WHEAT: A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE U.S. AND

FRANCEErika Kraus and Garrett

Lattanzio

INTRODUCTION TO WHEAT

• Cereal grain

• Grown around the world

• Staple food source

• Many similarities exist between the

wheat industries of the United States and France.

WORLD WHEAT PRODUCTION 2010-2011

SUPPLY

United States

• #3 field crop behind corn and soybeans

• 4th largest producer in the world with 61,755.0 thousand metric tons (2013)

• Top producing state is North Dakota, followed by Kansas

• Grown in almost every state

France

• Largest producer in the EU

• EU was largest producer in the world with 133,049.0 thousand metric tons (2013)

• Most of production in northern regions of France

WHEAT PRODUCTION

United States France

DEMAND

United States

• Fourth largest consumer in world

• 35,704 TMT consumed in 2012

• 2011 – average person consumed 135.2 pounds of wheat

• Average consumption = decreased from 225 lbs per capita in the 1800s

France

• Sixth largest consumer in world

• 18,467 TMT consumed in 2012

• 2010 – average person consumed 241 pounds of wheat

135.2 lbs

241 lbs

GENETICALLY MODIFIED WHEAT

United States

• GM wheat not commercially grown

• Some research and development

• 419 field tests as of 2013

• 2002 – Monsanto attempt with herbicide resistant strain (MON 71800)

France

• Mostly all GMOs are banned by law in EU

• No GM wheat in production

ORGANIC WHEAT

United States

• 2004 – 200,000 acres of organic wheat grown

• As of 2004, grown in 24 states

• Only 0.33% of all wheat grown is organic

France

• 2006 – 75,000 acres of organic wheat grown

• Studies revealed that organic winter wheat has lower yields and grain protein content

• Threshold of GPC for organic bread making – risen from 9% to 10.5%

WHEAT AGRICULTURAL POLICIES

United States

• Market Access Program (MAP) is an export subsidy

• Foreign Market Development (FMD)

• Work with U.S. wheat farmers and the USDA to share cost of overseas market development and maintain sales in competitive market

• Subsidies: direct payments – to 10 crops including wheat, marketing loans (price support program)

France

• Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)o Reform- decreased support

prices of products; wheat experienced the most

o Since 1992 – support prices decreased by 80% for soft wheat

o Durum wheat – 85% decrease

BIO-FUELS INVOLVING WHEAT

United States

• Wheat is used as a bio-fuel, although corn makes up 90% of ethanol production

• Advanced bio-fuel research that involves using the wheat stock instead of the grains

France

• In Western Europe wheat is the #1 source of ethanol (this includes France!)

• France = the second largest producer of biofuels in Europe

WHEAT BIO-FUEL PRODUCTION

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS FROM WHEAT PRODUCTIONUnited States

• Soil erosion

• Soil nutrient depletion

• Water depletion

• Run-off from fertilizer

France

• Same effects on the environment

• South western farms in France – most significant yield losses due to erosion

SOIL EROSION IN FRANCE

From FAO.org

WHEAT FOOD SAFETY

United States

• FDA – Food and Drug Administration

• Food Safety Modernization Act – traceability of wheat back to it’s source

• Oregon instance – untested GMO wheat was found growing in a farmer’s field

France

• ANSES – French Agency for Food, Environmental, & Occupational Health Safety

WHEAT AGRIBUSINESSES

United States

• Cargill Inc.o Largest trader of wheat and

grains in the U.S.o $136.7 billion in sales and other

revenues in 2013

France

• Senalia Union o Owner of largest silo and

holding network in Europeo At the Rouen base, they can

store 250,000 tons of wheato Cereals enter and leave by rail,

road and waterways

ANIMAL WELFARE

UNITED STATES & FRANCE

• Current production does not involve animal labor

• Wheat is used in livestock feeds

• Contamination of wheat could harm animals

• Carcinogen called Aflatoxin – if found in wheat, it could result in reduced feed intake and a suppressed immune system for the animal

FOOD LABELING

United States

• “Whole Grains” stamp – Whole Grains Council, have specific requirements

• Food Allergen Labeling and Consumer Protection Act o Wheat is the #9 allergen in the

U.S. and under this act, foods containing wheat must be labeled

o Trace amounts must also be labeled

France

• Also has allergy labeling info, “Sans Gluten”

• All trace amounts of wheat must also be labeled, even if it is a sweetener that is made from wheat

DIET AND HEALTH RELATED TO WHEATUnited States

• Diet Guidelines for Americans suggest that we should eat 250 grams of wheat per day = 63% of our diet

• Estimated that 1/133 Americans have Celiac disease

• Only existing treatment for Celiac is a 100% gluten free diet

France

• In France, it is recommended to have a carbohydrate with every meal

• Bread is important in French food culture, and is highly consumed

US FOOD PLATE

AGRICULTURAL TRADE

United States

• World’s biggest wheat exporter

• 2008 – 34 million metric tons exported = 30% of all the world’s wheat exports

• Import roughly 2.5 million tons of a wheat a year on average

France

• Largest wheat producer in the EU, also a major player in exports

• EU exports – 25 million metric tons

• France exports to China , Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Syria + more

• France is the largest variable in EU wheat exports

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

United States & France

• Wheat = a staple crop and significant in international food development efforts

• U.S. and France are huge producers, both of these countries are involved in helping with international development

• International Wheat Yield Partnership (CIMMYT) o Work to reduce poverty and improve food security in developing

countries

FOOD SECURITY

United States

• Donates more food aid than the rest of the world combined

• 2011 – 46% of all U.S. food aid was wheat

• Through the USDA, the U.S. is a member of the Wheat Initiative

France

• Also a member of the Wheat Initiative through their French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA)

• Wheat Initiative: Coordinates global wheat research to make progress needed to increase quality, yields and sustainability of wheat to contribute to global food security and safety

WHEAT PROPAGANDA

MERCI, C’EST LE FIN!

QUESTIONS?