Discussion notes there is no need for division. BY JEFF HUTTON
T
he argument that agriculture is a food vs. fuel proposition is antiquated. Rather, it’s about how agriculture, energy and food security can co-exist — feeding and fueling the world simultaneously. That was at the heart of a recent discussion in Des Moines during the Borlaug Dialogue. The discussion “Food and Fuel: Where Agriculture, Energy and Food Security Intersect,” showcased the conversation, which is of particular interest to farmers, policymakers, agribusinesses and consumers.
Innovation and technology Kevin Lucke, president of the Chevron Renewable Energy Group and a southwest Iowa farmer, says there should be no division between food and fuel. “If I look back, it used to be a food vs. fuel discussion,” he says. “But with the ethanol business and biodiesel business … those 20 years of technology has changed a lot.” He noted that today’s biodiesel
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Kevin Lucke, president, Chevron Renewable Energy Group
and renewable diesel products rely on various sources of feedstocks, including used cooking oil, distillers’ grain oil, animal fat, and soybean and canola oils. “Technology has changed a lot to using different sources of raw materials to make fuel,” Lucke says. “Many of those are actually byproducts of the agriculture industry.” Jennifer Ozimkiewicz, senior vice president and head of global corn and
soybean crop strategy for Bayer Crop Science, says innovation has been key in serving both food and fuel needs. “We’re really dedicated to ensuring farmers can meet the needs of food, fuel and fiber for the world and largely it is through innovation and technology,” she says. Ozimkiewicz says productivity is key, including investments in products and platforms that help farmers improve the productivity and profitability of their farm while helping reduce the environmental impact. “That’s important as they protect their soils and want to sustain their land and reduce emissions on their farms,” she says. While demand for biofuels is increasing, Ozimkiewicz says it’s important that producers continue to grow enough to feed a growing planet. “When we think about agriculture, we certainly believe that it’s capable of delivering on both,” she says, adding that new technologies and adaptations to agronomic practices will help in making that happen.
