ARC welcomes Bill Gates agriculture-research comments
News24.com reports that the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) in South Africa has welcomed comments made by Bill Gates on the state of research into agriculture. In his 2012 annual letter Gates wrote that, given the central role that food plays in human welfare and national stability, "it is shocking - not to mention short-sighted and potentially dangerous - how little money is spent on agricultural research."
The ARC stated that it was committed to facilitating advances in food security. "The ARC has for 20 years helped the agricultural community to be competitive, to ensure food security at national level and make a massive contribution to social and economic wellbeing," the organisation said.
Gates is known for his philanthropic work and has donated a large percentage of the fortune he made as Microsoft CEO to projects around the world. In his letter, he emphasised that poverty was still pervasive and that innovation was required to ensure food security for vulnerable populations. Activists and scientists agree that water shortages and food security will have the most immediate impact on poor people in susceptible areas as climate change takes hold, food security is reaching critical proportions, production declines and populations increase.
According to News24.com, ARC chief executive and president, Dr Shadrack Moephuli said that innovation in agriculture is essential, and investment in world-class agricultural research delivers benefits to the economy, to food security, household nutrition and South African competitiveness in international markets. "Agricultural science has enabled South Africa to keep feeding its people even while the number of commercial farmers has declined dramatically, but funding remains under pressure," Moephuli noted.
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