Breaking Through: The Psychology of (Ag) Biotech

We all know it. The world needs twice as much food by 2050.

We all know it. But commodity prices are low. And that decreases available resources for innovation in food production, pointed out one attendee at Tuesday's Ag Biotech Workshop.

Not so, responded one of the panelists. It's actually psychology.

For when food production is slightly ahead of demand, we think that there is plenty of food. Nothing to worry about.

But when production is behind demand - even just a little bit - we perceive a shortage of dire proportions. Our brains are wired that way. Our language, our actions, even our demand for innovation intensifies. 

It takes some great foresight, persistence and savvy to navigate through plenty and prepare for the future. Fortunately, we have those leaders right here in North Carolina.

Editor's Note: This is one of a series of blog posts from the CED Life Science Conference, March 1 and 2, 2016, in Raleigh N.C. Follow the conversation on Twitter at #BreakingThrough.

Look for our other postings on our blog.