KANSAS CITY, MO. –– Before approximately 500 college men and women from 70 different colleges and universities preparing for careers in agriculture, industry leaders and agriculture advocates, U.S. Senator Kit Bond accepted the Agriculture Future of America (AFA) 2009 Leader in Agriculture Award.

                                                                        

“For all of you planning a career in agriculture, the future is very bright,” said Bond. “For the foreseeable future we will continue to see growth and innovation in agriculture. So whatever path you choose whether it is production, research, business or advocacy, we are counting on you to make a positive difference in the lives of your families and communities in American agriculture.”

 

In his speech to the future leaders in agriculture attending the 2009 AFA conference titled Agriculture: Many Sparks, One Fire, Bond praised the promise of agriculture noting that despite the current economic recession, jobs and opportunities in the agriculture industry will continue to grow because the term agriculture now goes beyond the farm gate and requires agriculturalists involved in the environment, energy, commerce and transportation industries.

                                                                                                                                                     

Bond also discussed the recent advances in biotechnology and how it will revolutionize human health, the environment and agricultural production around the world.  He explained that for thousands of years, farmers fought countless pests and diseases that destroyed crops and limited production.  However, biotechnology is bringing hope to developing countries by providing crops that are more tolerant of drought, more resistant to insects and weeds, lower in fat, and improved with beneficial vitamins and minerals.  These improvements are helping to eradicate hunger, illnesses and disease for hundreds of millions of people worldwide. 

 

Bond emphasized that by 2050, 90 percent of the world population will reside in developing countries. He stressed that traditional agriculture techniques cannot keep pace with large population growth in the developing world.  Fortunately, many developing countries are responding to this looming problem by utilizing biotechnology. In 2005, 90 percent of all biotech farmers were from developing countries.  Bond explained that this presents many opportunities for future farming leaders interested in humanitarian efforts and collaborating on biotechnology projects around the world.

 

Bond said, “In today’s world we need many kinds of leaders, not only those that can run a combine, but those that can understand the needs of other countries, those who can understand the sciences to develop new products and markets, those who understand infrastructure and efficiency and those who understand food safety. So we look to great organizations like the Agriculture Future of America to help train and mentor all those types of leaders.”

 

The AFA is a not-for-profit organization based in Kansas City, Missouri, that supports the personal and professional development of college men and women in agriculture through scholarship, internships, and leadership development programs.  The AFA sponsors the Leader in Agriculture Award to honor annually individuals whose accomplishments in their personal lives and professional careers distinguish the honoree as a mentor to youth leaders in the agriculture industry.  Previous recipients of the award include U.S. Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas, Dr. Norman Borlaug a Nobel Peace Prize recipient, Charles Kruse of the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation and Dan Glickman, the former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. For information regarding the AFA and award please visit www.agfuture.org.

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