BASF study highlights the need for increased innovations

A majority of U.S. consumers and farmers agree that farmers are responsible for feeding the world and new technology and innovations are critical to achieving this goal.  

 

These findings were uncovered in the latest BASF Farm Perspectives Study, conducted in early 2014, comparing consumer and farmer viewpoints on agriculture-related issues. More than 9,000 people located in seven different countries participated in the study.  

 

“Farmers and consumers understand the importance of new technology in agriculture and the role it plays in feeding a growing world population,” said AJ Woodyard, Technical Crop Production Specialist, BASF. “BASF recognizes the need for innovative solutions and continues to develop new tools and technologies to meet this important challenge.”  

 

Farmer and Consumer Opinions  

 

Nearly all farmers (95.6%) in the seven surveyed countries agree they have a shared responsibility to feed the growing population, and they’re held to high expectations when doing so. With the world population expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, production will need to increase by 70 percent, and must include production of high-quality crops.  

 

Although farmers feel prepared for this tremendous responsibility, most feel the responsibility is not valued by consumers. Only 40 percent of U.S. farmers feel respected by the general U.S. population. Despite this feeling, farmers understand the importance of feeding the world and look forward to new innovations and technologies to help them achieve this goal.  

 

Most U.S. farmers (78.6%) and consumers (67.9%) agree that innovations are necessary to help farmers with the challenge of feeding a growing population. Survey respondents noted that feeding the world will require sustainable food production, possible through innovations in precision agriculture, machinery, fertilizers and chemical developments.  

 

“The agricultural industry has made significant strides in innovation to improve food production methods over the years,” Woodyard said. “At BASF, our goal is to continue to provide advanced tools and resources to help farmers get the most out of every acre.”  

 

In addition to partnering with farmers to bring value to their operation, BASF helps farmers through the introduction of new product innovations. BASF recently introduced Priaxor® fungicide, an advanced soybean fungicide, and plans to bring two new products—Engenia™ herbicide and Limus® urease inhibitor—to the market in the near future. These products, among others, will help growers be more successful and ultimately provide more food for a growing world population.  

 

The U.S. results of the BASF Farm Perspectives Study were announced recently at the Farm Progress Show in Boone, Iowa, with insights from Brady Spangenberg, Market Intelligence & Research Manager, BASF and Woodyard. The most recent wave of the study was conducted in early 2014 and included more than 2,100 farmer and 7,233 consumer participants in seven countries: U.S., Germany, France, Spain, Brazil, India and China.