Biotech Updates

WFP Laureate Advocate for Ag Technologies to Combat Drought

August 10, 2012

Aside from the effect of drought the U.S. planting of corn and soybean, drought has affected the global price of volatility and agricultural productivity. Thus, 2003 World Food Prize Laureate Catherine Bertini, together with former USDA secretary Dan Glickman, called for support for agricultural research and technologies that will help equip farmers with necessary knowledge and tools to face severe drought in the fields.

"We should increase support for the agricultural researchers, in the U.S. and around the world, who are developing remarkable new drought and flood tolerant crop varieties. The results of this research will be essential if the agricultural sector is to continue to meet food demand in the face of weather variability," said Bertini and Glickman.

They also encouraged policymakers and private enterprises to continue investments that support market-oriented and environmentally sustainable farming, which could boost economic growth in developing countries leading to reduction in poverty and attainment food security.

Read the original article at http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0812/79420.html.