Forum for Innovation

In Nick Schulz’s soon-to-be released research paper, “Agricultural Abundance: An American Innovation Story,” there are a number of quotes indicating a new and rightfully optimistic phase of America’s agricultural sector. 

1. “We have transitioned in the United States from a nation that was concerned with food scarcity to one that must confront challenges that come with food abundance.” 

Due to technological discovery and innovation, the American agricultural sector has turned around its productivity, even just in the past half-century. For example, farm output has increased by nearly 50% since the early 1980s. 

2. Over time, while we produce increasing amounts of food, we need less land to farm, thereby reducing our ecological footprint.” 

Newfound technologies have gradually increased agricultural output, while input levels have remained approximately constant. The advent of modern harvesters and planters especially has increased the efficiency of chemical and land use in farming. 

3. “Innovation. Changes in organization. Research. These are the products of the entrepreneurial human will and imagination […] It is in this way that people can create resources of all kinds, to meet the needs of growing populations.” 

Food and creativity are equally important commodities. The latter cannot exist without the former, but the former’s sufficiency is contingent upon the latter. In other words, agricultural innovation depends on a more efficient use of human capital. 

4. “Further innovation will also be critical to meeting the food challenges of the future.” 

The innovation phase is not over. As our population continues to grow by nearly 1% each year, and arable land expansion remains limited, we will still be accountable for satisfying a rising food demand. 

5. “The challenge today is to extend the productivity miracle at home and through technology transfer, investment, and trade extend the miracle to every corner of the globe.” 

As we continue to perfect the domestic model, we understand that there are urgent needs for our technology elsewhere in the world. In essence, through technology transfer, investment, and trade, we aim to ‘teach a man to fish.’

On December 19^th, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Chamber Foundation will co-host a program highlighting the innovations and emerging opportunities that today’s agriculture industry are presenting. This program will identify many of the latest innovations and advances in agriculture and show how America’s agriculture community continues to feed an ever growing global population while at the same time supporting American job creation and competitiveness.