As the number of people afflicted with food insecurity reaches new highs according to a Food Security Information Network report, there appears to be a growing place for technology to help mitigate the crisis. Jonathan Webb, CEO of indoor farming company AppHarvest, joined Cheddar News to talk about tackling the issue through tech. “We should be using technology globally around the world and developing resilient food systems in every region," he said. "What we're doing here at AppHarvest is using technology, growing food with 90 percent less water, no agricultural runoff, getting 30 times yield per acre, and doing it year-round where we're not exposed to the climate issues that you see continuing to make it harder for farmers to grow outdoors."

Opening Bell

AppHarvest CEO Urges Tech Use to Grapple With Growing Global Food Insecurity

joining me now to discuss is Jonathon webb ceo of apple harvest Jonathan, thank you so much for joining us. Let's go to the beginning, what are the key drivers behind this rising acute food insecurity issue that we're seeing right now? Well we we have a food system that that is decades overdue for innovation and you know, there are technologies that are available today that that you know, would allow us to grow food with a lot less resources uh and do it and in a climate controlled setting and not not be vulnerable to climate disruption. So um you know, the the challenges in front of us are steep, but the good thing is there's technologies that are available today and you know, with with the free market's leading and with the right policy in place, we can see a massive shift in where agriculture is today and where it can be in the next decade. Yeah, the data that we're pointing to is from 2021 and given that we can see this issue and this being a growing issue in 2021, but the reality that there are other issues that have developed since then, obviously I think of Russia and Ukraine in that situation, what it is doing to the supply side of things like even grain. what is the level of concern there and what do you think we're going to see happen moving forward? Well, I I mean we've seen it since the start of covid, right? It's it's uh you know, a lot of disruption on global imports and exports around food. Um and unfortunately, what we, you know, the tragedy we see unfolding in europe right now, um, is just another problem on top of all that. But, You know, every region around the world should be able to, you know, we were in 2022, you know, technology is available, we should be using technology globally around the world and developing resilient food systems in every region. There there's no reason, you know, the US is importing half or more of our fruits and vegetables. You know, we don't need to be shipping food 234, 5000 miles around the world. Again, what we're doing here at at harvest using technology, growing food with 90% less water, no agricultural runoff getting 30 times yield per acre and doing it year round where we're not exposed to the climate issues that you see continuing to To make it harder for farmers to grow outdoors. So, you know, this is really just uh, you know, it's gonna take sheer will uh from from the the markets as well as government, you know, to lead on, you know, what do we want our food system to look like in 2030, uh and beyond. And and unfortunately, what we're seeing today is A lot of vulnerabilities in that food system today. That's leaving frankly. And you you started the segment leaving a lot of people behind and it's unacceptable. You know, why, why are we having food and security issues in 2022? That that truly is the big question the answer in terms of how we fix that. They're I know there's multiple fronts here. We touched on a few of them but let's dig into them more from the government and even non governmental front these bodies like the U. N. For example, how do they begin to address food crises? Well again, I'm a believer in tech technology and and certainly bet on american innovation. But you know there there's new innovative business models and technology that this world is simply not using. You know, whether again look at what we're doing far less land, far less water, climate resilient structures but but the from robotics all the way to data collection and a I you know, we we have to figure out how to grow food far more efficiently and use technology. You know we can't use the photo you're showing we can't be just sending you know people out into farms and farming like we were in the 1800s and 1900s. It's unacceptable. I mean we've got to use Technology to better utilize our precious resources around the world. It's only gonna get worse. You know, the U.N. is predicted we need 50-70% more food by 2050. Some have said we would need two planet earths to have enough land and water to grow that food. I mean we already used 70% of of freshwater globally is used for for agriculture. So we, we don't have a lot more, we can expand on this planet when you look at how big of a footprint agriculture already takes already takes up. So the only way to get there is technology. The, the answer is technology, let's break that down a little bit more because I'm really curious about that. And I think the average person is really curious about that, What is the reality of that tech in terms of what it can do and the reality of that tech tech being broadly adopted not only in developed nations, like obviously here in the US, but even those nations who are underdeveloped right now and really probably need the help the most. Well, you, you either invest on the front end and you see those benefits over 20 or 30 years or you're paying for it every year and you're paying exponentially more in the long run. But you know, what we're doing at app harvest is just one example. Uh, and, and to be clear, there are a lot of examples on how we can move agriculture forward, but you know, controlled environment agriculture, it's really the third wave of sustainable infrastructure and it's going from analog agriculture to digital agriculture, but, but you look at, you look at other sectors and I'm sitting in Kentucky right now, Eastern Kentucky where predominantly operated the coalfields that powered the country. You know, we've gone from fossil fuel to renewable energy. You know we've gone from combustible engines with cars to electric vehicles but we haven't radically changed our our food and agriculture system. And and we believe it's really the third wave of sustainable infrastructure the same way you saw renewable energy 20 years ago you saw E. V. S. Take off 10 years ago you're seeing ce a controlled environment. Agriculture really hit the global stage right now. And and you know these problems that continue to hit us in the face as related to food insecurity and and agriculture issues globally. Again we we can solve them but it's going to take leadership in this country which I would say the US is is far behind where we can be uh and the U. S. Needs to step up and be a global leader in agriculture far beyond where we are right now. Yes we have incredible farmers all across this country uh and and they put their life into the work of of making sure people in the U. S. And around the world have food. But let's give those farmers the latest technologies that are available and let's give them the latest innovative business models and I will bet on american innovation all day that that we can help solve these problems not only at home But abroad but but we need real leadership at a lot of different levels and unfortunately in the us we're you know we're arguably not a leader right now on on on agriculture technology. You know I only have like 30 seconds here. But I'm really curious if this kind of technology gets the adequate investment. I mean what are the projections in terms of how quickly this can help aid this problem and how significant that that help could be? Well it's again if there is frustration. We had the U. N. Security Council down in Kentucky a couple of years ago and talk to them. I mean everyone is so short term minded when it comes to food and agriculture and you cannot solve these problems on a two year election cycle or even a four year election cycle. You know, we need 10 and 20 year plans as to how we're gonna rebuild our food and agriculture system globally. It's gonna be hard work. It won't happen overnight but we can do exponentially better than where we're at today. And we're simply not we're not using the technologies that are available. So we look forward to being helpful in that both here nationally and abroad. But it's gonna take a lot of work over a decade or two. It's not going to be a year to your point there. This is a longer term investment for the betterment of all of us really on a global level. And at harvest obviously, you know part of that role really appreciate your time and your insight, Jonathon, Jonathon webb ceo of Apple harvest