Christian Verschueren

1
Christian Verschueren

• CropLife International
• CropLife International Annual Conference
• June 3, 2004

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Industrys challenge in meeting worlds food
needs

• Michael Pragnell
• CEO, Syngenta AG
• President of CropLife International
• CropLife International Annual Conference
• June 3, 2004

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Overview

• Satisfying global food needs and agricultural
  sustainability
• Plant science industrys contribution
• Demands on the regulatory system

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Satisfying global food needs sustainably

• Feeding the world has been possible because of
  agricultural technology
• Dr. Norman Borlaug ,Father of the Green
  Revolution Nobel Peace Prize winner

• World agriculture cannot be sustainable without
  science-based technology
• Dr. Per Pinstrup Anderson, Professor of Food,
  Nutrition and Public Policy, Cornell University
  Former Director General, IFPRI

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Potential arable land is decreasing
Arable Land per Capita
0.5
0.4
Hectare per Capita
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
1965
1975
1985
1995
2025
Year
Source FAOSTAT data, 2004
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Food demand is increasing
Projected Calorie Demand
Calories / Capita / Day
Developed Countries Latin America World
Average Asia Africa
Source Population Services International, 2003
FAO, 1995
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Food requirements are changing
Total Cereal Demand
Total Meat Demand
Million Metric Tons
Million Metric Tons
2497
326
1843
1675
212
208
1118
114
822
110
98
725
Developed World
Developing World
World
Developed World
Developing World
World
1997 2020
Source IMPACT Projections, 2001
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Intensification has met the challenge
(1990 to 2000)
Food Production
25.40
Population Land Use
15.40
0.66
Source FAOSTAT data, 2004
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The global challenge

• How can agricultural production rise to meet
  demand
• in a framework of equitable, environmentally,
  socially,
• and economically sustainable development?

World Bank Assessment of Agricultural Science
Technology, August 2003
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Water matters!

• Over a billion people live without a safe water
  supply
• Agriculture accounts for 70 of all water use
• Land management and advanced technologies can
  help maximise the crop per drop

• New drought and stress tolerant varieties
• Reduced or no tillage prevents water loss

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Todays conference
First session Protecting consumers and ensuring
choice Second session Addressing the food needs
of the South Keynote lecture on rice a key
staple food crop in the developing world
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Plant science industry contribution

• Protecting, increasing yield
• Improving quality
• Protecting soil, preserving water resources
• Making technologies available to developing world
• Minimising risk to farmers and environment

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We care

• CropLife members abide by the FAO Code of Conduct

• Licence-free technology to poor farmers through
  the AATF

• Support for the African Stockpiles Programme

• Conserving biodiversity with the Global Crop
  Diversity Trust

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We are research-intensive
RD Investment by Sector
RD Spend ( of Sales)
Plant Science Industry
Chemicals
Automobile
Beverages
Pharmaceuticals
Telecoms
Electricity
IT
Food
Oil
Aerospace Defence
Electronic Electrical
Engineering Machinery
Construction Building
Source Financial Times
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We need globalised regulatory framework

• Predictable, consistent
• Good science, not political opportunism
• Reflecting global diversity of agriculture
• Meeting developing countries needs

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We need innovation-friendly regulations

• Enabling rewards for RD industry investment
• Engaging with stakeholders in both benefits and
  risks
• Preventing misuse of data and proprietary
  inventions

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We are concerned by EU mistrust of technology

• 1991-2000, 71 EU-born citizens with US doctorate
  degrees had no plans to return to EU
• EU companies invest 30 more in research in US
  than vice-versa
• Biotech field trials in EU declined from 264
  (1997) to 35 (2002)

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We are encouraged

• EU crop protection re-registration process

• Recent BT11 maize authorisation by the EU
• but backlog of biotechnology
• applications

• Harmonised science-based standards
• e.g. Codex work on standards for detecting
• GM presence in food

• FAO 2004 Annual Reports support for GM crops as
  solution for global food security
• critics of modified foods, especially in
  Europe, need to realize that their opposition is
  harming the developing world.
• New York Times Editorial 24th May 2004

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People make things happen

• We foster creativity in multi-cultural business
  environment
• We manage constant change
• We provide solutions not problems
• We communicate complex messages

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Our contribution
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The Economist, May 6th 2004

• Copenhagen Consensus projects findings
• Returns from improving agricultural
  technology...by using higher-yielding crops...and
  controlling pests better- dwarf those from other
  policies they consider.
• ...investments in technology are the most
  effective means of increasing the incomes of
  hungry people. Teaching a man to farm better, it
  seems, can yield far more than simply giving food
  or medicines away.

Organised by Denmark's Environmental Assessment
Institute with The Economist.
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• Thank you