Forbes.com, an online publication of Forbes magazine, ran an interesting column Jan. 19 on the agriculture industry and its recent struggles in the public policy arena. New Geographer columnist Joel Kotkin presents a detailed look at many of the positive aspects of American agriculture and logically refutes some of the attacks by urban aesthetes and green activists.
In the article, America’s Agricultural Angst, Kotkin establishes agriculture’s huge role in our country’s economic well-being:
Over the next 40 years the world will be adding some 3 billion people. These people will not only want to eat, they will want to improve their intake of proteins, grains, fresh vegetables and fruits. The U.S., with the most arable land and developed agricultural production, stands to gain from these growing markets. Last year the U.S.’ export surplus in agriculture grew to nearly $35 billion, compared with roughly $5 billion in 2005.
The overall impact of agriculture on the economy is much greater than generally assumed, notes my colleague Delore Zimmerman, of Praxis Strategy Group. Roughly 4.1 million people are directly employed in production agriculture as farmers, ranchers and laborers, but the industry directly or indirectly employs approximately one out of six American workers, including those working in food processing, marketing, shipping and supermarkets.
The author goes on to give an historical perspective on agriculture, and share why he believes agriculture’s past matters to its future.
Here at NutriDense, we believe Kotkin captures the essence of the messages we in production agriculture are striving to tell. What do you think about Kotkin’s argument?
Tags: America's Agricultural Angst, Forbes, Forbes.com, Joel Kotkin, New Geographer
