Samantha Paschal

Rotarian John Frischie, right, hosted guest speaker Samantha Paschal, a Purdue University biochemistry Lilly scholar from Huntington, at the club's Monday noon luncheon meeting.  Paschal is one of 20 college students selected to serve as a National Collegiate Agriculture Ambassador by the Collegiate FFA for the 2012 - 2013 school year.  As an FFA Agriculture Ambassador Samantha makes presentations to elementary school classes through high school classes and community organizations such as the Kentland Rotary Club. The purpose of the presentations is to create an awareness of the importance of agriculture and its sustainability.  

Compared with other nations of the world, American families spend a smaller percentage of their income for food than families in almost every other nation.  In the United States a family will spend roughly 10% of its income on food while in Pakistan a family would spend 46%.  In spite of our abundance, there are still children here (one in five) that don't have an adequate diet.  

In order to meet the nutritional needs of the world's population in 2050, Paschal stated that the criteria of a 50 - 100 - 70 magic ratio need to be met.  In 2050 the world's population is expected to increase to 9 billion.  To feed everyone, those involved in agriculture production need to produce 100% more than today.  Since there won't be much if any more farmland available, scientists and researchers at our universities and also those in commercial food production will need to discover the technology necessary to produce    70% more on the same available farmland to feed the world.  

Paschal closed her presentation with this quote attributed to Albert Einstein,  "Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions." 

This coming summer Samantha will be participating in the National Farmers Union internship program in Washington, D. C. 

Brandt Stum 

Kentland Rotary Club