to their family’s plates will give consumers a greater appreciation for farmers who produce it and greater confidence in the wholesomeness of the food they eat.
Farming and ranching take a passion and a dedicated 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week commitment. For farm families, it’s a way of life that requires tremendous knowledge and financial resources and is greatly dependent on weather and market conditions to be successful.
Learn More
For further information about National Ag Day and how your food is produced, go to www.agday.org.
12 Comments on "The Math Of Feeding The World"
islander on Fri, 7th Mar 2014 1:20 pm
“not only that day, but all 365 sunrises a year for you and the other 7 billion and counting people around the world American agriculture feeds.”
Since when do American farmers feed the world?!?!
ghung on Fri, 7th Mar 2014 2:03 pm
Yeah, islander, it’s the type of binary logic that isn’t just found in the US. Of course, that the US is the world’s #1 exporter of certain food commodities doesn’t mean that the US “feeds the world” any more than being the #1 oil exporter (Russia? KSA?) means that the #1 oil exporter “fuels the world”. Then, again, what if those exports stopped? The world would certainly feel it in a big way.
ghung on Fri, 7th Mar 2014 2:11 pm
“…that many of today’s farmers use the latest technologies and safe, modern, sustainable practices to raise vegetables, fruit, meat, milk, eggs and other foods.”
Take chemical fertilizers, finite fossil fuels, pesticides/herbicides, and irrigation from depleting aquifers out of the process and we’ll find out how many are using “sustainable practices” in a very short time.
Davey on Fri, 7th Mar 2014 3:30 pm
G, some folks here cant stand anything pro American even with solid reliable statistics. Not to mention they would be hungry if America disappeared like they wished!
Dave Thompson on Fri, 7th Mar 2014 4:50 pm
The meme of one farmer feeds X people here in America has been pounded into our collective sculls for so long that Americans are completely oblivious to the inevitable. Fossil fuel input decline. Once it becomes clear we are done, lets see how many proud Americans stand shoulder to shoulder weeding the bean fields.
Kenz300 on Fri, 7th Mar 2014 5:13 pm
The Math of OVERPOPULATION — endless population growth is not sustainable and only leads to more poverty, suffering and despair.
GregT on Fri, 7th Mar 2014 6:00 pm
“The next time you’re enjoying a meal, take a moment to think about where the food came from.”
What a dumb statement. Everyone knows where food comes from, the local super-market. Meat IS a bit more complicated though, I mean really, how do they make it grow in those little styrofoam trays? Hmmm.
peakyeast on Fri, 7th Mar 2014 7:34 pm
Davey: I dont think the people you refer to want America to disappear.. Just the current inhabitants. – And it would solve a lot of problems for a short while – that is, if they just disappeared into thin air without any effort from others.
peakyeast on Fri, 7th Mar 2014 7:36 pm
@GregT: Here you go – its yesterdays news and the future of tomorrow..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_vitro_meat
Okay – its not in styrofoam, but I assume that wasnt the point. 😀
Davey on Fri, 7th Mar 2014 8:01 pm
Yea Peakyeast sound like you are talking about scumbags because that is anyone who would like to play god and rid the world of a population. No wonder the world is a mess!
moli on Fri, 7th Mar 2014 8:02 pm
thanx dave thompson and the feeding is ironically to keep dependancy and control where it does happen. . the arrogant wests only true free contribution is death to those who seek freedom from slavery and resource theft. .the insecure mind hastens to greed and it is that at the root of all the evil we see today. equality dignity is restored to man via intervention like the one we await patiently whilst doing what we can based on periods of past interventions. . like intervention against the userpers of the nile, likewise we await the intervention against the ursurpers of global energy.
GregT on Sat, 8th Mar 2014 12:59 am
peaky,
You’re welcome to your fetal calf serum cultured test tube shmeat.
I’ll stick with wild game, as nature intended, thanks.