Digital Re-print - September | October 2009

Feature title: World food security & the private sector

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World food security &
the private sector
The definition of ‘food security’ is a statement of aspiration, and the description of the desire of every
person in the world to have meaningful access to food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences.
M
o s t
people
would
consider
food security
to be a basic
human right.
But it is not a
‘right’ that is
recognised by
nature, says
Dave Cieslak the Chairman of
the International Feed Industry
Federation and Vice-President for
Cargill Animal Nutrition based in
Minneapolis, USA.
“Food security can only be a ‘right’ in
the sense that humanity has the capacity
to accomplish the transformation of natu-
ral resources into the quantity and quality
of food that meets its needs and prefer-
ences,” he told invited guests attend the 50th
Anniversary celebrations of the European
Feed Manufacturers Federation (FEFAC) in
Brussels on October 9, 2009.
“The capacity for this transformation lies
primarily in the hands of the private sector –
the individual farmers, and their families and
the people who are members of companies
that produce and process raw materials and
food products that are part of the economic
sector we call ‘agriculture.’
“It is the capability and the effort of
these people that will make the difference
between a world that accomplishes food
security, and one where a significant portion
of the global population is not able to meet
their basic food needs, or lacks the options
to exercise their food preferences,” he says.
Enabling structures to
encourage production
The structure of the sector that accom-
plishes this transformation can look very
different around the world.
But in order for the private sector to
thrive, wherever it is, it needs enabling struc-
ture from governments. Such structures need
to encourage production that is sustainable
– that is, that minimises the use of resources.
22 | September-october 2009
Part of this is achieved through markets
and trade, both local and global, which
enable the optimal use of natural resources.
For the feed industry, this means being
close to our customers – livestock farm-
ers – because we are essentially a ‘localized’
industry around the world, he adds.
“While we need our raw materials to
be globally accessible through markets and
trade, and we need our customers’ products
to be able to move from where they are
produced to where they are consumed, the
production of the feed consumed by animals
primarily serves local markets.
“So one of the challenges in our industry,
if we are to deliver greater food security, is
to develop our industry locally around the
world, and encourage governments to think
about an enabling framework for that to
happen.”
As sustainability considerations become
ever more important in production systems,
keeping trade flowing and markets operating
will require new thinking and new solutions.
Increasing quantity and quality
“At the same time as we are striving to
meet the needs for increasing quantities of
food, we are also challenged to meet ever
increasing quality requirements.
“The key requirements for food have
always been to meet the nutritional needs
and taste preferences of people, without
causing illness or disease.”
Thus, he says, food safety is fundamental
to the quality of the feed we produce –
something that many in the industry have
focused on for a long time. Unfortunately,
that commitment is not shared by all.
There have been tragic examples of
those who have exploited the informal and
unstructured organisation of the feed and
animal production sector to act unethically.
“If it was not before, it is now abundantly
clear that an effective food safety system is
the fundamental responsibility of every single
operator in the feed sector and a require-
ment for public trust.
“An important role of industry associa-
tions, and for IFIF, is to reinforce that mes-
sage and ensure that our members compre-
Feature Feature Feature Feature
expected to be in place by 2050. We have a is safe and nutritious is the ‘table-stakes’ must earn, we must proactively engage in the
big challenge ahead, but we also have a history expectation of the feed industry. dialogue and debate that will set the direction
and ‘track record’ of meeting such a challenge.” “Expectations for our performance are for leadership of the future for food production.
increasing. As the
Leadership population of the
“We have another role to play, beyond world increases,
this fundamental purpose. This additional and becomes “So one of the challenges in our
role is part of our responsibility as par- more affluent, the
ticipants in the societies, and economies in demands for our industry, if we are to deliver
which we are members. This additional role competence will
is to engage in the discussion of significant increase. This cre-
ates the imperative
greater food security, is to develop
issues, and to provide leadership in areas for
which we are qualified. for the advance of
our industry locally around the
“Leadership isn’t a granted ‘right’. It’s an technology.
hend the standards of performance that they
must meet to be trustworthy participants in attribute that can only be earned through “Meeting the
increased need
world, and encourage governments
food production.” trust. The cost of earning that trust can be
for the quantity of
considered in three different components:
food produced is to think about an enabling
reliability, sincerity and competence.
The starting point only one part of
Implementation of Codex standards of best
For our customers, reliability is about
acting consistently and keeping our promises. the equation. We framework for that to happen”
practice, is the starting point for this effort. will need to do
Sincerity is about doing what we say we will
IFIF, in conjunction with FAO, are publish- do and meaning what we say. Competence this with an ever-
ing the Manual of Good Practices for the shrinking environ-
is about producing our feed products to a
Feed Industry, to support the application of high, safe standard, efficiently and to specifi- mental impact. Now, more than ever, our “The discussion, and the decisions that
the Codex standards, says Dr Cieslak. commitment to technological development
cations that consumers require. result, cannot move forward to success-
Food Safety – through risk-based systems, “If consumers, and policy-makers, are must be unrelenting,” he says. fully meet the challenge of global food
such as HACCP – is table stakes for our industry.
to trust private industry, and consider the security without the voice and the leader-
“We also want governments to remem- possibility to follow our leadership, we must Effective technology ship of the private sector,” he concludes.
ber that common, and enforced, inter-
be recognized to be reliable, sincere and The future
national safety standards are fundamental competent in the work we do for them. Our of global food
enablers for markets and trade which enable
ability to demonstrate these characteristics, security and the
us to function effectively, and food security
to be accomplished. There remains more to
is largely due to the choices we make as an imperative of the Mycotoxin testing made easy for silage,
industry. environmental
do in this area.” “Reliability - By reliability I refer to consist- sustainability of spices, nuts, coffee and more.
ently demonstrating that we deliver on our food produc- Don’t get bogged down with...
Six billion customers promises as an industry. This certainly means tion, depend
on our creativ-
For the private sector, sustainable and adhering to the ‘letter’ and the ‘spirit’ of regu- H
ity and invest- P
safe production means focusing on continu- lation, but also means that we are positioned
ment toward L
ous improvement – fuelled by competition, to provide consistent availability of safe and
C
innovation and corresponding reward. It affordable food improving the
effectiveness and
requires the effort, discipline and creativity “Food security cannot be accomplished if
efficiency in the
that are the hallmarks of successful economic the availability of food is limited only to that
technology of
enterprises – whether they are individual which will be produced within 100 miles,
food production.
producers, or large corporations. or 1000 miles. Using the best locations of
Accomplishing food security is an outcome climate and soil for food production is the And it depends Switch to...
on us promot-
of striving to serve more customers, more most reliable, and sustainable, approach to
ing best prac-
effectively. And in doing so, private sector pro- food security.
tice around the
ducers accomplish their own personal objec- “Sincerity - Sincerity is demonstrating
world – educat- Low
tives to assure a bright future for themselves. that we mean what we say. When this is Matri
ing, training and x
The private sector is often described, true, there is integrity between our actions ELIS
spreading exist- A
and considered, in terms of its imperative to and our words. The sincerity with which
ing and future
achieve financial returns. To focus solely on we represent our role, our policy posi-
technologies,
that aspect of enterprise, is like saying that tions and our objectives and intentions is
says Dr Cieslak.
the purpose of living is to eat.
Achieving financial returns is not the
the foundation of credibility. This doesn’t
“Sincerity, Get there faster with...
mean that we will always agree with every
purpose of a private enterprise, but without reliability, and
group participating in the dialogue, but
financial return to such activity, it is not pos- we will share our perspectives so that competence are Helica Biosystems’
sible to achieve our purpose, he says. the necessary
And what is that purpose, he asks?
they accurately represent our motivations.
attributes to low matrix, cost effective, easy to use,
This credibility is essential for our work in
build trust with
The leading authority on modern man- communicating with consumers, as well as
the stakehold-
one-step extraction ELISA Kits.
agement philosophy, Peter Drucker, said it policy-makers.
best: “the purpose of a business is to create “Competence - By competence, I ers in the global
and keep a customer.” food system. www.helica.com Phone - 714.578.7830
mean that we have demonstrated that we
“We have more than six billion custom- can do what we say we can do. Efficiently “With the info@helica.com Fax - 714.578.7831
ers to serve today, with half as many again converting raw materials into food that trust that we
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