Lessons learned from pandemic

ST. LOUIS — Agriculture and related technologies have played an important role in helping weather the storm of COVID, including the science behind developing vaccines.

Robb Fraley, former executive vice president and chief technology officer at Monsanto and widely recognized as a key contributor to the worldwide science and agriculture communities, most notably for developing the first genetically modified crops, weighed in on the pandemic in a recent Danforth Plant Science Center-hosted webinar.

Looking back over the pandemic, Fraley addressed what was learned and what can be taken in a positive way going forward in food production and agriculture technology.

Moonshot

Fraley turned quickly to science and the development of vaccines.

“It’s really a remarkable story when you think about the fact that just a few months after the isolation of the coronavirus the genome was sequenced and new methods were being used for both clinical treatments and developing vaccines. The underlying science story has been remarkable,” he said.

“I think in the future sometime we’ll look back on this and say this has been really the equivalent of putting a man on the moon because of the incredible scientific advances. We recently heard about some of the remarkable advances in vaccine development and efficiency, production and distribution which underline that incredible science.

“The same science that’s being used to create the vaccines and the new treatments is the very same science that we’re using to create new crops and new ways of producing better, safe and more nutritious food.”

In looking at the lessons learned from the crisis, science communication is always important and there have been examples of both good communication and the need for improvement in the future from a miscommunication standpoint.

“The other thing that stands out, which has always been important to the advancement of science in this country, is the importance of public/private collaborations. The connectivity between the Centers for Disease Control, the drug companies, those involved in manufacture and distribution is really going to be key to the success,” Fraley said.

“I see a real opportunity now to get behind the communication of the science. We’ve had a checkered history of vaccines acceptance across the country. Within a few months we’re going to be faced with the opportunity of distributing millions of doses of the vaccines and it’s important that we have a communication directly to the consumer that addresses the science, the safety, the benefits and the importance and need for these vaccines.”

Food Chain

The strengths and weaknesses of the agricultural food chain were both exposed during the COVID pandemic.

“A few months ago there were clearly impacts on farm labor on labor in manufacturing and processing facilities that was directly related to the disease. That really revealed pressure points and weaknesses that we can improve,” Fraley said.

“For me, the highlight of that were really two things. It showed where we can make improvements in our distribution systems, where we can add automation both in farming practices and in processing facilities and plants. It really points out the need for rural broadband so we can connect everybody and have the tools that we need to stay in communication.

“And in many ways it emphasizes the importance of having a very strong domestic agricultural production and food system. Because while there may be some shortages that people experienced, and people certainly saw shortages in paper towels and toilet paper and sanitary material, but for the most part we did not have a food crisis.”

That reflects the strength and resiliency and the importance of domestic production.

“During this period we also provided food, grain and food materials to many countries around the world. So, my hope is that as we work our way through this crisis, it’s an opportunity to celebrate the science advances,” Fraley said.

Local Production

Fraley believes another aspect that will come out of the pandemic is recognizing increasingly the importance of a vibrant domestic production system that protects the public from what could be the next attack on the food production system.

“Whether it’s based on human or crop or animal diseases, we will face those challenges in the future and the best insurance is to have multiple approaches to production,” he said.

“Local production is going to be increasing. Vertical production is becoming a very important part of vegetable production. Breeding vegetable lines to meet those different greenhouse, field, vertical production needs is really exciting. I see lots of variability being generated and importantly meeting increasing consumer interest and demand.

“We need to be able to celebrate that science and the fact that we have a system that works and has addressed one of the great healthcare challenges. There’s an opportunity to emerge from this as a stronger more unified voice on the importance of science, the importance of agriculture and food production.”