Kornegay Speaks at National Press Club

American farming should evolve to become more sustainable, the head of NC State’s horticulture department told reporters during a briefing Wednesday at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

“Although farming productivity has increased, nowadays farmers are being asked to do more than produce more food for a growing world population,” said Dr. Julia Kornegay, who chaired a National Academies and National Research Council committee that wrote a report, Toward Sustainable Agriculture in the 21st Century.

“Many modern agricultural practices have unintended negative consequences, such as decreased water and air quality, and farmers have to consider these consequences while trying to increase production. If farmers are going to meet future demands, the U.S. agriculture system has to evolve to become sustainable and think broadly — past the bottom line of producing the most possible.”

More information about Kornegay’s presentation and copies of the report are available on the National Academies Web site.