About 98 percent of Americans are not directly connected to where their food comes from, leaving many people with misconceptions about how food is produced. Agribusiness WinField is working to bridge that gap by partnering with Fair Oaks Farms to open the WinField Crop Adventure, an interactive educational exhibit that engages people of all ages. This news release says the exhibit will open in spring 2016.
“It’s important that Land O’Lakes, leveraging the strength of the WinField brand, helps lead the effort to tell the American farming story and encourage people to make the connection to where their food comes from,” said Chris Policinski, president and CEO, Land O’Lakes, Inc. “This will help underscore the importance of sustainable, modern agricultural practices and innovations to our collective future.”
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, global food production must increase by 70 percent to feed a projected population of 9.1 billion people in 2050. This is a well-known fact within the agriculture industry; however, satisfying this demand is only part of the production challenge: There is little land available to add to existing farmland, and water demand is projected to outstrip supply by 40 percent by 2030. Simply put, the agriculture industry needs to produce more food with fewer resources, and do so with minimal environmental impact.
“There is confusion in the public arena about modern agriculture,” said Mike Vande Logt, executive vice president and chief operating officer, WinField. “We are partnering with Fair Oaks Farms to create an educational experience that will help people better understand farming and food production practices.”
“We are excited to partner with WinField for the newest exhibit at Fair Oaks Farms,” said Julie Basich, chief operating officer, Fair Oaks Farms. “This will be a great opportunity for families and students to be inspired by and learn about the future of agriculture while gaining a deeper understanding of the role agriculture plays in their everyday lives.”
The exhibit will be a highly interactive and technology-driven experience, with videos, touchscreen displays, interactive puzzles and games that demonstrate the science behind farming — from insects in the field to satellites in outer space.