As today’s society is further removed from the farm gate, so is the understanding and respect of how food is raised to feed the world’s population. With only 2 percent of the U.S. labor force directly involved in production agriculture, this creates a haven for misperceptions among consumers about production practices, health and safety of food, and the sustainability and stewardship of our natural resources.

Farms today, especially large operations, are often portrayed as cold, dark and industrialized; in fact, 97 percent of farms today are family-owned. I have learned through my work experiences in the pork industry that even though large, corporate farms own the majority of pigs, the folks raising the pigs are families.

While the large companies supply the animals, feed and veterinary inputs, and business and scientific intelligence, the family farms provide the houses and daily care. The large farms (often called “factory farms”) are highly regulated through oversight from government agencies through waste management practices, ensuring a safe and sustainable environment.

Despite the growth of modern farms, farmers have not compromised the integrity of how their animals and land are cared for. This enables each operation – small and large – to operate efficiently and profitability, allowing for decreased risk, sharing of tangible and intangible assets, and securing the highest-quality animal care and stewardship of the land, which results in higher productivity and cheaper food for all consumers. Compared with modern production practices, free-range, organic or cage-free animals are not necessarily healthier than housed animals or better for the environment.

If pigs were allowed to roam, how would farmers be able to treat and control the spread of disease? How would they protect their valuable animals from the attacks of predators, effects of Mother Nature, and the competition instincts within species? How would they, or government agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, regulate all of those pigs from excreting feces and urine into the nation’s streams, rivers and lakes? Where would all of the land come from to support this system? Is that really sustainable?

The biggest concern of agriculture today is feeding the growing world population. One-sixth of the world’s people don’t get enough to eat each day. With that statistic, current world population at 7 billion is expected to grow to 9 billion by 2050.

According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, agriculture must double production by then and, of that increase in food production, 70 percent must come from advancing technology. For instance, production of a gallon of milk today uses 65 percent less water and 90 percent less land, and creates 76 percent less manure than it did in 1944.

Its carbon footprint is 63 percent less than what it was then. Similar statistics exist across all forms of modern agriculture. This is a result of the research and application of key technological advancements.

Modern agriculture, through advancements in animal care and husbandry, nutritionally-sound diets, housing, environment management, and scientifically supported biotechnology, has made it possible for today’s farmers to be more efficient and profitable while providing safe, affordable and abundant food to U.S. and world consumers.

If you choose to eat organic, free-range or any alternative form of food, I fully support your decision; that is the beauty of a free-market, free-choice system. On the other hand, choosing not to support modern agriculture and the importance of technology in securing food prosperity, safety, and health is a direct risk to humanity.

This does not have to be a choose-one-side debate; establishing cohesion, transparency and working relationships with farmers, processors, food-service providers, consumers and all stakeholders in the food-supply system will allow agriculture to meet the global challenges that are knocking on our door while maintaining safe, healthy and affordable food. 

Paraphrasing Jeff Simmons, president of Elanco Animal Health, every minute we delay is another minute 12 more children die from hunger.

Harmeyer is a senior at Purdue University, majoring in Animal Agribusiness. He is chairman of a student-led steering committee that founded Purdue Ag Week.