A lobby group, to promote the premise that agriculture can sustainably meet the growing global demand for food and renewable forms of energy, has been launched by a group of leading agricultural industry players. The Alliance for Abundant Food & Energy was launched last week (24th July) and its founding members include Archer Daniels Midland Company, DuPont, John Deere, Monsanto and the Renewable Fuels Association.

"The Alliance for Abundant Food & Energy will underscore the role that agriculture can play in supporting our food and energy needs," said Mark Kornblau, executive director of the AAFE. "With growing global demand for grain, it's critically important that policy leaders start to grow our way to a slolution. Innovation is part of the American DNA - through greater support for agricultural innovation, we can produce enough crops to supply both our food and energy needs worldwide."

The Alliance argues that recently the debate has wrongly been framed as an either/or decision, which ignores both the capabilities of agriculture and the ability to devlop new technologies.

"Now more than ever before, agriculture is at the intersection of some of the toughest challenges we face on the planet including both our food and energy needs," said Dr. Robert T. Fraley, chief technology officer of Monsanto. "With the world's population expected to reach nine million people by 2050, the agriculture industry must act together to meet the needs for increased food, fibre and energy and while preserving our environment's resources such as water."