Friday marks the end of Bayer CropScience‘s Ag Literacy Week, which was celebrated from October 19-23. Bayer CropScience sites across the country engaged with local communities to provide hands on learning opportunities for students. Through Ag Literacy Week, Bayer aims to create conversations while raising the public awareness of the power of modern agriculture and the critical role technology will play in food production to help meet the needs of a growing population.

Societal and environmental changes within the next 30 years will severely test our ability to produce enough food to satisfy a growing world population. During this time, global food demand is expected to increase 60 percent and we must meet this demand using the same or fewer arable acres that we have today, and in the face of a shrinking water supply, evolving pest pressures and a changing climate. Innovation in agriculture is imperative but innovation can only be achieved with an agriculturally literate population that is enthusiastic about developing solutions that can address future food challenges.

“Bayer is committed to improving agricultural literacy among students and the general public for two very important reasons,” said Jim Blome, president and CEO of Bayer CropScience LP. “It is important that people know where their food comes from and how it is produced, because the agriculture supply challenges we’re facing cannot be solved without new technology and increased engagement in our industry. The future of agriculture looks most promising when young minds develop a passion for STEM, agriculture and innovation that will make a tangible difference in solving the world’s most pressing food issues.”

Bayer CropScience siteshosted a series of Ag Literacy Week events focused on public outreach and student engagement. Bayer CropScience employees participated in agriculture-focused community service activities, engaged in Making Science Make Sense events at local schools, participated in community events that promoted STEM education, and more. All activities served to highlight the importance of agriculture literacy by showcasing where our food comes from, the technology that enhances modern agricultural production, the vast availability of STEM careers in agriculture, and telling the innovative story of modern agriculture.