Germination and Determination: Dr. Cary Fowler at Seeds of Change
Inside the coldest part of a mountain in a remote Arctic landscape sits a structure serving as a symbol of our shared humanity. The reason it exists is because of Dr. Cary Fowler, the renowned conservationist and “father” of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, who visited the Danforth Center on August 27 to speak at an event appropriately titled “Seeds of Change.” To a packed house (the largest Seeds of Change audience in Danforth Center history), Dr. Fowler discussed his work to safeguard global agriculture, the challenges facing our planet, and how, through plant science, we can help solve them.
In his presentation, Dr. Cary Fowler spoke about how the United States should invest more in agricultural research, both for the good it does for the world, and for the return on investment that it brings. “Even agricultural research that the US government has done that’s aimed toward helping people abroad has a 10-to-1 benefit for US farmers.”
Wake-Up Call
He began with the bad news. The startling reality, Dr. Fowler explained after an introduction by Danforth Leadership Council member Dr. Natalie DiNicola, is that 750 million people are currently food insecure, and there is a confluence of problems on this planet, unlike any we have ever seen, that threaten food production. A few examples: rising temperatures, conflict, and a turn away from agricultural research in the United States. But as he went on to explain, solutions are possible, and the Danforth Center is working to create them.
“I am actually more optimistic now than I used to be because I think we actually know what to do in the global food security realm.” Dr. Fowler said during his talk with Sarah Fenske, executive editor of St. Louis Magazine. “We have technologies that I couldn’t dream of 20 or 30 years ago. And we’re doing things I couldn’t imagine.”
Fundamental Work
In the second half of his presentation, Dr. Fowler discussed some of the projects he’s brought to life in his career to address these big challenges—the most notable being the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. This facility, which houses more than 1 million seed samples from around the world to preserve crop diversity, is an example of what Dr. Fowler would call an agricultural “moonshot.” Ideas like these, along with being persistent and minding the fundamentals (like good leadership) are how he believes solutions can be created for some of our looming challenges. And speaking with Sarah Fenske after his presentation, Dr. Fowler noted that Danforth Center scientists were tackling moonshot ideas and that, through their research on cassava, teff, and cowpea, were working on crops that will have “real impact for food security."
“I’m so impressed by the people [at the Danforth Center] and by the quality of the research… I can’t recall another institute like this in the world that really, from top to bottom, is asking such important questions.”
Dr. Cary Fowler
Bang for Your Buck
As Dr. Fowler said, the Danforth Center’s work is “making a huge difference in the world” and is conducting agricultural research where the “bang for the buck” is. If you would like to help ensure this work continues and help create more of the moonshot solutions that our planet needs, please consider supporting the Center with a donation today. Early gifts are currently being accepted for our Grow Challenge fundraiser, and as a bonus, all gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $1,000 while funds last. Make your gift here.
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Event recording by HEC:
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