Dear Wildcats,
“There are more than 852 million people today who go to bed unsure of their next meal, half of them are children,” said James T. Morris, executive director of the United Nations World Food Program. “The World Health Organization describes hunger as the world’s No. 1 public health threat, killing more people than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.
“Few people know that 25,000 people, 18,000 of them children, die each day of hunger and related ailments. That’s one person dead because of hunger and malnutrition every four seconds 365 days a year. At that rate, the entire population of Wyoming would be wiped out in just three weeks.”
Do these statistics make you concerned? If so, join me in attending the College of Veterinary Medicine’s open discussion and presentation regarding global agriculture at 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Dr. Upson will discuss and present on the topic of “Efficient Use of Earth’s Resources: Providing Food for the World’s People.” The presentation will be held at Frick Auditorium at the College of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Upson is one of K-State’s most respected expert veterinarians. With more than 50 years of service at K-State, Dr. Upson’s presentation is much anticipated.
This past year there have been numerous discussions and forums related to agriculture and natural resources on campus. You might recall the heated debate of the healthiness of milk, printed in the Collegian last semester. Or rather, the presentation by Dr. Vandana Shiva, a world renowned expert on sustainability of agriculture. Both of these showcase that K-State students have opinions on the issue and that they are concerned about the future of agriculture and food production.
Dr. Upson’s presentation will allow for an open discussion on major issues facing our society today. With the task of feeding the world, there are challenges that are sure to arise. If you are interested in these issues or have questions you would like answered, I encourage you to attend the lecture.
This is a great opportunity to expand your horizons. The production of food is something that we, as American citizens, should all be concerned about. Feeding the world is an important, if not necessary, issue facing today’s American agriculture.
If you have any further questions about the lecture, please feel free to contact me at dhenry@ksu.edu. See you there.