Food, Agriculture and the Food, Agriculture and the Land-Grant College in a Land-Grant College in a Changing World Changing World Robert A. Easter, Ph.D. Robert A. Easter, Ph.D. Professor of Swine Nutrition Professor of Swine Nutrition Dean, College of Agricultural, Dean, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Consumer and Environmental Sciences Sciences University of Illinois at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Urbana-Champaign June 16, 2004 June 16, 2004
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Food, Agriculture and the Land- Grant College in a Changing World Robert A. Easter, Ph.D. Professor of Swine Nutrition Dean, College of Agricultural, Consumer.
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Food, Agriculture and the Land-Food, Agriculture and the Land-Grant College in a Changing WorldGrant College in a Changing World
Robert A. Easter, Ph.D.Robert A. Easter, Ph.D.Professor of Swine NutritionProfessor of Swine NutritionDean, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Dean, College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental SciencesEnvironmental SciencesUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignJune 16, 2004June 16, 2004
Jonathan Baldwin Turner’s Great Jonathan Baldwin Turner’s Great VisionVision
‘We need a University for the Industrial classes in each state, with their consequent subordinate institutes, lyceums and high schools in each of the counties and towns”
“The objective of these institutes should be to apply existing knowledge directly and efficiently to all practical pursuits and professions in life and to extent the boundaries of our present knowledge in all possible practical directions”Farmers Convention, Granville, Illinois
Nov. 18, 1851.
The Agricultural College is a Unique The Agricultural College is a Unique American Success StoryAmerican Success Story
• Application of science to the solution of Application of science to the solution of real-world problems.real-world problems.
• Supported by taxpayers.Supported by taxpayers.• Effective integration of research, Effective integration of research,
education and extension.education and extension.
The College of Agricultural, The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Consumer and Environmental Sciences at the University of Sciences at the University of
Crops Crops and Soilsand Soils UtilizationUtilization
CornCornSoybeansSoybeans
ConsumersConsumersCorn/SoybeansCorn/SoybeansPork ProductionPork Production
Pork and Poultry Pork and Poultry ProducersProducers
Defining IssuesDefining Issues
UrbanizationUrbanization
How to move incredible masses of How to move incredible masses of
foodstuffs from production center to foodstuffs from production center to
consumersconsumers
Global Food Supply ChainsGlobal Food Supply Chains
• Systems designed to move massive Systems designed to move massive amounts of food from production amounts of food from production centers to world population centers centers to world population centers with with great economic efficiencygreat economic efficiency
Smithfield FoodsSmithfield Foods
• Process 27 million hogs per yearProcess 27 million hogs per year
• Produce 15 million hogs per yearProduce 15 million hogs per year
• InternationallyInternationally11
– Process 1.5 million hogs per yearProcess 1.5 million hogs per year– Produce 900,000 hogs per yearProduce 900,000 hogs per year
1”Outside the United States, Smithfield owns subsidiaries in France,Poland and the United Kingdom and operates join ventures in Brazil, Mexico and China.”
www.smithfieldfoods.com
Critical Questions
• Who is going to produce the fruits of agriculture?
• What production technologies will be employed?
• Where will it be done?
• Who will do the research and education
Food and Agricultural Food and Agricultural Research and EducationResearch and Education
• There are today, perhaps, 30 There are today, perhaps, 30 centers in the world that are centers in the world that are defining the future – Illinois is one defining the future – Illinois is one on those centers.on those centers.
• In 15 years that number could be In 15 years that number could be reduced by halfreduced by half
Universities in the WorldUniversities in the World
““Agricultural” Colleges Agricultural” Colleges at the Crossroadat the Crossroad
• Public support for higher Public support for higher education is weakeningeducation is weakening
• Many states may no longer have Many states may no longer have the capacity to support a the capacity to support a comprehensive Land-Grant comprehensive Land-Grant UniversityUniversity
““Agricultural” Colleges Agricultural” Colleges at the Crossroadat the Crossroad
• The agricultural population is in The agricultural population is in declinedecline
• With modern communication With modern communication systems there is little justification systems there is little justification for redundant programsfor redundant programs
• High impact research is complex, High impact research is complex, integrative and expensiveintegrative and expensive
HOW?HOW?
• Plan strategicallyPlan strategically
• Embrace a shared passion for Embrace a shared passion for global preeminenceglobal preeminence
• Hire, support and retain the most Hire, support and retain the most creative scholars availablecreative scholars available
• Recruit the best students possible Recruit the best students possible and provide them with and provide them with superb educationsuperb education
Landscape….. an integrating concept
It is not about cows, pigs, corn, soybeans OR natural areas, golf courses and wind turbines….
It is about the integrated utilization ofa rural or urban landscape to create sustainable economic opportunity for individuals, families and communities