hello everybody my name is Dennis Dimick I’m the executive environment editor at
I’m the executive environment editor at
I’m the executive environment editor at National Geographic magazine I’m an
National Geographic magazine I’m an
National Geographic magazine I’m an Oregon farm kid who studied agriculture
Oregon farm kid who studied agriculture
Oregon farm kid who studied agriculture in college and it is an incredibly
in college and it is an incredibly
in college and it is an incredibly wonderful experience to be able to stand
wonderful experience to be able to stand
wonderful experience to be able to stand before you today to see food and
before you today to see food and
before you today to see food and agriculture on the cover of National
agriculture on the cover of National
agriculture on the cover of National Geographic magazine we’ve been working
Geographic magazine we’ve been working
Geographic magazine we’ve been working on this project for several years and I
on this project for several years and I
on this project for several years and I want to thank editor Chris John’s for
want to thank editor Chris John’s for
want to thank editor Chris John’s for his support just so we know he too is an
his support just so we know he too is an
his support just so we know he too is an Oregon farm boy who studied agriculture
Oregon farm boy who studied agriculture
Oregon farm boy who studied agriculture in college so the question really is why
in college so the question really is why
in college so the question really is why food now and what my purpose is today
food now and what my purpose is today
food now and what my purpose is today really is to go through that but also to
really is to go through that but also to
really is to go through that but also to give you a quick rundown of what we’re
give you a quick rundown of what we’re
give you a quick rundown of what we’re about and to understand why food now we
about and to understand why food now we
about and to understand why food now we also need to take a look at some of the
also need to take a look at some of the
also need to take a look at some of the larger global issues that the world
larger global issues that the world
larger global issues that the world faces in that national geographic itself
faces in that national geographic itself
faces in that national geographic itself has been covering climate change ten
has been covering climate change ten
has been covering climate change ten years ago 74 pages in in one issue
years ago 74 pages in in one issue
years ago 74 pages in in one issue disappearing ice the global energy
disappearing ice the global energy
disappearing ice the global energy cannon Durham special issue we’ve
cannon Durham special issue we’ve
cannon Durham special issue we’ve covered energy heavily biofuels how do
covered energy heavily biofuels how do
covered energy heavily biofuels how do you grow fuel without compromising the
you grow fuel without compromising the
you grow fuel without compromising the food system energy the here fracking
food system energy the here fracking
food system energy the here fracking just last year it climate energy water
just last year it climate energy water
just last year it climate energy water population food they’re all linked we we
population food they’re all linked we we
population food they’re all linked we we published a special issue on the global
published a special issue on the global
published a special issue on the global freshwater situation in 2010 and in 2011
freshwater situation in 2010 and in 2011
freshwater situation in 2010 and in 2011 we published a year-long series on
we published a year-long series on
we published a year-long series on population its potential and the
population its potential and the
population its potential and the implications of 9 billion people at
implications of 9 billion people at
implications of 9 billion people at mid-century but we’ve also been covering
mid-century but we’ve also been covering
mid-century but we’ve also been covering agriculture in 2008 we put a story on
agriculture in 2008 we put a story on
agriculture in 2008 we put a story on soil conservation on the cover of the
soil conservation on the cover of the
soil conservation on the cover of the magazine it took nine years from the
magazine it took nine years from the
magazine it took nine years from the time I wrote the first proposal just
time I wrote the first proposal just
time I wrote the first proposal just like soil it takes good things take a
like soil it takes good things take a
like soil it takes good things take a while to build right but what we one
while to build right but what we one
while to build right but what we one thing to come out of this is to
thing to come out of this is to
thing to come out of this is to understand clearly that the soil that
understand clearly that the soil that
understand clearly that the soil that you inherit the soil in your country is
you inherit the soil in your country is
you inherit the soil in your country is so profoundly significant in the success
so profoundly significant in the success
so profoundly significant in the success of your
of your
of your civilization as you look here the woman
civilization as you look here the woman
civilization as you look here the woman in Mali with her family or the woman in
in Mali with her family or the woman in
in Mali with her family or the woman in China guess who has the life with more
China guess who has the life with more
China guess who has the life with more productivity or here the deep soil in
productivity or here the deep soil in
productivity or here the deep soil in Kansas versus the shallow rocky soil in
Kansas versus the shallow rocky soil in
Kansas versus the shallow rocky soil in Syria it’s almost right here a visual
Syria it’s almost right here a visual
Syria it’s almost right here a visual indicator of headlines that we read but
indicator of headlines that we read but
indicator of headlines that we read but it’s a changing world that we’re in and
it’s a changing world that we’re in and
it’s a changing world that we’re in and we covered this kind of dimension as it
we covered this kind of dimension as it
we covered this kind of dimension as it relates to food in our population Series
relates to food in our population Series
relates to food in our population Series in 2011 here Carrie Fowler of the global
in 2011 here Carrie Fowler of the global
in 2011 here Carrie Fowler of the global crop diversity trust in Svalbard what
crop diversity trust in Svalbard what
crop diversity trust in Svalbard what behind him is a seed bank that is that
behind him is a seed bank that is that
behind him is a seed bank that is that it’s positioned high enough on the side
it’s positioned high enough on the side
it’s positioned high enough on the side of a mountain so that when all the ice
of a mountain so that when all the ice
of a mountain so that when all the ice on the planet melts the Seas in the
on the planet melts the Seas in the
on the planet melts the Seas in the seeds in that vault will still stay dry
seeds in that vault will still stay dry
seeds in that vault will still stay dry so that we can continue to grow the
so that we can continue to grow the
so that we can continue to grow the crops that we all need for civilization
crops that we all need for civilization
crops that we all need for civilization to continue and thrive we covered this
to continue and thrive we covered this
to continue and thrive we covered this emerging food crisis in June of 2009
emerging food crisis in June of 2009
emerging food crisis in June of 2009 Joel Bourne is here today who wrote the
Joel Bourne is here today who wrote the
Joel Bourne is here today who wrote the story for us this was during the food
story for us this was during the food
story for us this was during the food price spike after the food price spike
price spike after the food price spike
price spike after the food price spike of 2008 and it was a harbinger for the
of 2008 and it was a harbinger for the
of 2008 and it was a harbinger for the kinds of issues that we’re trying to
kinds of issues that we’re trying to
kinds of issues that we’re trying to expand on today and the underpinning
expand on today and the underpinning
expand on today and the underpinning issues are going like this well we have
issues are going like this well we have
issues are going like this well we have more people and just over a hundred
more people and just over a hundred
more people and just over a hundred years ago there were 1.6 billion of us
years ago there were 1.6 billion of us
years ago there were 1.6 billion of us in a hundred years later we go from one
in a hundred years later we go from one
in a hundred years later we go from one six to six point one move forward
six to six point one move forward
six to six point one move forward another 13 we’re 7.1 and this is the
another 13 we’re 7.1 and this is the
another 13 we’re 7.1 and this is the latest projection from the UN that’s a
latest projection from the UN that’s a
latest projection from the UN that’s a lot more mouths to feed but we’re also
lot more mouths to feed but we’re also
lot more mouths to feed but we’re also eating but we’re also eating higher on
eating but we’re also eating higher on
eating but we’re also eating higher on the food chain so we’re using our
the food chain so we’re using our
the food chain so we’re using our landscapes to grow crops to feed animals
landscapes to grow crops to feed animals
landscapes to grow crops to feed animals and cars and to make sugar and we’re and
and cars and to make sugar and we’re and
and cars and to make sugar and we’re and we’re shipping this is soy to an
we’re shipping this is soy to an
we’re shipping this is soy to an international market we’re feeding a
international market we’re feeding a
international market we’re feeding a rising demand for animal protein people
rising demand for animal protein people
rising demand for animal protein people want to live like us and so they’re
want to live like us and so they’re
want to live like us and so they’re wanting to eat like us and that has
wanting to eat like us and that has
wanting to eat like us and that has profound implications for landscapes for
profound implications for landscapes for
profound implications for landscapes for for soil for water for
for soil for water for
for soil for water for energy but also this this is the big
energy but also this this is the big
energy but also this this is the big unknown and all we know is that it is in
unknown and all we know is that it is in
unknown and all we know is that it is in play and let’s just take a look at the
play and let’s just take a look at the
play and let’s just take a look at the Arctic ice cap in slightly more than 30
Arctic ice cap in slightly more than 30
Arctic ice cap in slightly more than 30 years this is September of 79 the first
years this is September of 79 the first
years this is September of 79 the first year that the satellites took a picture
year that the satellites took a picture
year that the satellites took a picture of the ice cap and slightly more than 30
of the ice cap and slightly more than 30
of the ice cap and slightly more than 30 years half of it’s gone this is the most
years half of it’s gone this is the most
years half of it’s gone this is the most dramatic visible geological shift that
dramatic visible geological shift that
dramatic visible geological shift that we’ve seen in human history it has
we’ve seen in human history it has
we’ve seen in human history it has profound potential to have an impact on
profound potential to have an impact on
profound potential to have an impact on the potential of agriculture and the way
the potential of agriculture and the way
the potential of agriculture and the way we live and the studies now
we live and the studies now
we live and the studies now scientifically are focused on what
scientifically are focused on what
scientifically are focused on what impact changes in the Arctic on mid
impact changes in the Arctic on mid
impact changes in the Arctic on mid latitude weather and here looking
latitude weather and here looking
latitude weather and here looking forward this study by Roz Naylor and
forward this study by Roz Naylor and
forward this study by Roz Naylor and David Battisti that was in science in
David Battisti that was in science in
David Battisti that was in science in 2009 looking forward trying to figure
2009 looking forward trying to figure
2009 looking forward trying to figure out as long as we keep burning coal oil
out as long as we keep burning coal oil
out as long as we keep burning coal oil and gas at the rate we do what our
and gas at the rate we do what our
and gas at the rate we do what our summer is going to look like and the red
summer is going to look like and the red
summer is going to look like and the red is hotter than it’s ever been and this
is hotter than it’s ever been and this
is hotter than it’s ever been and this is only a few decades ahead but then by
is only a few decades ahead but then by
is only a few decades ahead but then by the end of the century lots of places
the end of the century lots of places
the end of the century lots of places are going to be hotter than they’ve ever
are going to be hotter than they’ve ever
are going to be hotter than they’ve ever been that it that’s a big question mark
been that it that’s a big question mark
been that it that’s a big question mark for agriculture especially rain-fed
for agriculture especially rain-fed
for agriculture especially rain-fed farming that relies upon adequate
farming that relies upon adequate
farming that relies upon adequate supplies of precipitation coming at the
supplies of precipitation coming at the
supplies of precipitation coming at the times we expect so that’s why food now
times we expect so that’s why food now
times we expect so that’s why food now but beyond that what we’re trying to do
but beyond that what we’re trying to do
but beyond that what we’re trying to do is to start a conversation we have up to
is to start a conversation we have up to
is to start a conversation we have up to 40 million readers worldwide we have a
40 million readers worldwide we have a
40 million readers worldwide we have a global community of editions and what
global community of editions and what
global community of editions and what we’re trying to do is to reconnect
we’re trying to do is to reconnect
we’re trying to do is to reconnect eaters and farmers and just to try to
eaters and farmers and just to try to
eaters and farmers and just to try to get this idea of where food comes from
get this idea of where food comes from
get this idea of where food comes from what it takes to make it happen and how
what it takes to make it happen and how
what it takes to make it happen and how it happens with people so that they’re
it happens with people so that they’re
it happens with people so that they’re not just thinking about it when they
not just thinking about it when they
not just thinking about it when they occasionally read an article every five
occasionally read an article every five
occasionally read an article every five years about say reauthorization of the
years about say reauthorization of the
years about say reauthorization of the farm bill and so I’ll walk you through
farm bill and so I’ll walk you through
farm bill and so I’ll walk you through quickly what we have our opening story
quickly what we have our opening story
quickly what we have our opening story written by Jonathan Foley who I will
written by Jonathan Foley who I will
written by Jonathan Foley who I will introduce to you in a moment this
introduce to you in a moment this
introduce to you in a moment this question of how can we go about finding
question of how can we go about finding
question of how can we go about finding a balance between big and small
a balance between big and small
a balance between big and small where is the middle ground what can we
where is the middle ground what can we
where is the middle ground what can we do and we and we illuminate this through
do and we and we illuminate this through
do and we and we illuminate this through the magnitude and the scale of the
the magnitude and the scale of the
the magnitude and the scale of the operation the intensity and the profound
operation the intensity and the profound
operation the intensity and the profound transformation that agriculture
transformation that agriculture
transformation that agriculture essentially one of the world’s largest
essentially one of the world’s largest
essentially one of the world’s largest activity has done to our planet but on
activity has done to our planet but on
activity has done to our planet but on the other hand come to meet the people
the other hand come to meet the people
the other hand come to meet the people who grow our food it is on one hand
who grow our food it is on one hand
who grow our food it is on one hand intense and intensely huge on the other
intense and intensely huge on the other
intense and intensely huge on the other hand it’s farming and food is personal
hand it’s farming and food is personal
hand it’s farming and food is personal and so we want you to meet the people
and so we want you to meet the people
and so we want you to meet the people who devote their lives to growing the
who devote their lives to growing the
who devote their lives to growing the food that we all depend upon every day
food that we all depend upon every day
food that we all depend upon every day it’s a personal activity next month we
it’s a personal activity next month we
it’s a personal activity next month we will take a look at aquaculture the role
will take a look at aquaculture the role
will take a look at aquaculture the role of farming of the sea and of the waters
of farming of the sea and of the waters
of farming of the sea and of the waters we’ve formed the continents for
we’ve formed the continents for
we’ve formed the continents for thousands of years what potential for
thousands of years what potential for
thousands of years what potential for protein from the sea and from our inland
protein from the sea and from our inland
protein from the sea and from our inland waters here for example this is a chart
waters here for example this is a chart
waters here for example this is a chart that shows feed conversion ratios for
that shows feed conversion ratios for
that shows feed conversion ratios for you AG majors it’s really an important
you AG majors it’s really an important
you AG majors it’s really an important kind of thing how many pounds of protein
kind of thing how many pounds of protein
kind of thing how many pounds of protein do you get for how many pounds of feed
do you get for how many pounds of feed
do you get for how many pounds of feed and what you see over on the far right
and what you see over on the far right
and what you see over on the far right is fish are pretty good 1.1 1.1 not bad
is fish are pretty good 1.1 1.1 not bad
is fish are pretty good 1.1 1.1 not bad a pound in a tenth of feed for a pound
a pound in a tenth of feed for a pound
a pound in a tenth of feed for a pound of protein Robyn Hammond is here he will
of protein Robyn Hammond is here he will
of protein Robyn Hammond is here he will give you great detail on this story
give you great detail on this story
give you great detail on this story soon I will just lightly touch on it
soon I will just lightly touch on it
soon I will just lightly touch on it it’s the role of this emergent impact of
it’s the role of this emergent impact of
it’s the role of this emergent impact of colonization of lands and other
colonization of lands and other
colonization of lands and other continents it’s shorthand has been
continents it’s shorthand has been
continents it’s shorthand has been called land grabs what we’re looking at
called land grabs what we’re looking at
called land grabs what we’re looking at is what is the potential for the
is what is the potential for the
is what is the potential for the continent of Africa to feed itself and
continent of Africa to feed itself and
continent of Africa to feed itself and to become a contributor to the global
to become a contributor to the global
to become a contributor to the global food supply and Robin will go into
food supply and Robin will go into
food supply and Robin will go into greater detail with you
greater detail with you
greater detail with you transformation from a medieval landscape
transformation from a medieval landscape
transformation from a medieval landscape to this kind of agricultural landscape
to this kind of agricultural landscape
to this kind of agricultural landscape so we can’t just turn the lens on the
so we can’t just turn the lens on the
so we can’t just turn the lens on the rest of the world we must turn the lens
rest of the world we must turn the lens
rest of the world we must turn the lens on ourselves too and here in the United
on ourselves too and here in the United
on ourselves too and here in the United States the question is why are there
States the question is why are there
States the question is why are there more than 45 million people on food
more than 45 million people on food
more than 45 million people on food assistance why is this
assistance why is this
assistance why is this happening in rural America in urban
happening in rural America in urban
happening in rural America in urban America and in suburban America we know
America and in suburban America we know
America and in suburban America we know the issues are complex and the answers
the issues are complex and the answers
the issues are complex and the answers are not easy but we need to at least
are not easy but we need to at least
are not easy but we need to at least raise this so people can think about how
raise this so people can think about how
raise this so people can think about how we can create a better future for our
we can create a better future for our
we can create a better future for our own brethren here a map showing out
own brethren here a map showing out
own brethren here a map showing out where hunger as a percentage of the
where hunger as a percentage of the
where hunger as a percentage of the population is higher than in other
population is higher than in other
population is higher than in other counties as we move ahead through the
counties as we move ahead through the
counties as we move ahead through the rest of the year the presentation
rest of the year the presentation
rest of the year the presentation becomes a bit more skeletal but you’ll
becomes a bit more skeletal but you’ll
becomes a bit more skeletal but you’ll get the idea that we’re going to talk
get the idea that we’re going to talk
get the idea that we’re going to talk about how diets have moved from from
about how diets have moved from from
about how diets have moved from from from ancient hunter-gatherer to herder
from ancient hunter-gatherer to herder
from ancient hunter-gatherer to herder and the idea that cooking is what really
and the idea that cooking is what really
and the idea that cooking is what really made us human it’s actually transformed
made us human it’s actually transformed
made us human it’s actually transformed us it gave us big brains and smaller
us it gave us big brains and smaller
us it gave us big brains and smaller bellies and it created an amazing array
bellies and it created an amazing array
bellies and it created an amazing array of foods and diets that we have all come
of foods and diets that we have all come
of foods and diets that we have all come used to and taken for granted and the
used to and taken for granted and the
used to and taken for granted and the role of meat is a big question when we
role of meat is a big question when we
role of meat is a big question when we talk about resources this is these
talk about resources this is these
talk about resources this is these pictures are from Texas where we’re
pictures are from Texas where we’re
pictures are from Texas where we’re taking a look at the culture of meat in
taking a look at the culture of meat in
taking a look at the culture of meat in Texas but this the story that we write
Texas but this the story that we write
Texas but this the story that we write is going to try to confront all of the
is going to try to confront all of the
is going to try to confront all of the implications and the complexities of the
implications and the complexities of the
implications and the complexities of the reliance on animal protein and what that
reliance on animal protein and what that
reliance on animal protein and what that means not only for our own health but
means not only for our own health but
means not only for our own health but for the health of the planet climate is
for the health of the planet climate is
for the health of the planet climate is so essential here because it’s the
so essential here because it’s the
so essential here because it’s the question of what role drought in
question of what role drought in
question of what role drought in agriculture and so what we will you do
agriculture and so what we will you do
agriculture and so what we will you do in this story is actually take a look at
in this story is actually take a look at
in this story is actually take a look at lessons we can learn from prior drought
lessons we can learn from prior drought
lessons we can learn from prior drought to inform future decisions especially as
to inform future decisions especially as
to inform future decisions especially as it relates to agriculture and crops how
it relates to agriculture and crops how
it relates to agriculture and crops how can what can we learn from the past and
can what can we learn from the past and
can what can we learn from the past and we’re going to focus on genetics and the
we’re going to focus on genetics and the
we’re going to focus on genetics and the in the process of building better plants
in the process of building better plants
in the process of building better plants what role can that play we’re now
what role can that play we’re now
what role can that play we’re now breeding by genotype no longer by
breeding by genotype no longer by
breeding by genotype no longer by phenotype this is the genome of a
phenotype this is the genome of a
phenotype this is the genome of a sunflower seed and now we can take
sunflower seed and now we can take
sunflower seed and now we can take ancient breeds of wheat and cross them
ancient breeds of wheat and cross them
ancient breeds of wheat and cross them back using genotype breeding with modern
back using genotype breeding with modern
back using genotype breeding with modern varieties to build in new qualities of
varieties to build in new qualities of
varieties to build in new qualities of resilience
resilience
resilience drought resistance and productivity here
drought resistance and productivity here
drought resistance and productivity here at Irian the Philippines this is is
at Irian the Philippines this is is
at Irian the Philippines this is is drought tolerant rice and this is a new
drought tolerant rice and this is a new
drought tolerant rice and this is a new emergent see for rice it’s called where
emergent see for rice it’s called where
emergent see for rice it’s called where the study is trying to take the
the study is trying to take the
the study is trying to take the photosynthesis gene from corn and
photosynthesis gene from corn and
photosynthesis gene from corn and transplanted into rice to improve
transplanted into rice to improve
transplanted into rice to improve drought tolerance water efficiency in
drought tolerance water efficiency in
drought tolerance water efficiency in productivity and the last will be a
productivity and the last will be a
productivity and the last will be a piece on sustenance sacred sustenance
piece on sustenance sacred sustenance
piece on sustenance sacred sustenance food is the center of our civilization
food is the center of our civilization
food is the center of our civilization we gather around the table every day it
we gather around the table every day it
we gather around the table every day it is the it is like the hearth of human
is the it is like the hearth of human
is the it is like the hearth of human civilization the story of food is more
civilization the story of food is more
civilization the story of food is more than just productivity and technology
than just productivity and technology
than just productivity and technology and science and policy it’s also about
and science and policy it’s also about
and science and policy it’s also about culture and it’s the thing that keeps us
culture and it’s the thing that keeps us
culture and it’s the thing that keeps us as civilizations but a meal is not with
as civilizations but a meal is not with
as civilizations but a meal is not with is nothing without its condiments and so
is nothing without its condiments and so
is nothing without its condiments and so we are going to also serve up smaller
we are going to also serve up smaller
we are going to also serve up smaller things like the diversity of apples and
things like the diversity of apples and
things like the diversity of apples and the history of forks and food miles
the history of forks and food miles
the history of forks and food miles right where does all this food come from
right where does all this food come from
right where does all this food come from and how far does it travel but then we
and how far does it travel but then we
and how far does it travel but then we also have meals ready to eat and what
also have meals ready to eat and what
also have meals ready to eat and what are those like now now that’s an
are those like now now that’s an
are those like now now that’s an evolution of diet is it and this is all
evolution of diet is it and this is all
evolution of diet is it and this is all as gary has pointed out is is all coming
as gary has pointed out is is all coming
as gary has pointed out is is all coming together on our website at at geo food
together on our website at at geo food
together on our website at at geo food calm constantly updated with a news
calm constantly updated with a news
calm constantly updated with a news reports of bloggers one example here is
reports of bloggers one example here is
reports of bloggers one example here is a Jim Richardson who photographed the
a Jim Richardson who photographed the
a Jim Richardson who photographed the portraits and the May issue that you
portraits and the May issue that you
portraits and the May issue that you have has written two blog posts about
have has written two blog posts about
have has written two blog posts about what it was like to go out into the
what it was like to go out into the
what it was like to go out into the field and and meet the farmers with the
field and and meet the farmers with the
field and and meet the farmers with the help of the scientists from the CGIAR we
help of the scientists from the CGIAR we
help of the scientists from the CGIAR we have food bloggers here Jose Andre who
have food bloggers here Jose Andre who
have food bloggers here Jose Andre who is here today is highlighted up there
is here today is highlighted up there
is here today is highlighted up there and as gary said across the society we
and as gary said across the society we
and as gary said across the society we have a
have a
have a idea of initiatives channel exhibit
idea of initiatives channel exhibit
idea of initiatives channel exhibit books geography Awareness Week and this
books geography Awareness Week and this
books geography Awareness Week and this weekend we have a food hackathon and you
weekend we have a food hackathon and you
weekend we have a food hackathon and you can find all of this at net geo food.com
can find all of this at net geo food.com
can find all of this at net geo food.com hashtag the future of food
”
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