November 28, 2025 • 30 mins
Farmers and scientists are working together with goals to grow more with fewer resources, protect crops from growing threats, and build resilience against climate volatility. Since February of 2020, overall grocery prices have risen 29%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We're welcoming Jessica Christiansen, Head of Bayer’s Crop Science Communications, to the podcast. She is going to discuss how modern science and technology are helping to ensure holiday meals and everyday meals stay within reach for American Households.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome to Virginia Focus. I'm Rebecca Hughes of the Virginia
News Network. Farmers and scientists are working together with goals
to grow more with fewer resources, protect crops from growing threats,
and build resilience against climate volatility. Since February of twenty twenty,
overall grocery prices have risen twenty nine percent according to
(00:26):
the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We're welcoming Jessica Christiansen, head
of Bear's Crop Science Communications, to this podcast. She's going
to discuss how modern science and technology are helping to
ensure holiday meals and everyday meals stay within reach for
American households. Welcome to the show, miss Christensen. I'm glad
to have you on and to learn more about this.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Thanks for having me. It's great to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
So you work for the Bear Agriculture Group. Now, I'll
admit I was a little shocked to hear that Bear,
who obviously is a medication right, I mean that's what
we know them as is is interested in agriculture. Can
you tell me more about the division in general? To start?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Absolutely, so, Bear has three divisions. We have a pharmaceuticals division,
we have a consumer health so that's where a lot
of people know us bear aspirin and some of our
over the counter nutrients and supplements.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
And then I work in the Crop Science division.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
So really what the Crop Science division does is we're
global business and we innovate technologies for farmers, so that
could be seed technologies, crop protection products. We have digital
platforms to help with farming, and it's all centered around
our farmers around the world and how do we help
them produce more food on every single acre of land.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Okay, Now this wasn't completely shocking because I've done other
interviews with groups like Seed Your Future and other agricultural groups,
and they talk about how agriculture is not just the planting,
you know, and like in your situation, you've got a
lot of scientists and other people that are working still
in the ag field, but not doing the hard labor
(02:09):
in the field every day. Why don't you talk to
us about some of the things going on in your
department and some of those divisions.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
There is a lot behind the farmer, to your point,
in farming itself is pretty challenging. There's a lot of
unpredictability with it, whether it's climate and weather to diseases
and bugs and weeds.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
That can rob farmers of yields.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
So companies like Bear crop science, science and innovation is at.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Our heart, it's our core of what we do.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
So we have thousands of scientists that work for us
that across lots of different disciplines, and really those folks
are pushing the boundaries kind of going through and trying
to get these breakthrough technologies to address current challenges farmers have.
But even once they maybe don't know about yet. So
I'll give you a real like example in three different buckets.
(03:02):
One is the seeds that farmers plant. So our company
we sell corn, soybean, cotton, canola, wheat seeds, some of
the basic row crops, and cereals. But we also have
a vegetable seed division, so we have a wide portfolio
of seeds. There's a ton of science that goes into
those seeds. So for examples and vegetables, we have tomatoes
(03:24):
that are more tolerant to drought conditions. For say California,
where tomatoes are produced, we have natural disease or pest
resistance that is bred into the seeds. We have a
corn product which is a shorter hybrid, so corn is
normally like twelve feet or taller. This corn plant grows
(03:48):
to maybe six seven feet and you might think, what's
the big deal, But that allows the corn plant to
not fall over during big windstorms or weather events. It
has a different root system that may be able to
use nutrients differently and go deeper in the soil profile,
and it allows the farmer to access the field all
year long, so they can use normal equipment to be
(04:10):
really prescriptive with crop protection products, for example, like herbicides
that they need to spray, so instead of aerial applying,
they can spot apply and be more prescriptive.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
So those are a.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Couple examples in the seed bucket crop protection I mentioned.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
So what is crop protection?
Speaker 3 (04:26):
These are the herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that farmers have
to have. There's an estimate out there if they don't
have these products they could lose up to eighty percent
or more of their yields. That would translate in the
American families US paying you know, up to ten billion
dollars more a year in food cost. So there is
(04:48):
a direct connect into the technologies farmers need to how
much we pay at the the end of the day,
at the store, but crop protection products, we're innovating those
really creatively using digital tools AI for example, So we
have an AI modeling system that helps us discover and
design brand new crop protection products with safety profiles in mind,
(05:11):
very targeted to a specific pest for example. And then
digital AI I just talked about, but we also offer
digital solutions for farmers.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
So they have.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Pretty sophisticated equipment now, whether it's in their tractors or
their sprayers or planters. And then we have a software service,
a Climate Field View that allows those farmers to take
all the data from their exact field and so they
could make better decisions real time so they can get
most out of every acre. So a lot of sides
(05:42):
and technology behind the farmer is indeed the case.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Oh yes, most definitely. I think I've seen I don't
know if it was yours or somebody else's, but I
think I've seen on YouTube a farmer was demonstrating their
crop software that you were just talking about, and how
you know if they have a low level area and
it's kind of stays wet compared to the other area
of the field, and then some areas maybe you're a
(06:07):
little more fertile and somehow I don't know, but the
computer is able to kind of map all of that
out and kind of give them an idea of that yield.
Is that what you're talking about for your software as well?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yes, spot on.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
So it helps the farmer say, hey, to your example,
that's a great example. Certain parts of the field might
not be as productive, so you might have a different
planting recommendation, or maybe it's you decide as a farmer
not to plant it because you're not going to get
a return on that investment. Right. So the way that
these models work is pretty incredible. It can tell you
(06:42):
which type of porn hybrid to plant. So there's lots
of different choices out there.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
For farmers, which is good but can be overwhelming.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
So based on that field, it'll say, hey, we recommend
you planting this hybrid at this density. It can help
farmers with a little bit of wind dispray what's right
and keep track of that. It's it's a big, a
big advancement and how farming is done today versus even
(07:10):
twenty years ago.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Okay, I love that. So how long has Bear been
in this business? Because obviously, like I said, I haven't
heard of it until I saw the pitch for this interview.
It doesn't surprise me. But when did did Bear get
interested in agriculture and how long has this been going on?
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Oh gosh, So Bear as a company is over one
hundred years old, and it's of course evolved over the
over time and in different areas and spaces, but we've
been in the agricultural sector for a good chunk of
that in some capacity. You know, early days it was
more in the crop protection or the chemical space, and
then has evolved over the years to be really comprehensive
(07:53):
for all the farmer needs, meaning the seeds, the cpe
and other services. So it's it's been around. I think
crop science has been around for quite some time now.
It's just you know, as you say, a lot of
us don't think about that as consumers when you're in
a grocery.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Store and you're buying food.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
Yeah, it's good to remember it starts in a field
with a farmer, So there's a lot behind the scenes
that many consumers just aren't aware of.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Yeah, definitely, I my husband and I are very interested
in farming. That's why I jumped on this interview opportunity.
We're not in that bucket yet because it's expensive to
get started. But that is one of our mini goals.
So it was a new, you know, potential farmer. What
(08:41):
ways would you be able to help me? I'm not
a large scale company. I mean, would you be able
to help me? Or are you guys just focused on
the large scale farmers.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
That's a fabulous question and I'm excited to hear you
guys are considering getting into farming. I think farmer is
a pretty exciting space in the egg industry as a whole.
We support small holder farmers, so these are our you know,
very small scale farmers, maybe they only have an acre
(09:13):
or two right of land, all the way up to big,
very industrial sized farms that could have tens of thousands
of acres. So that's the very cool thing about innovation
and science.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
So it's becoming so much more customized. So if you
guys decided you wanted to start.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Smaller and you wanted a few crops to try, companies
like Bear will have inputs and suggestions that can help
you out right, So that's we service all different types
of farmers around the world.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Okay, well that's really cool. Is there any downside to
what you guys are doing.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
I think there's there's always risk in making.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Sure that the innovation and the science can consist be
held up.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
And let me explain for a minute.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
We have a campaign that we rolled out as beare
a week or so ago during the World Science Day
to really acknowledge the need for us all to understand,
embrace and champion science. What it means for crop science,
our division, and our company, and the risk involved if
(10:24):
it's not maintained is that innovation really does get stifled.
We need policies and regulatory frameworks that really are rigorous.
You know, we're a regulated industry, as we should be,
but that's all very transparent. Before we would bring any
new market product to market, it has gone through hundreds
(10:46):
and thousands of studies, whether it be for human health,
environmental impacts, non target organisms like animals, or other plants
that you don't intend to impact. Right, it's a really
robust set of data that's elected. We need that to
be upheld and to be consistent. Farmers need that to
be consistent. So I think that's the challenge that we
(11:08):
took on as a company and said, hey, we want
to raw up this science campaign, this awareness campaign because
we all need to embrace science. Like I said, I
mean science, it connects us, it heals us, it feeds us,
and it gives us hope as we think about some
of the biggest challenges we have. So, you know, one
way to go check that out is go to sciencedelivers
(11:30):
dot com.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
We started a bit of a website.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
You can actually live a digital postcard there too, if
you want to share how science has impacted you and
your family. But also there's some really good information on
that website around what is good science. You know, there's
a lot of misinformation that gets out there at times,
So what do we mean by gold standard science or
(11:54):
peer reviewed science and some other things you might hear
in the news or in your social feeds. So there's
some really good tips and tricks there. But as a whole,
I think the public private sector we all have to
work together. We need to rally around science and innovation.
It's super important to keep us moving as a society
and certainly for our company and what we do to
(12:14):
provide those tools to farmers.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Okay, I like that answer. I I've always been a
huge fan of science just because I am naturally just
crazy amounts of curious. That's actually why I'm in the job.
I'm in because I'm curious about everything, right, I'm like
that kid that drives you crazy. But I will say this,
Your seeds are considered genetically modified or GMO, right, yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Some of them.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
So we have some GMO seeds, we have some conventional seeds,
I'll say, which is just with breeding technology. And we're
also working in genetiting, which.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Is another foundational kind of technology.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Okay, because I know in the GMO seed world, because
they are modified genetically, you basically can't save the seeds
from any of your crop and replant for the next planting.
So you're constantly having to buy new seeds, which you know,
from again a new farmer or even an existing farmer
(13:14):
that can be you know, a deterrent to a degree
for for buying the genetically modified seeds. Is there work
to make it where we can get back to a
little bit more of sovereignty when it comes to farming,
so that you know, once I buy a seed and
I grow my plants, I can continue to have that
same plant year after year from that original seed. As
(13:37):
far as you know, it's it's genetic ancestry. So to speak,
rather than having to buy new every year.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Yeah, that's a that's a common question we get quite
a bit. So here's here's a couple of things. One,
it's not just the GMO part of it, right, I
think the I think on the genetic modifiing there's a
lot of misinformation out there. I think that the GM
park code that goes into two buckets. One, there's some
misnomers or fear around GMOs and pesticides two for that matter,
(14:10):
and we work really hard to be very transparent on
all the safety data, what it is and what it
isn't right to explain the science. So that's kind of
goes back to this making sure you understand the science
can kind of make an educated decision on the saved
seed front. So there's two considerations.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
So, if you're a.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
Farmer here in the US and you're growing corn, we
not just us as bear, but ANYQURN seed provider, the
bulk of that seed is produced in a hybrid technology,
and hybridization doesn't enable you to say it won't replant,
or if you replant.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
It, it won't grow the same way.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
That hybrid seed production system, though increases yields dramatically.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
So it's a payoff benefit to the farmer in other words,
So it's.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Not just about the g technology, but on the GMO
technology front, I think it's important for people to know
it takes you know, i'd say twelve to fifteen years
from discovery to launch of a new product, so like
a biotech trade or a crop protection product, well over
(15:19):
three hundred million dollars often, and so companies can't afford
to only sell a bag of seed once realistically, and
then you know, have a replanting.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Situation as well.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
So there is this balance to your point of sovereignty
and what can be more open sourced if you will,
versus keeping the innovation engine running because when I say
we can't afford to, you can only do that so
much time and not have you won't have money to
reinvest into the pipeline. The products we do roll out
every year, they have enhanced genetics. To my earlier comment
(15:56):
about making sure we're staying ahead of the curve of
what farmers need because of a pest pressure or resistant
weed or climate change. Right, so it's it's upon us
as these companies to make it valuable for the farmers,
to make them want to buy the seed every year
and because they have a choice and we know that,
(16:17):
so we have to make that return on investment appealing
to the farmers.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
That's full stop.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Okay, So hopefully that explained a little bit of the
background there.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Yeah, a little bit, and this is me playing devil's advocate. Okay,
but I mean we've seen the FDA and whatever say
smoking was safe and then they said, oh, no it's not,
but vaping is safe. Oh wait, no that's not either.
Science is not one of those things that you can
put all your eggs in that basket. You just can't.
(16:45):
You have to. You know, anybody knows that science is
very valuable, and I'm not debating that, but we can't
say that because we say it's safe now or that
it's good now, that it's going to be that way forever.
Science changes dramatically often and throughout generations. And so what
my own research has shown, and what I've had backed up,
(17:08):
you know, with other people that I've met, is that
some of these modified seeds they're lacking drastically in vitamins
and minerals that the heirloom seeds before we started messing
with them have. And so now to get an heirloom
seed of tomatoes. It's going to taste different, it's going
to be way more valuable to us as far as
(17:31):
our nutrition needs than some of these modified seeds. Now,
what I'm hoping that means is that companies like yours
realize that, realize that every time you mess with these
you're potentially taking out more nutrients, and start paying more
attention to Yes, let's continue to do science with it,
(17:51):
but let's also evaluate just because I have fifty heads
of corn instead of ten, if they're not that much
more nutritionally valuable, then is it really worth it.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Yeah, I'm don't have to push back on you on
the nutritional component. So that's just not true. So we
have a lot of there's no nutritional difference between a
GMO corn and a conventional corn. There's on the vegetable side,
a lot of our vegetable seeds are not GM seeds actually,
and so we actually have been able to enhances nutritional composition,
(18:28):
for example, of some of our broccoli, and we have
flavor and taste selections made through breeding too. So that's
just not true. And so that's part of what we're
trying to do in the science campaign because there is
a lot of misinformation out there, and it's hard if
you're a consumer. I'm a mom too, by the way,
(18:49):
and a scientist, so I'm really passionate about this topic.
But it can be scary to sort of like try
to break down the research when you're just trying to
make the best decision you can for your own health,
comes for the environment, or whatever your.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Your position is.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
But you know, like there's a there was rice, a
rice example, which is a jam prop that's edited to
enhance vitamin composition. Right, So there's a lot of examples,
but that has a rumor that's been going around for
a long time around this nutritional piece. But there's tons
of data that actually showcases and that regulators and others
(19:26):
look at when they're looking at this that it is
not true. You can actually see that composition side by
side from third parties. Not a bear because I get
to appreciate that too. Right, you might say, you know, okay,
of coorse, you're going to say that you're a bear employee. Right,
There's lots of great studies out there from academics, from
government bodies and regulatory authorities that is not that. The
(19:50):
other thing too, to your earlier comment though, which I
think is an important one. You are spot on that
science changes, and I think you know, real science, it
doesn't ask for trust.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
It's not like, hey, we have this one study, so
does trust us?
Speaker 3 (20:06):
Right, Science does change, it should, it should continue to evolve.
And when it comes to agricultural products and how those
are regulated, you know, in the US and in every
other kind of regulatory frame around the world, there's a
regular touch point on these products.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
You don't just register a product and then you're done.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
If new data and information is found, we're legally obligated
to submit that and even despite that, just on a
regular baton basis. So like with prop protection products here
in the US EPA as a process where those are
reevaluated on a regular basis, right, just because understanding that
techniques can change, data can change. Any good science is replicated,
(20:55):
it's validated, replicated, validated, replicated. Right, So it's never just
a one or done. And I think that's a really
important point.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
You brought up.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Yeah, I agree, and that's what I was going to
say to your point about you know, government studies and
even university studies. University studies are funded by the government.
The government as we've seen with our politicians. Politicians it
might as well be wearing NASCAR suits with their sponsors
all over them with patches, because it's I mean, it's
just been proven time and time and time again that
(21:25):
big corporations, not not saying yours, but big corporations do
have a lot of influence over what is put out
to the public and what laws and regulations get passed
and which ones don't. And sometimes it's not as much
as they would like to have, you know, and sometimes
it's more than they need. Nothing in the world is
ever going to be perfect, and I get that, but
(21:45):
I will say this, Can you speak to the diversity
of seeds, because again, that's one of those arguments that
you hear as an individual doing this research. You know,
they say that the GMO seeds and all this stuff
that we're doing has reduced the genetic diversity of what
our food used to have. So can you speak to that?
Speaker 2 (22:04):
Yeah, I'll speak to that.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
And I'll want to go back to your public private
comment too. It's a really good one you made so
on genetic diversity. Genetic diversity is actually increased dramatically so
with breeding programs on because it's not just you don't
just have one GMO product and then it stays static,
(22:27):
so the germ plies and the actual genetic diversity of
that crop continues to evolve and expand. So genetic diversity
is quite broad. And companies like Bear at least we
contribute to global genetic banks, so we have gene banks
around the world to conserve genetic diversity across various crops.
(22:49):
So there's two different debates here, right, I mean, there's
this there's one camp of folks that don't really like
what you would consider industrial farming, and this is a
big road cropping, and you can have some philosophical beliefs,
and I think that's everybody's right, But genetic diversity is
quite strong actually across even those big industrialized road crops.
(23:11):
Then in the vegetable or more the cash crop space
and the specialty crop space, absolutely there's tons of genetic diversity.
So I think we get a little confused on like
big multinational companies and you think about all the you know,
there's approximately ninety million acres of corn in the US, right,
so you think there's not as much crop diversity that's
(23:32):
different than genetic diversity.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
If that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Oh yeah, yeah, for sure, yeah yeah.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
And then on the going back to your public private
kind of funding discussion, this is a really good one too,
and I'm glad you brought that up, because again, I
think there has to be transparency. I think if I
take my bare crop science hat off, that's what I want.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
I want to know who's funding what, who's.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Lobbying for what, right, because we have a lobbying infrastructure
in this country.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
That's where our political.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
System works, right, and it's very powerful.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
Yeah, I don't disagree with you, right, So but here's
the here's the reality. I think the you know, companies
like Bear I'll speak for Bear Bear Crop Science, and
of course in this capacity, we absolutely do, you know,
have collaborations as we should. So sometimes we fund partnerships
(24:29):
with academics or with small startup companies, with other big,
multi national companies. We might be co discovering something, so
we might fund research together. And so when we do that,
it's you know, especially with academics or those public institutions,
(24:49):
it's all very transparent and above board, as it should be.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Anybody should be able to see that lobbying. You know,
we have a lobby lobbying arms.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
Again, you can philosophically have a debate about, you know,
do you agree with lobbying or not.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
How influential is it.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
It is the way institutions and folks have a voice.
Our lobbying is again very transparent. You can go to
OpenSecrets dot com for example, and you can see where
all the money goes that we spend as our company.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
What's not as transparent are some.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
Of the other NGOs, some of the you know, plaintiffs,
attorneys of litigation industry for example. There's lots of lobbying
that happens. It's not just big multinational companies. It's so
to your point, it's a big It is a big topic,
(25:46):
and I just try to be as transparent as I
can about that, right. I mean, I think we own
what we do, but I do want to say the
public private partnerships must continue. We need to have an
ecosystem around science and innovation. If we don't, that's going
to really slow down progress. But by one hundred percent
agree with you. That needs to be above board and
(26:08):
really transparent.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
Yeah, I think so too. I know. I watched a
PBS special about the Pawny Seed Preservation Society and they
showed some crops and corn in particular, since we're talking
about corn I've never seen before, Like you know, you
see the what they call Indian corn and s all
the different color some of that stuff that they had
I had never seen before in my life. Is there
any work towards taking some of those indigenous seeds that
(26:33):
are truly ancient and maybe bringing those into regular society
and grocery stores without having to seek them out specifically?
Do you know?
Speaker 3 (26:43):
I think we have lots of relationships around some of
those germ plasms, but we also need to be really respectful.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
So some of.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
Those indigenous lines, they're protected and they don't want big
companies to mess with those, right, So you know, I
think there's there's lots of discussions we'll have with again
some of those partners.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
We have some some institutions that are NGOs that.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
Are are around corn and wheat and some of those
crops that actually do have a shared gene bank that
everybody contributes to.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
And so you know, there if it's.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
Above board back to our other question, if it's an
agreed upon arrangement and there's value to the farmers to
include some of those attributes that are in those genetics,
then of course we would want to bring that in right,
But that's why those partnerships are really important. We also
respect those indigenous lines that are not owned by us,
(27:42):
so there might be rights that are not ours, and
we absolutely respect that and keep that, keep those boundaries clear,
if you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
Oh yeah, totally understand that. Totally. I hate this because
I want to talk to you. You are so knowledgeable
and I just have so many questions. But we're at
the end of our time. So what I want you
to do, since we have to close, is if you
will let everybody know where they can find more information.
What websites do we need to be visiting and reading.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
Yeah, go to sciencedelivers dot com.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
So back to our discussion about what is good science
what is not good science? Right, go there, go check
it out. I will also say too, I think it's
really important. We have forty seven million food and secure
people in this country. Forty seven million, and this is
across all counties of our country. This is not an
urban rural thing. It impacts everyone. So we need to
(28:36):
have lots of choice for our farmers, lots of innovation.
We need more access to food and safe, nutritious food
at an affordable price, if we're going to combat this
food and security issue that we have right here at
home as well. So that's why we're also super passionate
about technology and science to help with solve those big problems.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
Yeah, I love that. I think we need to bring
back the victory garden where you know, everybody has a
spot in their backyard where they have grow something, you know.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
Yeah, yeah, I agree.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
It really gives you an education on how hard it
is to grow food when.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
You grow it yourself, exactly, exactly. And nothing's good for
the younger generation because we have that whole generation that
genia now where food came from.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
You know, two boys that are those gen zers and yeah,
you're right, a lot of their friends have no idea.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
Yeah, so it's important.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
It has been such a joy to talk to you.
I am so glad that you were willing to make
time for me and come on the show. I really
do appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
No, thank you very much for having me. Thanks a bunch.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
I hope you've enjoyed today's show. Thanks for tuning into
the show on your favorite local radio station. You can
now listen to this show or past shows through the
iheartapp or on iHeart dot com. Just search for Virginia
Focus under podcasts. I'm Robacca Hughes with the Virginia News Network,
and I'll be here next week on Virginia Focus
Welcome to Virginia Focus. I'm Rebecca Hughes of the Virginia
News Network. Farmers and scientists are working together with goals
to grow more with fewer resources, protect crops from growing threats,
and build resilience against climate volatility. Since February of twenty twenty,
overall grocery prices have risen twenty nine percent according to
(00:26):
the Bureau of Labor Statistics. We're welcoming Jessica Christiansen, head
of Bear's Crop Science Communications, to this podcast. She's going
to discuss how modern science and technology are helping to
ensure holiday meals and everyday meals stay within reach for
American households. Welcome to the show, miss Christensen. I'm glad
to have you on and to learn more about this.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Thanks for having me. It's great to be here.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
So you work for the Bear Agriculture Group. Now, I'll
admit I was a little shocked to hear that Bear,
who obviously is a medication right, I mean that's what
we know them as is is interested in agriculture. Can
you tell me more about the division in general? To start?
Speaker 3 (01:05):
Absolutely, so, Bear has three divisions. We have a pharmaceuticals division,
we have a consumer health so that's where a lot
of people know us bear aspirin and some of our
over the counter nutrients and supplements.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
And then I work in the Crop Science division.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
So really what the Crop Science division does is we're
global business and we innovate technologies for farmers, so that
could be seed technologies, crop protection products. We have digital
platforms to help with farming, and it's all centered around
our farmers around the world and how do we help
them produce more food on every single acre of land.
Speaker 1 (01:46):
Okay, Now this wasn't completely shocking because I've done other
interviews with groups like Seed Your Future and other agricultural groups,
and they talk about how agriculture is not just the planting,
you know, and like in your situation, you've got a
lot of scientists and other people that are working still
in the ag field, but not doing the hard labor
(02:09):
in the field every day. Why don't you talk to
us about some of the things going on in your
department and some of those divisions.
Speaker 3 (02:17):
There is a lot behind the farmer, to your point,
in farming itself is pretty challenging. There's a lot of
unpredictability with it, whether it's climate and weather to diseases
and bugs and weeds.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
That can rob farmers of yields.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
So companies like Bear crop science, science and innovation is at.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Our heart, it's our core of what we do.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
So we have thousands of scientists that work for us
that across lots of different disciplines, and really those folks
are pushing the boundaries kind of going through and trying
to get these breakthrough technologies to address current challenges farmers have.
But even once they maybe don't know about yet. So
I'll give you a real like example in three different buckets.
(03:02):
One is the seeds that farmers plant. So our company
we sell corn, soybean, cotton, canola, wheat seeds, some of
the basic row crops, and cereals. But we also have
a vegetable seed division, so we have a wide portfolio
of seeds. There's a ton of science that goes into
those seeds. So for examples and vegetables, we have tomatoes
(03:24):
that are more tolerant to drought conditions. For say California,
where tomatoes are produced, we have natural disease or pest
resistance that is bred into the seeds. We have a
corn product which is a shorter hybrid, so corn is
normally like twelve feet or taller. This corn plant grows
(03:48):
to maybe six seven feet and you might think, what's
the big deal, But that allows the corn plant to
not fall over during big windstorms or weather events. It
has a different root system that may be able to
use nutrients differently and go deeper in the soil profile,
and it allows the farmer to access the field all
year long, so they can use normal equipment to be
(04:10):
really prescriptive with crop protection products, for example, like herbicides
that they need to spray, so instead of aerial applying,
they can spot apply and be more prescriptive.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
So those are a.
Speaker 3 (04:21):
Couple examples in the seed bucket crop protection I mentioned.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
So what is crop protection?
Speaker 3 (04:26):
These are the herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that farmers have
to have. There's an estimate out there if they don't
have these products they could lose up to eighty percent
or more of their yields. That would translate in the
American families US paying you know, up to ten billion
dollars more a year in food cost. So there is
(04:48):
a direct connect into the technologies farmers need to how
much we pay at the the end of the day,
at the store, but crop protection products, we're innovating those
really creatively using digital tools AI for example, So we
have an AI modeling system that helps us discover and
design brand new crop protection products with safety profiles in mind,
(05:11):
very targeted to a specific pest for example. And then
digital AI I just talked about, but we also offer
digital solutions for farmers.
Speaker 2 (05:20):
So they have.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
Pretty sophisticated equipment now, whether it's in their tractors or
their sprayers or planters. And then we have a software service,
a Climate Field View that allows those farmers to take
all the data from their exact field and so they
could make better decisions real time so they can get
most out of every acre. So a lot of sides
(05:42):
and technology behind the farmer is indeed the case.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
Oh yes, most definitely. I think I've seen I don't
know if it was yours or somebody else's, but I
think I've seen on YouTube a farmer was demonstrating their
crop software that you were just talking about, and how
you know if they have a low level area and
it's kind of stays wet compared to the other area
of the field, and then some areas maybe you're a
(06:07):
little more fertile and somehow I don't know, but the
computer is able to kind of map all of that
out and kind of give them an idea of that yield.
Is that what you're talking about for your software as well?
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Yes, spot on.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
So it helps the farmer say, hey, to your example,
that's a great example. Certain parts of the field might
not be as productive, so you might have a different
planting recommendation, or maybe it's you decide as a farmer
not to plant it because you're not going to get
a return on that investment. Right. So the way that
these models work is pretty incredible. It can tell you
(06:42):
which type of porn hybrid to plant. So there's lots
of different choices out there.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
For farmers, which is good but can be overwhelming.
Speaker 3 (06:49):
So based on that field, it'll say, hey, we recommend
you planting this hybrid at this density. It can help
farmers with a little bit of wind dispray what's right
and keep track of that. It's it's a big, a
big advancement and how farming is done today versus even
(07:10):
twenty years ago.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
Okay, I love that. So how long has Bear been
in this business? Because obviously, like I said, I haven't
heard of it until I saw the pitch for this interview.
It doesn't surprise me. But when did did Bear get
interested in agriculture and how long has this been going on?
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Oh gosh, So Bear as a company is over one
hundred years old, and it's of course evolved over the
over time and in different areas and spaces, but we've
been in the agricultural sector for a good chunk of
that in some capacity. You know, early days it was
more in the crop protection or the chemical space, and
then has evolved over the years to be really comprehensive
(07:53):
for all the farmer needs, meaning the seeds, the cpe
and other services. So it's it's been around. I think
crop science has been around for quite some time now.
It's just you know, as you say, a lot of
us don't think about that as consumers when you're in
a grocery.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
Store and you're buying food.
Speaker 3 (08:12):
Yeah, it's good to remember it starts in a field
with a farmer, So there's a lot behind the scenes
that many consumers just aren't aware of.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Yeah, definitely, I my husband and I are very interested
in farming. That's why I jumped on this interview opportunity.
We're not in that bucket yet because it's expensive to
get started. But that is one of our mini goals.
So it was a new, you know, potential farmer. What
(08:41):
ways would you be able to help me? I'm not
a large scale company. I mean, would you be able
to help me? Or are you guys just focused on
the large scale farmers.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
That's a fabulous question and I'm excited to hear you
guys are considering getting into farming. I think farmer is
a pretty exciting space in the egg industry as a whole.
We support small holder farmers, so these are our you know,
very small scale farmers, maybe they only have an acre
(09:13):
or two right of land, all the way up to big,
very industrial sized farms that could have tens of thousands
of acres. So that's the very cool thing about innovation
and science.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
So it's becoming so much more customized. So if you
guys decided you wanted to start.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Smaller and you wanted a few crops to try, companies
like Bear will have inputs and suggestions that can help
you out right, So that's we service all different types
of farmers around the world.
Speaker 1 (09:44):
Okay, well that's really cool. Is there any downside to
what you guys are doing.
Speaker 2 (09:52):
I think there's there's always risk in making.
Speaker 3 (09:56):
Sure that the innovation and the science can consist be
held up.
Speaker 2 (10:01):
And let me explain for a minute.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
We have a campaign that we rolled out as beare
a week or so ago during the World Science Day
to really acknowledge the need for us all to understand,
embrace and champion science. What it means for crop science,
our division, and our company, and the risk involved if
(10:24):
it's not maintained is that innovation really does get stifled.
We need policies and regulatory frameworks that really are rigorous.
You know, we're a regulated industry, as we should be,
but that's all very transparent. Before we would bring any
new market product to market, it has gone through hundreds
(10:46):
and thousands of studies, whether it be for human health,
environmental impacts, non target organisms like animals, or other plants
that you don't intend to impact. Right, it's a really
robust set of data that's elected. We need that to
be upheld and to be consistent. Farmers need that to
be consistent. So I think that's the challenge that we
(11:08):
took on as a company and said, hey, we want
to raw up this science campaign, this awareness campaign because
we all need to embrace science. Like I said, I
mean science, it connects us, it heals us, it feeds us,
and it gives us hope as we think about some
of the biggest challenges we have. So, you know, one
way to go check that out is go to sciencedelivers
(11:30):
dot com.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
We started a bit of a website.
Speaker 3 (11:33):
You can actually live a digital postcard there too, if
you want to share how science has impacted you and
your family. But also there's some really good information on
that website around what is good science. You know, there's
a lot of misinformation that gets out there at times,
So what do we mean by gold standard science or
(11:54):
peer reviewed science and some other things you might hear
in the news or in your social feeds. So there's
some really good tips and tricks there. But as a whole,
I think the public private sector we all have to
work together. We need to rally around science and innovation.
It's super important to keep us moving as a society
and certainly for our company and what we do to
(12:14):
provide those tools to farmers.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
Okay, I like that answer. I I've always been a
huge fan of science just because I am naturally just
crazy amounts of curious. That's actually why I'm in the job.
I'm in because I'm curious about everything, right, I'm like
that kid that drives you crazy. But I will say this,
Your seeds are considered genetically modified or GMO, right, yeah.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Some of them.
Speaker 3 (12:39):
So we have some GMO seeds, we have some conventional seeds,
I'll say, which is just with breeding technology. And we're
also working in genetiting, which.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Is another foundational kind of technology.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
Okay, because I know in the GMO seed world, because
they are modified genetically, you basically can't save the seeds
from any of your crop and replant for the next planting.
So you're constantly having to buy new seeds, which you know,
from again a new farmer or even an existing farmer
(13:14):
that can be you know, a deterrent to a degree
for for buying the genetically modified seeds. Is there work
to make it where we can get back to a
little bit more of sovereignty when it comes to farming,
so that you know, once I buy a seed and
I grow my plants, I can continue to have that
same plant year after year from that original seed. As
(13:37):
far as you know, it's it's genetic ancestry. So to speak,
rather than having to buy new every year.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
Yeah, that's a that's a common question we get quite
a bit. So here's here's a couple of things. One,
it's not just the GMO part of it, right, I
think the I think on the genetic modifiing there's a
lot of misinformation out there. I think that the GM
park code that goes into two buckets. One, there's some
misnomers or fear around GMOs and pesticides two for that matter,
(14:10):
and we work really hard to be very transparent on
all the safety data, what it is and what it
isn't right to explain the science. So that's kind of
goes back to this making sure you understand the science
can kind of make an educated decision on the saved
seed front. So there's two considerations.
Speaker 2 (14:27):
So, if you're a.
Speaker 3 (14:28):
Farmer here in the US and you're growing corn, we
not just us as bear, but ANYQURN seed provider, the
bulk of that seed is produced in a hybrid technology,
and hybridization doesn't enable you to say it won't replant,
or if you replant.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
It, it won't grow the same way.
Speaker 3 (14:50):
That hybrid seed production system, though increases yields dramatically.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
So it's a payoff benefit to the farmer in other words,
So it's.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
Not just about the g technology, but on the GMO
technology front, I think it's important for people to know
it takes you know, i'd say twelve to fifteen years
from discovery to launch of a new product, so like
a biotech trade or a crop protection product, well over
(15:19):
three hundred million dollars often, and so companies can't afford
to only sell a bag of seed once realistically, and
then you know, have a replanting.
Speaker 2 (15:31):
Situation as well.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
So there is this balance to your point of sovereignty
and what can be more open sourced if you will,
versus keeping the innovation engine running because when I say
we can't afford to, you can only do that so
much time and not have you won't have money to
reinvest into the pipeline. The products we do roll out
every year, they have enhanced genetics. To my earlier comment
(15:56):
about making sure we're staying ahead of the curve of
what farmers need because of a pest pressure or resistant
weed or climate change. Right, so it's it's upon us
as these companies to make it valuable for the farmers,
to make them want to buy the seed every year
and because they have a choice and we know that,
(16:17):
so we have to make that return on investment appealing
to the farmers.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
That's full stop.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Okay, So hopefully that explained a little bit of the
background there.
Speaker 1 (16:25):
Yeah, a little bit, and this is me playing devil's advocate. Okay,
but I mean we've seen the FDA and whatever say
smoking was safe and then they said, oh, no it's not,
but vaping is safe. Oh wait, no that's not either.
Science is not one of those things that you can
put all your eggs in that basket. You just can't.
(16:45):
You have to. You know, anybody knows that science is
very valuable, and I'm not debating that, but we can't
say that because we say it's safe now or that
it's good now, that it's going to be that way forever.
Science changes dramatically often and throughout generations. And so what
my own research has shown, and what I've had backed up,
(17:08):
you know, with other people that I've met, is that
some of these modified seeds they're lacking drastically in vitamins
and minerals that the heirloom seeds before we started messing
with them have. And so now to get an heirloom
seed of tomatoes. It's going to taste different, it's going
to be way more valuable to us as far as
(17:31):
our nutrition needs than some of these modified seeds. Now,
what I'm hoping that means is that companies like yours
realize that, realize that every time you mess with these
you're potentially taking out more nutrients, and start paying more
attention to Yes, let's continue to do science with it,
(17:51):
but let's also evaluate just because I have fifty heads
of corn instead of ten, if they're not that much
more nutritionally valuable, then is it really worth it.
Speaker 3 (18:04):
Yeah, I'm don't have to push back on you on
the nutritional component. So that's just not true. So we
have a lot of there's no nutritional difference between a
GMO corn and a conventional corn. There's on the vegetable side,
a lot of our vegetable seeds are not GM seeds actually,
and so we actually have been able to enhances nutritional composition,
(18:28):
for example, of some of our broccoli, and we have
flavor and taste selections made through breeding too. So that's
just not true. And so that's part of what we're
trying to do in the science campaign because there is
a lot of misinformation out there, and it's hard if
you're a consumer. I'm a mom too, by the way,
(18:49):
and a scientist, so I'm really passionate about this topic.
But it can be scary to sort of like try
to break down the research when you're just trying to
make the best decision you can for your own health,
comes for the environment, or whatever your.
Speaker 2 (19:03):
Your position is.
Speaker 3 (19:04):
But you know, like there's a there was rice, a
rice example, which is a jam prop that's edited to
enhance vitamin composition. Right, So there's a lot of examples,
but that has a rumor that's been going around for
a long time around this nutritional piece. But there's tons
of data that actually showcases and that regulators and others
(19:26):
look at when they're looking at this that it is
not true. You can actually see that composition side by
side from third parties. Not a bear because I get
to appreciate that too. Right, you might say, you know, okay,
of coorse, you're going to say that you're a bear employee. Right,
There's lots of great studies out there from academics, from
government bodies and regulatory authorities that is not that. The
(19:50):
other thing too, to your earlier comment though, which I
think is an important one. You are spot on that
science changes, and I think you know, real science, it
doesn't ask for trust.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
It's not like, hey, we have this one study, so
does trust us?
Speaker 3 (20:06):
Right, Science does change, it should, it should continue to evolve.
And when it comes to agricultural products and how those
are regulated, you know, in the US and in every
other kind of regulatory frame around the world, there's a
regular touch point on these products.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
You don't just register a product and then you're done.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
If new data and information is found, we're legally obligated
to submit that and even despite that, just on a
regular baton basis. So like with prop protection products here
in the US EPA as a process where those are
reevaluated on a regular basis, right, just because understanding that
techniques can change, data can change. Any good science is replicated,
(20:55):
it's validated, replicated, validated, replicated. Right, So it's never just
a one or done. And I think that's a really
important point.
Speaker 2 (21:02):
You brought up.
Speaker 1 (21:03):
Yeah, I agree, and that's what I was going to
say to your point about you know, government studies and
even university studies. University studies are funded by the government.
The government as we've seen with our politicians. Politicians it
might as well be wearing NASCAR suits with their sponsors
all over them with patches, because it's I mean, it's
just been proven time and time and time again that
(21:25):
big corporations, not not saying yours, but big corporations do
have a lot of influence over what is put out
to the public and what laws and regulations get passed
and which ones don't. And sometimes it's not as much
as they would like to have, you know, and sometimes
it's more than they need. Nothing in the world is
ever going to be perfect, and I get that, but
(21:45):
I will say this, Can you speak to the diversity
of seeds, because again, that's one of those arguments that
you hear as an individual doing this research. You know,
they say that the GMO seeds and all this stuff
that we're doing has reduced the genetic diversity of what
our food used to have. So can you speak to that?
Speaker 2 (22:04):
Yeah, I'll speak to that.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
And I'll want to go back to your public private
comment too. It's a really good one you made so
on genetic diversity. Genetic diversity is actually increased dramatically so
with breeding programs on because it's not just you don't
just have one GMO product and then it stays static,
(22:27):
so the germ plies and the actual genetic diversity of
that crop continues to evolve and expand. So genetic diversity
is quite broad. And companies like Bear at least we
contribute to global genetic banks, so we have gene banks
around the world to conserve genetic diversity across various crops.
(22:49):
So there's two different debates here, right, I mean, there's
this there's one camp of folks that don't really like
what you would consider industrial farming, and this is a
big road cropping, and you can have some philosophical beliefs,
and I think that's everybody's right, But genetic diversity is
quite strong actually across even those big industrialized road crops.
(23:11):
Then in the vegetable or more the cash crop space
and the specialty crop space, absolutely there's tons of genetic diversity.
So I think we get a little confused on like
big multinational companies and you think about all the you know,
there's approximately ninety million acres of corn in the US, right,
so you think there's not as much crop diversity that's
(23:32):
different than genetic diversity.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
If that makes sense.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Oh yeah, yeah, for sure, yeah yeah.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
And then on the going back to your public private
kind of funding discussion, this is a really good one too,
and I'm glad you brought that up, because again, I
think there has to be transparency. I think if I
take my bare crop science hat off, that's what I want.
Speaker 2 (23:55):
I want to know who's funding what, who's.
Speaker 3 (24:00):
Lobbying for what, right, because we have a lobbying infrastructure
in this country.
Speaker 2 (24:05):
That's where our political.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
System works, right, and it's very powerful.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
Yeah, I don't disagree with you, right, So but here's
the here's the reality. I think the you know, companies
like Bear I'll speak for Bear Bear Crop Science, and
of course in this capacity, we absolutely do, you know,
have collaborations as we should. So sometimes we fund partnerships
(24:29):
with academics or with small startup companies, with other big,
multi national companies. We might be co discovering something, so
we might fund research together. And so when we do that,
it's you know, especially with academics or those public institutions,
(24:49):
it's all very transparent and above board, as it should be.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Anybody should be able to see that lobbying. You know,
we have a lobby lobbying arms.
Speaker 3 (25:00):
Again, you can philosophically have a debate about, you know,
do you agree with lobbying or not.
Speaker 2 (25:06):
How influential is it.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
It is the way institutions and folks have a voice.
Our lobbying is again very transparent. You can go to
OpenSecrets dot com for example, and you can see where
all the money goes that we spend as our company.
Speaker 2 (25:23):
What's not as transparent are some.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
Of the other NGOs, some of the you know, plaintiffs,
attorneys of litigation industry for example. There's lots of lobbying
that happens. It's not just big multinational companies. It's so
to your point, it's a big It is a big topic,
(25:46):
and I just try to be as transparent as I
can about that, right. I mean, I think we own
what we do, but I do want to say the
public private partnerships must continue. We need to have an
ecosystem around science and innovation. If we don't, that's going
to really slow down progress. But by one hundred percent
agree with you. That needs to be above board and
(26:08):
really transparent.
Speaker 1 (26:09):
Yeah, I think so too. I know. I watched a
PBS special about the Pawny Seed Preservation Society and they
showed some crops and corn in particular, since we're talking
about corn I've never seen before, Like you know, you
see the what they call Indian corn and s all
the different color some of that stuff that they had
I had never seen before in my life. Is there
any work towards taking some of those indigenous seeds that
(26:33):
are truly ancient and maybe bringing those into regular society
and grocery stores without having to seek them out specifically?
Do you know?
Speaker 3 (26:43):
I think we have lots of relationships around some of
those germ plasms, but we also need to be really respectful.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
So some of.
Speaker 3 (26:51):
Those indigenous lines, they're protected and they don't want big
companies to mess with those, right, So you know, I
think there's there's lots of discussions we'll have with again
some of those partners.
Speaker 2 (27:05):
We have some some institutions that are NGOs that.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
Are are around corn and wheat and some of those
crops that actually do have a shared gene bank that
everybody contributes to.
Speaker 2 (27:20):
And so you know, there if it's.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
Above board back to our other question, if it's an
agreed upon arrangement and there's value to the farmers to
include some of those attributes that are in those genetics,
then of course we would want to bring that in right,
But that's why those partnerships are really important. We also
respect those indigenous lines that are not owned by us,
(27:42):
so there might be rights that are not ours, and
we absolutely respect that and keep that, keep those boundaries clear,
if you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (27:50):
Oh yeah, totally understand that. Totally. I hate this because
I want to talk to you. You are so knowledgeable
and I just have so many questions. But we're at
the end of our time. So what I want you
to do, since we have to close, is if you
will let everybody know where they can find more information.
What websites do we need to be visiting and reading.
Speaker 2 (28:10):
Yeah, go to sciencedelivers dot com.
Speaker 3 (28:12):
So back to our discussion about what is good science
what is not good science? Right, go there, go check
it out. I will also say too, I think it's
really important. We have forty seven million food and secure
people in this country. Forty seven million, and this is
across all counties of our country. This is not an
urban rural thing. It impacts everyone. So we need to
(28:36):
have lots of choice for our farmers, lots of innovation.
We need more access to food and safe, nutritious food
at an affordable price, if we're going to combat this
food and security issue that we have right here at
home as well. So that's why we're also super passionate
about technology and science to help with solve those big problems.
Speaker 1 (28:56):
Yeah, I love that. I think we need to bring
back the victory garden where you know, everybody has a
spot in their backyard where they have grow something, you know.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
Yeah, yeah, I agree.
Speaker 3 (29:06):
It really gives you an education on how hard it
is to grow food when.
Speaker 1 (29:09):
You grow it yourself, exactly, exactly. And nothing's good for
the younger generation because we have that whole generation that
genia now where food came from.
Speaker 3 (29:17):
You know, two boys that are those gen zers and yeah,
you're right, a lot of their friends have no idea.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
Yeah, so it's important.
Speaker 1 (29:24):
It has been such a joy to talk to you.
I am so glad that you were willing to make
time for me and come on the show. I really
do appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
No, thank you very much for having me. Thanks a bunch.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
I hope you've enjoyed today's show. Thanks for tuning into
the show on your favorite local radio station. You can
now listen to this show or past shows through the
iheartapp or on iHeart dot com. Just search for Virginia
Focus under podcasts. I'm Robacca Hughes with the Virginia News Network,
and I'll be here next week on Virginia Focus
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