ADM: U.S. Grain Industry to Lead in Feeding the World

U.S. agriculture can continue to feed a growing world and meet consumer demand for healthy, nutritious foods by leveraging new technologies, expanding research and development, attracting top talent, and working with governments to shore up critical infrastructure, says Juan Luciano, the CEO of Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM).

Luciano spoke the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA), noticing that global poverty had fallen faster in the past 20 years than at any time in history, and that the global infant mortality rate in 2015 was about half of that in 1990. 

Luciano proceeded to suggest several ways the industry could help feed a global population of 9.6 billion people by 2050 and serve as a provider of nutrition and health, and not just as a supplier of consumer goods.
He added that the industry would need to continue innovating, to develop new products that meet consumer demand for foods that promote health and wellness. Ongoing technological advances, including those in computing capacity and cloud storage, may ultimately usher in a new era of “personalized nutrition” as the food industry develops better functional ingredients that target specific health issues, Luciano said.
Finally, he noted that continued investment in innovation, research and development, and young talent were essential for the industry’s long-term success.