Balaji Vasudevan

China remains reliant on U.S. soybeans and sorghum despite its self-sufficiency push: approximately 39 percent of its soybeans and a substantial 60 percent of its sorghum. Despite ambitions for enhanced food self-sufficiency, China is projected to continue relying heavily on US imports of soybeans and sorghum for decades to come, according to a food policy expert. Ye Yujiang, a vice president of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), highlighted these findings during the release of the academy's annual Agricultural Sector Development Report on Friday. The report forecasts that by 2050, China will still depend on the US for approximately 39 percent of its #soybeans and a substantial 60 percent of its #sorghum. Acknowledging the importance of stable trade ties with the US, Ye emphasized the need for a two-pronged approach: maintaining a strong trade relationship with the US while diversifying sources through strategic partnerships. "It is essential to maintain stable trade relations with the United States and make every effort to uphold this stability," Ye stated. He further stressed the importance of exploring new channels and strengthening ties with agricultural powerhouses like Brazil and Argentina, as well as other countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. The CAAS report outlines projections based on various factors, including a declining population. It anticipates China's population to reach 1.38 billion by 2035, with urbanization reaching 75.8 percent. To meet the evolving demands of its population, the report projects that China will need to significantly increase production of key food groups. By 2035, production is expected to rise by 29.64 million tons for meat, 6.13 million tons for eggs, 9.58 million tons for dairy products, and a significant 19 million tons for aquatic products. These figures are expected to climb further by 2050. This projected growth will have a substantial impact on animal feed demand. The report recommends a 12 percent increase in planting area for corn and soybeans, critical animal feed crops, by 2035. This translates to an expansion of 6.8 million hectares. By 2050, the report forecasts a need for a 32 percent increase, reaching 17.3 million hectares. Ye underscored the significant challenges this expansion presents in terms of land use. He emphasized the crucial role of technological innovation in enhancing production efficiency to address these challenges. "While the Global Food Policy Report offers a broad perspective on nutrition and food policy globally, the China Agricultural Sector Development Report provides a localized lens," Lamy said. This localized perspective, she noted, underscores the importance of context-specific approaches in tackling food security and nutrition challenges. https://lnkd.in/d8EkDceY #soybeanmeal #soybeanoil #ussoy #ussoyadvantage

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We are thrilled to announce that the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) awarded GLASE consortium an education and workforce development grant. The Empowering Greenhouse Resiliency with an Optimized Workforce (E-GROW) project aims to inspire youth to pursue CEA careers and build skills in Ag Tech! In partnership with our seven collaborators and ten pilot middle and high schools in four U.S. states, E-GROW will launch a certificate program for students, preparing the next generation for careers in the rapidly evolving field of CEA. E-GROW will engage between 500 and 1,000 students throughout the project, with a particular emphasis on reaching student populations traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields, including rural youth, low-income students, young women, ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities. As part of the pilot, students will work toward earning a CEA certificate after producing a capstone project designed to build public confidence in AgTech in food systems. Over the next four years, our project partners will develop and refine a scalable educational model that can be replicated across other schools and states. We are currently conducting a market study and would appreciate your insight on the two questions below! What CEA subject areas are in need of educational programming for youth?  Survey Link: https://lnkd.in/dn3HBwtV What are some barriers that prevent schools and students from implementing or pursuing CEA educational programming?  Survey Link: https://lnkd.in/daXXa8Xg

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📖 Published today! Our new book on strengthening food and farming systems - "Planning Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems: From Soil to Soil" “The book focuses on land-based systems, starting with agriculture’s role in ensuring the U.S. can deliver an affordable and nutritious food supply while improving environmental outcomes and addressing economic disparities,” shares author, AFT Senior Fellow and Senior Program Advisor, Julia Freedgood. “It addresses food security in the context of a changing climate, recognizing the importance of America’s farmers and ranchers and supporting rural communities.”  ➡ Order your copy: https://bit.ly/3Ya5Tzk

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Vote on which #farmers will represent you in the upcoming ISA Board of Directors election. The board of directors determines how your 🌱 checkoff gets invested. Whether it’s increasing market demand, agronomic and conservation research, or consumer outreach, your vote impacts the future of soybean farmer priorities. Learn more about the candidates and how to vote 🔽 https://lnkd.in/gYUmmBKr Funded by the soybean checkoff.

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Member Spotlight for #OrganicMonth: Organic Farming Research Foundation (OFRF) 🌟 OFRF, with support from Organic Valley's Farmers Advocating for Organics program, is addressing the need for resources on Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems (ICLS). Crop-livestock integration combines the production of crops and livestock, creating a holistic approach to farming. Many organic farmers are eager to adopt this system but often find it challenging to implement. To help, OFRF has created a valuable suite of resources based on real farmer experiences, including: 🧑‍🌾 Podcast-style interviews with farmers 🐄 Stories from farms across different regions 🌾 Informational videos from farmer-presenters 🐑 Downloadable booklets on benefits, best practices, food safety, and crop rotations Explore these resources to learn more about successful crop-livestock integration and gain insights from those who are already doing it, learn more here https://bit.ly/3TFBN3O

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Are you an agriculture student looking at ways to use farming techniques to sequester carbon? Are you an ag professional wanting to learn how to fund the transition to #regenerativeagriculture ?? Don't miss this unique event where we will facilitate conversations between farmers, scientists, students, and funding professionals about regenerative ag. This farming method holds massive potential for carbon sequestration. There will be complimentary coffee, breakfast items, and lunch! RSVP in our Linktree link: https://tr.ee/3EaBNYXMCY or go to https://lnkd.in/g-K5bDdk to learn more. Reach out with questions and comments and see you there! #ShareThisPost #carbonsequestration #climatesolutions #farming #agriculture #californiafarmers #californiaagriculturere

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