Agriculture is the future

Martin Richenhagen started his talk by outlining the main facts: “The world’s population will rise from its current level of around seven billion people to an estimated nine billion by 2050. No schedule, no budget is ever adhered to as precisely as population growth. And one billion people in the world are already suffering from hunger.” However, he was convinced that these problems could be solved: “A growing world population and changes in eating habits demand a significant increase in food production. This essential increase in productivity can only be achieved using the latest techniques and technologies.” He was optimistic that no other sector has increased its productivity as massively as agriculture.

AGCO has for several years operated a factory in Algeria which produces agricultural machinery that is adapted to African requirements. And since 2015 it has also had a model farm in Zambia, known as the AGCO Future Farm, where it teaches a full range of agricultural know-how to local people, with the aim of improving the food situation in Africa.

One of the farmers present, for example, was concerned about the annual demonstrations during the International Green Week in Berlin, which in particular pillories conventional agriculture. Richenhagen explained his view of things as follows: “We have to take these people seriously and explain what we do more clearly. We must ensure that these discussions are more objective and re-establish normal access to modern agriculture.” Other topics such as the World Agriculture Report, reducing ground pressure and the current political situation in Germany made for a fascinating discussion right to the end.