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 2/28/2020

New Research Reveals Next-Gen Consumers and Farmers Share Concerns and Hopes for the Food System

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Corteva Agriscience Finds GenZ/Millennial Consumers and Farmers Want to Become a Strong Collective Voice and Major Driver in Reshaping the Next Generation of Agriculture

SAN ANTONIO — Corteva Agriscience today announced the results of a global study of Gen Z/millennial farmers and consumers. This first-of-its-kind research, commissioned by Corteva Agriscience, examined views on the future of food and farming by next-gen farmers and consumers in the United States, Brazil, China, France and Russia. Notably, the study reveals surveyed participants in different global markets are highly aligned in their concern about the future of food and farming.

The study, conducted by Kantar, one of the world’s leading data, insight and consultancy companies, also revealed that next-gen farmers and consumers want to have more influence over decisions about how food is grown, sold and consumed; and share a deep desire to be involved in securing the financial and environmental sustainability of farms. Key insights from the research are profiled in an accompanying white paper that includes data from each of the countries involved in the study.

“Two of the most important voices in the food system today are those of young farmers and consumers,” said James C. Collins, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of Corteva Agriscience. “They see that the future and ability to thrive are interconnected. Now is the time to empower both farmers and consumers to face the challenges of the future with mutual understanding, appreciation and a willingness to work together to ensure long-term security to both farming and food.”

Key Study Findings include:

Protecting the Future of Food

  • 89% of surveyed consumers and 73% of surveyed farmers are concerned the world will not have enough food for its nutritional needs by 2040.
  • 90% or more of next-gen farmers and consumers agree everyone needs to compromise to secure the future of food
  • More than 80% of young farmers and consumers are willing to take personal responsibility for helping address the challenges of food and farming.

 

Securing the Future of the Farm

  • 80% of surveyed consumers and 81% of surveyed farmers agree that it will be difficult for farmers to make a living in the future.
  • 90% agree that farmers will have to adopt innovative new technologies and methods to address the food and farming issues we face.

 

Ensuring the Voices of Consumers and Farmers are Heard

  • 93% of both next-gen consumers and farmers feel they need a bigger voice when it comes to securing the future of food and farming.
  • Next-gen consumers (94%) and farmers (80%) have opinions about what food should be produced and they also believe that big players in the food chain — including food wholesalers, food input suppliers and food manufacturing companies — have more influence than they do over how food is grown, sold and consumed.

 

Confronting Climate Volatility

  • 95% of farmers and 97% of consumers believe the climate is changing, and they also believe that it will have a negative impact on the global food supply in the next 20 years with the exception of young farmers and consumers in the U.S., where less than half feel this way.
  • Over 90% of both next-gen farmers and consumers want to live in a world where no one must choose between the environment and having enough to eat, and both groups want to join forces to find ways in which both farming and consumption can change to have a lower impact on climate.

 

“Farmers and consumers often are portrayed as two different parties at opposite ends of the global food system. The findings in this study reveal a different picture of young farmers and consumers wanting to meet in the middle and define ways to solve some of biggest issues in the future of farming and food,” said Dana Bolden, Senior Vice President of External Affairs and Sustainability for Corteva Agriscience. “Finding common ground is essential and we are committed to exploring ways where Corteva can help cultivate the kinds of conversations between the next generation of farmers and consumers that are needed to bring about timely solutions.” 

For the purposes of this study, next-generation farmers were defined as 16 to 38-year-old decision-makers on farms, and next-generation consumers were defined as 16 to 38-year-old non-farmers. The survey was conducted among a minimum of 100 farmers and 500 consumers per country for a total of more than 3,000 survey respondents.

Further information on this study and its findings can be found here.

About Corteva Agriscience
Corteva Agriscience is a publicly traded, global pure-play agriculture company that provides farmers around the world with the most complete portfolio in the industry - including a balanced and diverse mix of seed, crop protection and digital solutions focused on maximizing productivity to enhance yield and profitability. With some of the most recognized brands in agriculture and an industry-leading product and technology pipeline well positioned to drive growth, the company is committed to working with stakeholders throughout the food system as it fulfills its promise to enrich the lives of those who produce and those who consume, ensuring progress for generations to come. Corteva Agriscience became an independent public company on June 1, 2019 and was previously the Agriculture Division of DowDuPont. More information can be found at www.corteva.com.

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About Kantar

The study was conducted using the field and data analytic services of Kantar. Kantar is one of the world’s leading data, insight and consultancy companies. Working together across the whole spectrum of research and consulting disciplines, its specialist brands, employing 30,000 people, provide inspirational insights and business strategies for clients in 100 countries. Kantar is part of WPP and its services are employed by over half of the Fortune Top 500 companies.

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™ ® ℠ Trademarks of Dow AgroSciences, DuPont or Pioneer, and their affiliated companies or their respective owners.

Contacts
Kacey Birchmier
Corteva Agriscience
515-535-6149
kacey.birchmier@corteva.com

 

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