Print This PageGlobal Harvest Initiative
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Sustainability Management 2009
Monsanto Mississippi River Partnership Project
Monsanto and CI Partner to Conserve Biodiversity
Biotech Soybeans Spur No-Till Farming in U.S.
Biotech Seeds Reduce Pesticides, Cut Emissions
Produce More
Helping farmers meet the needs of a growing planet.
Improve Farmers' Lives
Increasing incomes and standards of living.
The Global Harvest Initiative (GHI) was founded by Monsanto, Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM), DuPont and John Deere in 2009. These companies established GHI to sustainably double agricultural output and improve grain storage and distribution to eliminate the global productivity gap—the difference between the historic rate of productivity growth and the pace required to meet future needs.
By 2050, the world’s population is expected to reach 9 billion, requiring twice as much food to feed the growing population. And with land, water and habitat constraints tightening, there is also a critical need to protect these resources for future generations. GHI looks at how to meet future demand by producing more with the same or fewer resources.
GHI believes the solution is agricultural innovation. It embraces all production practices—biotech, conventional and organic agriculture—for producers of all sizes, ranging from subsistence farmers to large modern producers.
The initiative currently focuses on seven main areas:
Research – GHI believes increasing funding for basic food and agricultural research is critical to help close the productivity gap. Policies also should help drive private investment in ways that complement public investment, as well as support partnerships between the private and public sectors.
Trade - Not all countries have the natural resource base or accommodating climate needed for agriculture. GHI supports continued liberalization of food and agricultural trade through expanded trade agreements.
Conservation Programs - GHI identifies opportunities to minimize environmental degradation while meeting the global agricultural production needs of the future. This includes minimizing deforestation and use of fragile lands, in addition to placing more emphasis on irrigation and drought management, nutrient efficiencies and management, conservation tillage, and other actions that will improve water quality, reduce water use and reduce greenhouse gases.
U.S. Foreign Assistance - GHI supports increased visibility and effectiveness of foreign development assistance programs.
Good Governance & Appropriate Policy Environments - GHI supports programs that fundamentally address good governance and anti-corruption measures. Rural sector aid and development is most effective in environments where policies reinforce good governance, economic freedom and investment in people and businesses. The ultimate goal of these programs is to reduce poverty through sustainable economic growth, enhanced productivity and environmental stewardship.
Incentives for Innovation - GHI believes the United States should take leadership in promoting global discussions on tax credits, intellectual property and other policies that encourage innovation, stimulate environmental benefits and spur economic growth.
Science-Based Approval of New Technologies - GHI encourages productivity advancements and approvals of new technologies based on science.
GHI promotes awareness of global challenges through a variety of means, including sponsoring symposia, commissioning research studies and holding media events.
GHI partners with a diverse group of thought-leaders and institutions that share its future vision and commitment to global action. Further support is welcome from public and private sectors entities sharing the goal of closing the global productivity gap.
For more information, visit http://www.globalharvestinitiative.org/
