Kevin Roberts: “today I wish to recognize the marking of an historic event. 150 years ago--on May 15, 1862--President Abraham Lincoln…”

“today I wish to recognize the marking of an historic event. 150 years ago--on May 15, 1862--President Abraham Lincoln signed into law an Act establishing what our Department of Agriculture is today. Agriculture has come a long way in 150 years. Through science, innovation, ingenuity and plain old hard work, America's farmers have gone from producing enough food for their individual families to producing enough to meet the needs of 150 people per farmer--that's what I call the miracle of modern agriculture. Some may have a romanticized view of agriculture production 150 years ago and pine for a return to the days of the past. But let me assure you, those were hard days. And if today's farmers and ranchers only produced the same yield and quality of food as the farmers and ranchers of yesteryear, we'd be in a world of hurt. Today's farmers and ranchers produce the safest, most abundant and affordable food and fiber supply in the world--all while facing increased input costs and tightening regulations. As if these challenges weren't enough, our producers face a challenge of worldwide significance. As the global population tops 9 billion in the next several decades, agriculture production must more than double to meet the expected demand for food and nutrition. In addition to the sheer population expansion, global food demand will shift toward higher value proteins and commodities as economies develop and prosper.…”