7 Billion and Counting: Dividend or Disaster?

25 January 2012, Davos, Switzerland

On the opening day of the 2012 World Economic Forum (WEF), Mike Mack, Syngenta CEO, joined the session ‘7 Billion and Counting: Dividend or Disaster?’ He argued the need to help smallholders make a better living and counter stagnant agricultural productivity around the world. The session brought together a cross-section of leaders and politicians to answer the critical question: ‘What are the social, environmental and economic implications of the world's population growth?’

“I believe the fate of smallholders could effectively determine the world’s long-term food security,” said Mike Mack in Davos, Switzerland. “The world’s 450 million small farmers typically support five family members, meaning that one-third of the world’s population directly depends on them.”

“We know that success will hinge on whether these farms can become sustainable enterprises,” continued Mack. “And the key here is enterprise, the sustainability of the farm as a firm. When these firms can earn enough to sustain not only their farms, but also enough to invest in the education of their children, they will then be able to contribute to the general prosperity of their nations.”

The session also focused on addressing the role of science and technology in increasing resource efficiency and responding to the demands of growing populations in sustainable ways.

“Such efforts require the cooperation of many players, including governments, NGOs, and academia,” said Mack. “But business can bring something to the table too – we have knowledge in critical areas such as finance, risk and supply chain management, and the adaptation of technologies to local markets. Those of us in agriculture work with a broad range of stakeholders to apply some of this business expertise, in as direct and targeted a way as possible, to smallholder farming. We certainly don’t have all of the answers. But, through a number of projects around the world, we’ve been learning a lot along the way.”

Mike Mack spoke alongside guests including Karl Hofmann, President and CEO of Populations Services International, Babatunder Osotimehin, Executive Director, United Nations Population Fund and N. K. Singh, Member of Parliament, India.

Read more about the 2012 World Economic Forum here.

Read more about Syngenta’s participation at the 2011 World Economic Forum here.

Read more about Syngenta’s contribution to smallholder farmers here.