Some of the world’s greatest accomplishments came from American farmers.
In 1793, Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin, dramatically increasing cotton production and fueling economic growth. In 1837, John Deere invented the steel plow, allowing farmers to cut through soil more efficiently. In the 1940s, Norman Borlaug developed methods to increase crop yields and help feed the world.
But for the past two decades, America’s research and development has stalled. China has more than doubled our investments in agriculture R&D. India and Brazil are also on pace to pull ahead of the U.S. The world will need approximately 50% more food by 2050 to support a growing global population. To meet this demand, America’s manufacturers and farmers will have no choice but to innovate. At the same time, our government leaders must commit to supporting these innovations.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.