May 2021 - 4

EDITOR'S LETTER
Feed the research beast
Prior to the shutdowns and travel restrictions related to the novel coronavirus
outbreak, I was able to join dozens of North American strawberry growers on a
tour of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences'
(UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center.
The impressive facility in Wimauma, Florida, is one of several outlets that are
part of the extensive UF/IFAS system. It joins
other crucial agricultural and research outlets
operated by universities in many key specialty
crop production regions across the country.
At the UF/IFAS experimental farm operated at
the Southwest Florida Research and Education
Center (SWFREC) in Immokalee, the " fourth
revolution " of agriculture is in high gear.
UF agricultural engineer Yiannis Ampatzidis
recently said that artificial intelligence - the
convergence of new tools for data collection
with cloud computing to analyze the explosion of
information - is changing the face of agriculture
in a way that is nothing short of revolutionary.
Gary Pullano
Editor
" Revolution is the perfect word, " said Ampatzidis, an assistant professor of
agricultural and biological engineering at the SWFREC in Immokalee. " Artificial
intelligence, robotics, automation, big data analytics, the internet of things.
This is no doubt the fourth agricultural revolution. We are going to see these
technologies in the field very, very soon. "
In the first agricultural revolution, mechanization - tractors, harvesters and
such - changed life on the farm. In the second, chemicals - fertilizers and
pesticides - drastically increased yields. In the third, genetics produced hybrid
plants, boosting yields yet again. What will artificial intelligence capabilities do
for agriculture in the fourth revolution? A better question, Ampatzidis said, is
what won't they do?
" AI is the next technology that will change agriculture in a profound way, "
said J. Scott Angle, vice president for agriculture and natural resources for
UF/IFAS. Angle agrees with Ampatzidis about the revolutionary nature of AI in
agriculture and sees AI as having perhaps more impact in agriculture than in
some other arenas. Angle said AI will level the playing field for all producers, big
and small.
Much of the important research work in the U.S. is in jeopardy. Stagnant public
funding for agricultural research is threatening the future vitality of U.S. food
systems - posing risks to farmer productivity and profitability, the steady supply
of affordable food for consumers and ultimately global food security, according
to a new report.
The report, jointly commissioned by Farm Journal Foundation and the
American Farm Bureau Federation and authored by the IHS Markit Agribusiness
Consulting Group, highlights the vital importance of public funding for
agricultural research and development (R&D). Innovations are crucial so that
farmers can increase their productivity and meet rising global demand for food,
even as climate change intensifies.
While private-sector funding for agricultural R&D has been increasing, U.S.
public spending has been flat for the past decade.
Public investment is crucial, as private companies have less incentive to research
subjects that benefit society broadly but offer potentially lower monetary returns,
such as in the areas of environmental, animal health, specialty crop and food
safety research.
USDA agency budgets have been relatively flat at around $4.2 billion in 2020
compared with $4.1 billion in 2010.
Private companies primarily focus research spending on only a few major crop
and livestock markets, leaving other sectors under-explored. Companies also have
less incentive to research areas that benefit society broadly but are more difficult
from which to capture private returns.
Discoveries made through agricultural research can help farmers increase crop
yields on existing farmland while adapting to challenges from climate change.
In particular, farmers and other stakeholders would benefit if additional public
research spending were directed toward key areas, including crop breeding, crop
protection, food safety and climate research.
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PMA, United Fresh uniting to form global trade
group
The boards of directors of the Produce
Marketing Association and United Fresh
Produce Association have reached an
agreement in principle to create a new global
trade association combining their resources and
expertise.
Evolving trends pinpointed in US strawberry
market
The average per capita availability of fresh
strawberries for 2017-19 was estimated at
6.8 pounds, more than double the average
during 2000-02. To keep up with demand, both
domestic and foreign supplies increased over
time.
USDA reopens Coronavirus Food Assistance
Program
The USDA Farm Service Agency announced its
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 signup
was reopened as of April 5, as part of the
Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative.
Farmers and ranchers will have at least 60 days
from April 5 to apply or make modifications to
existing CFAP 2 applications.
Produce Working Group makes 30 Food Box
recommendations
United Fresh Produce Association's Produce
Box Working Group on March 31 presented
USDA with a set of 30 recommendations that
would help guide a new program around
produce food boxes.
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May 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2021
