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28 SEEDWORLD.COM JUNE 2015 technology division which includes plant breeding plant biotechnology biologicals precision agriculture and crop protection. First of all this has got to be the most exciting time to be in agriculture he says. And I would argue probably the most important time. Its exciting from the point of view that we have so much opportu- nity for innovation. Today we are beginning to see brand new platforms with data science and the ability to map fields subdivide them into smaller segments and farm meter by meter to optimize our yields and produc- tivity. I believe that with the advances in biology and the advances in data science we will see another Green Revolution. Fraley says that as the world popula- tion grows to the 9.5 or 10 billion people that is expected by 2050 coupled with the increase in wealth accumulation especially in Asia and Africa that agricul- ture will need to double food production in the next 35 years. Thats an incredible challenge but with the right tools we can do it he says. I have no doubt that we can meet the food security needs of the future. And I actually think that as we improve yields and productivity by the time we reach 2050 well even have the opportunity to convert some of the lands that we farm today back into forests pastures and wetlands. We can be that efficient. The challenge is will we be able to use the tools available. To help ensure that agriculture and todays scientists can use the tools we have available Fraley has joined the dialogues discussing how todays food is produced. What Ive learned is that first you have to join the conversation he says. Food is a personal conversa- tion its important that peoples questions get answered. Thats why as an indus- try weve pulled together independent experts to answer peoples questions on GMOAnswers.com. I am personally very active on social media. In getting in to the mix he says its also important to understand that there are extreme voices on both sides of this debate. There are critics who will never like new ag technologies or GMOs and there are advocates. Theres also a group in the middle which probably comprises about 80 percent of the general public he says. These are the people interested in learning more about food how food is produced its nutritional value and affordability. Thats the group that we need to speak to he says. When I see us doing that we can change views we can change attitudes and people understand. The second lesson Fraley has come to learn in participating in these discussions is that science has to take a backseat. This is really about trust and establishing a connection and finding that common ground he says. Some people care about food nutrition and affordability for their families and thats a great conversa- tion. Some folks think about a growing world and feeding people who are not as fortunate who are hungry. Others focus on our growing global population and more people in the future and thats also a great basis for a conversation. Others really focus on the environment and how we can use technologies to minimize the impact that agriculture can have on the environment. What Ive found is that its important to establish that common ground. Then The 2013 World Food Prize was presented in Des Moines Iowa. Pictured left to right are M.S. Swaminathan the first World Food Prize laureate and now chair of the laureate selection committee 2013 prize winner Marc Van Montagu Olafur Ragnar Grimsson president of Iceland 2013 prize winner Mary-Dell Chilton 2013 prize winner Robert Fraley and John Ruan III chair of the World Food Prize. PhotoWorldFoodPrize.