Coaltion for Ag Future
The Coalition for Agriculture’s Future has some very real concerns that are articulated strongly by their Executive Director, Roger Batt. “This Coalition was set up because over the last several years, in fact from 2002-2007, we’ve seen a 25% decrease in agricultural farmland in Canyon County alone. Since the 1970’s we’ve seen about 4 million acres go from farmland to development. That’s a huge problem when you talk about our food supply, the future of our population and promoting for Idaho, the agricultural heritage and traditions that have actually forged the values and character of its people and our foundation. The Coalition is not against growth, we’re for smart growth but we would encourage those who want to develop agricultural land to please take into consideration what you might be doing to not only our nation and state’s food supply, but also on a global scale. Not long ago I heard a presentation from a company that says by the year 2050, the world’s population is going to be 9 billion. That means that we are going to have to produce twice as much food as we have in the last 10,000 years. If we keep placing concrete and asphalt on productive agricultural lands, we’re diminishing the capability of returning food supply to our populations and keeping everybody healthy.”
