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Fortune to Hugh Grant: How Do We Solve the Food Dilemma?

April 15, 2010

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Hugh Grant speaks on the current food dilemma at Fortune's Brainstorm: GREEN.

By J. Vivrett, PMCM Staff

On Monday, April 12, Hugh Grant was a featured speaker in the “The Food Dilemma” segment of Fortune’s Brainstorm: GREEN conference. During an interview with Brian O’Keefe, senior editor of Fortune magazine, Grant explained the various issues associated with feeding a growing global population and how Monsanto Company stays dedicated to addressing these issues, even in the face of controversy.

What is “the food dilemma”? According to O’Keefe, it’s the fact the number of people on the planet will double by 2050 – and the agriculture industry must find ways to meet the food needs of this population. Complicating matters is the fact this growth in population will happen in the face of climate change and increasingly scarce land, water, energy and other resources.

With this backdrop, O’Keefe asked Grant about criticisms levied toward Monsanto about the company becoming too big, controlling too much of the market and implementing policies that are detrimental to the environment.

“There’s no contradiction between doing well in business and doing well for the environment,” Grant said. Monsanto’s growth, Grant noted, is directly tied to an enhanced focus on increasing the productivity needed to grow more food for more people in a sustainable way. He continued by saying more and more businesses in the agriculture sector are having to focus in a similar manner, which makes the entire market landscape increasingly competitive.

A key to Monsanto’s growth has been its commitment to successful biotechnology advancements, and O’Keefe notes this commitment is another source of criticism levied at Monsanto. He asked Grant if biotechnology is really delivering on its promise and if it can realistically solve some of the pressing food problems in developing countries – particularly those in Africa.

“It took 10 years for the first billion [biotech] acres to be planted,” Grant said. “The next two billion acres were planted over the next three years. People know there is a yield benefit.”

With these benefits in mind, Grant explained how Monsanto is dedicated to helping improve the availability of food in Sub-Saharan Africa by making drought technologies available in the region.

But Monsanto knows it can’t solve all of the problems of food production on its own. Grant said solving the food issues facing a growing population requires partnerships to be built between companies, non-governmental organizations, government bodies and other relevant third parties.

After discussion around Monsanto’s goal of helping farmers double yields while reducing inputs, and about what Monsanto is focused on research-wise, Grant closed by answering a question about how he keeps his company focused in the face of controversy.

“Controversy is the part of the price of success,” he said. He continued by saying what keeps his people going is the fact they are part of something that is exciting and is making a difference in the world.

“Agriculture is at the center of a lot of conversations,” Grant said. “Whether people are talking about food, the environment, health, and so on, agriculture is key to that conversation. Inherent in that conversation is the knowledge that if agriculture is going to work, it will only happen by all the involved parties working to create partnerships that make a difference.”

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