Fertilizer Prices Rise Globally

Fertilizer prices are up around the globe. The global rise in prices could set forth a chain of events impacting individuals around the globe. We invite you to review the linked Farm Policy News from the University of Illinois and reflect on the discussion points below with others. 

High Fertilizer Prices Impacting Developing Countries and Europe

Discussion Points

• What points shared were of most concern to you and why?
• What are the potential impacts of rising fertilizer costs around the globe? 
• Are farmers in your local area seeing an increase in fertilizer costs? If so, how are they reacting and what are the potential repercussions?
• You have been asked by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to advise and make recommendations to ease the rising price of fertilizer prices globally. What would you suggest? What are things that need to be taken into consideration?

GMOs Global Impact

The debate on GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms) has been debated for years globally. CAST recently shared video and text titled "Gains Foregone by Going GMO Free: Potential Impacts on Consumers, the Environment, and Agricultural Producers." Cast is an international consortium of scientific and professional societies, universities, companies, nonprofits, libraries, and individuals who assemble, interpret, and communicate credible, unbiased, science-based information for all populations. Linked below is a one-page summary of the media regarding "Gains Foregone by Going GMO Free." We encourage you to investigate the document linked and utilize the discussion points to guide conversations with others around the globe.

Gains Forgone by Going GMO Free

Discussion Points

• How are GMOs viewed in your home region? Does this align with CAST's findings?
• What are the global impacts of GMOs? Consider health, environment, and poverty.
• In many Global South countries GMOs are not allowed. What are the impacts of these bans? 
• Do you believe science has been attacked lately (at home and/or around the globe)? Explain your reasoning and if you believe this is a problem what might be done?

World Crop Production

We often hear that agriculture has a global impact, but do we take time to dig into things deeper? This week we highlight the monthly report from the United States Department of Agriculture looking at World Agricultural Production. Past reports can be found here. We encourage you to look through the linked report below and utilize the discussion points to guide your conversations around the globe!

World Agricultural Production May 2020

Discussion Points

• What piece of information or graph did you find most interesting/intriguing and why?
• The tables towards the end of the report highlight 16 different crops being produced around the world. Of the 16 crops, 12 crops are seeing an increase in production. Take a further look at these tables. What factors could be contributing to these increases? What does this mean for global markets? 
• The report shows increased production for many crops. In reality, most parts of the world (but not all) produce enough food to feed their country and collectively feed the world. If this is the case why do we find individuals that are food insecure everywhere in the world? What can we do to combat these challenges?

Pollen Spread: GM and non-GM Crops

Before we have highlighted pieces on GMO vs. non-GMO products and practices. This week we look at how the two can work together and what is needed for separation to protect against pollen spread. We encourage you to look at the linked study from a scientist in Canada and utilize the discussion points to guide conversations around the globe!

New Tool Helps Estimate GM Pollen Spread

Discussion Points

• Why is it important to have an area of separation between GM products and non-GM products?
• What did the study find as a suitable separation space? How does this compare to what some have suggested? (You may need to convert measurements to standard if your home country does not utilize metric.)
• Do some additional research. In your home area what is the required separation distance when planting GM next to non-GM crops? How does this distance measure up to the suggested distance in this latest research?
• Often things can get contentious between individuals and groups when you have growers producing GM and non-GM crops close in proximity. What suggestions would you have for both sides to ensure successful experiences for all?

Taking to the Fields in Brazil

Today was a spectacular day of learning. We were able to get out into fields and pastures to experience Brazilian agriculture. We started the day out at Embrapa, which is a national agriculture research institution in Brazil. In the past this location has only focused on rice and edible beans, but just recently they are becoming more diversified as they are serving as a regional hub. They are incorporating a wider variety of crops and even livestock into their research. We began with a brief welcome and introduction to the facility before making our way to the labs, greenhouses, fields, and then pastures. We were able to see many crops including rice, beans, soybeans, sorghum, corn, and cotton. We had the great opportunity to learn about integrated crop-livestock systems and the Nellore cattle that they are working with. Here are some interesting facts from our Embrapa visit:

• Environmental research is just as important as production research.
• They have a gene bank with over 44,000 species.
• They are the first public institution to breed transgenic beans.
• The integrated crop-livestock system is improving soil and the environment.

We enjoyed lunch at the agriculture campus at the Universidade Federal de Goias (UFG) where we will visit tomorrow and visited with many students before traveling to PUDICA an organic farm. One of the owners of PUDICA is, also, a professor at UFG. We spent several hours exploring his farm. Many enjoyed checking out the numerous parrots as he works with a group to reincorporate parrots back to their natural habitats after injuries. We were able to see many different crops in production. One of his fields had banana's, papayas, peppers, and coffee all growing together. He did have crops we are more familiar with such as corn and soybeans, but he looks to produce specialized varieties for niche markets. They take the philosophy of health first followed by the environment, social aspects, and economics in that order.

After a long day in the sun and heat we enjoyed a steak dinner in an open air restaurant. We look forward to another great day on Tuesday.