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American farmer can adapt quicker to changing lifestyles

A European equipment manufacturer and farmer says the shift to more plant-based diets should be embraced by farmers in the Corn Belt.

“The corn and bean farmer at the end of the day is the real winner in this change of the world of diets.”        

Michael Horsch manages Horsch Machine, which makes agricultural tillage and seeding equipment. 

“We have about 2.5 million acres of cropland in this world, 60 percent of this we only use to grow crops to feed animals.  We have to accept that this is probably not going to continue at that ratio.”    

He tells Brownfield the trend of feeding the world with cheap food isn’t making as much sense as it used to. “I would say about five billion people in this world have no intention to gain weight, but we still continue to produce more and more and cheaper and cheaper and then we cry and moan because we can’t make money on it.”   

Horsch says the Corn Belt has an ideal climate, soils and weather which allows farmers to adapt quicker to changing diets and lifestyles which he believes will include more pulses.

Horsch spoke with Brownfield at the recent Great Lakes Crop Summit in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan.

AUDIO: Brownfield interview with Michael Horsch