Have you ever noticed how people have an aversion to the idea that science is involved in food production?

Picture the conversation:

"Have you heard about this “Diazotroph?"

"Sounds like a disease."

"Actually it’s a bacteria."

"Worse again. I bet that needs some equally dangerous chemical to kill 99.9% of it."

"No. It is used to get grain plants to produce around 70% more yield."

"There should be a label on that bread. No way would I buy it. It has to be dangerous."

"No. It is perfectly safe, in fact good for the environment."

"Who told you that? Probably some big multinational corporation."

"Not at all, it was three teenage girls from Kinsale. They won the Young Scientist competition."

(silence)

I was honoured to present those same scientists, Sophie Healy-Thow, Emer Hickey and Ciara Judge, with the “Young Sustainability Champion Award” at a very pleasant Cork Environmental Forum ceremony. Their project involves using a bacteria that is found in the root nodules of legumes to halve the germination time of seeds.

Critical start

As any farmer or gardener will tell you, the start of a plant’s life is critical. Without that start, no amount of care, fertiliser or spray will make up the difference. Then factor in the soil and climatic conditions in the Horn of Africa, which was the driver for the project, and it is even more important.

The girls spoke about reducing food waste and ensuring a more even distribution of food for all. To me, I think that giving the ability to produce a more guaranteed crop from existing farmland has to aid distribution. It also of course reduces the need to grow crops on uncultivated lands.

It gives me great encouragement that young brains are interested in the science of agriculture. The idea that phones should be smart but food should be based in the stone age isn’t reality. The idea that all food science involves dangerous chemicals also isn’t reality.

Farmers love innovation, whether it involves a new tractor or a new production method. Given the long lead time in producing crops or animals it can take time to yield results on a field scale.

There is a growing population needing to be fed in the middle of the major climate change problems. We need scientists to continue to discover new ideas and develop existing practices.

Despite the current price worries this is an exciting time to be a farmer and/or a scientist.