COLLEGE STATION – With 9 billion people expected on Earth within
40 years and the resulting pressure on food supplies and natural
resources, agricultural researchers and educators will play a
vital role in finding solutions, according to a top U.S.
Department of Agriculture official. “Food and agriculture are
universal – everyone has a stake,” said Dr. Catherine Woteki,
USDA chief scientist and undersecretary for research, education
and economics. “We’re going to need to work together.” Woteki
was the keynote speaker at the Texas A&M University College of
Agriculture and Life Sciences Centennial Lecture Series today.
She addressed faculty, researchers, Texas AgriLife Extension
Service officials and industry representatives at the AgriLife
Center in College Station. Because the college is celebrating
100 years and the USDA is 150 years old, Woteki said, there are
numerous individual scientists to remember for their
contributions which led to “enormous changes in the world.” She
said Dr. Ruth Benerito devised “