2017 ASHS Annual Conference

Hawaii’s climate, availability of agricultural lands, and long history of coexistence of all types of farming practices offer a favorable growing environment for seed production in the US. Several agriculture companies have produced seeds on the islands for several decades and seed production is a major agricultural sector for the state. In recent years, a select groups of critics opposed to modern agriculture and the use of innovative technologies in farming have aggressively waged campaigns against agriculture innovation, specifically targeting agriculture companies. Listening and engaging in constructive dialogue are important to us. Monsanto and other companies have embarked on efforts to educate stakeholders and the general public on the challenges farmers face and the solutions that the agriculture industry and seed companies provide. As part of these efforts, we have opened up Monsanto farms to tours and open houses, conducted outreach into the community to engage in discussions and take questions as well as shared information on social media about our shared vision for sustainable agriculture and our farming practices. These efforts have been helpful in trying to bridge the knowledge gap between those of us involved in agriculture and the consumers of the food that is produced. In growing our food, farmers face some tough challenges as the world’s population continues to grow.