Traditional farming methods are falling short of feeding China’s 1.4 billion people and they are asking American farmers experienced with biotechnology to help close the gap. During a recent two-week tour of farms and businesses in China and Japan, Oklahoma Farm Bureau President Steve Kouplen, Beggs, discussed export opportunities as well as the environmental and production benefits of biotechnology.
“We told them biotechnology is a safe, effective method to satisfy their need for more food and fiber,” Kouplen said.
The Oklahoma rancher said the biotechnology message found fertile ground, but implementing the technology will be difficult.
“The average farmer in China farms about one acre using small equipment, if any, so something like Round Up Ready soybeans may not be practical,” Kouplen said. “BT cotton and corn may be more effective because these crops would reduce the need for pesticides.”
Farmers in both China and Japan welcome biotechnology with open arms, however, Japanese consumers are reluctant to embrace the technology.
“The farmers see the potential for increasing their production,” Kouplen said, “whereas the consumers and government officials in Japan are unnecessarily worried about the unknown effects of genetically-modified food products.”
Kouplen believes Japanese officials are using biotechnology concerns as a trade barrier.
“They use it (concerns) to negotiate lower prices and more favorable trade packages,” Kouplen said.
Despite the concerns, the potential for exporting American food and technology to the Pacific Rim countries is huge. Both countries lack the resources to feed 100 percent of their population and that is especially evident in Japan as they are only 40 percent self sufficient.
“There is a tremendous opportunity to export agriculture goods to the area, especially as their economies improve and their desire for more premium products increase,” Kouplen said.
The Oklahoma rancher was joined on the far east journey by American Farm Bureau President Bob Stallman and the state Farm Bureau presidents from Indiana and Oregon.
