Optimizing Agriculture For A Resilient And Productive Future

Agriculture sustainability. What is it? There are many agriculture production systems that focus on either organic production, soil conservation production, climate-smart production or regenerative agriculture production. Each system carries out an important function, but they exist in their own silo. However, we like them all as they function in the broader term of Agriculture Sustainability or agriculture that sustains itself. Agriculture sustainability focuses on the agricultural practices that are good for the planet, good for people, and good for the economic profit of those involved in agriculture.

As we explore different paths toward sustainable agriculture solutions, finding the right program that fits the areas of influence is essential for establishing a successful strategy. As a global food processor of perishable commodity-potatoes, we see the effects of production strategies and how those strategies impact the use of the scarce resources of land, water and greenhouse gas emissions that are emitted into the atmosphere. From our viewpoint as a global food processor, we see the total amount of acres it takes to meet our global food product demand. We understand how the use of science, agronomy, new technology, and innovation acts as a foundation to influence the integration of agriculture practices that improve soil health (such as livestock integration), water use efficiencies, the ecological landscape of agriculture, and, ultimately, the livelihood of farmers. These integrations move toward “Optimal Marketable Production,” which increases crop efficiency and yield and allows us to do more with less while decreasing aggregate greenhouse emissions.

“Optimal Marketable Production” occurs when yield and quality are optimized per acre. Suppose yield and quality are reduced because you didn’t manage Crop Protection Products efficiently; then it's not optimized. If yield and quality are reduced because you did not use the correct BMPs for production, then it’s not optimized. If yield and quality are reduced because you cannot manage Mother Nature’s climate change, then it is not optimized. It’s not easy, but experience and the execution of your strategy build resiliency. The fewer acres it takes to meet demand, the fewer pesticides you use, the fewer crop nutrients you use, the less land and water you use, and the fewer greenhouse gas emissions that are sent up to the atmosphere. For us as a global food processor, it’s all about “Optimizing Marketable Production.”

For nearly 100 years, the J.R. Simplot Company has helped feed people around the world one generation at a time. That’s the legacy J.R. Simplot created, and that’s the promise we fulfill every day. We believe being good stewards of the land is more than the core of our business—it’s simply the right thing to do.