While we were in Des Moines presenting at the Forum, Bill Gates, co-chair of The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was in Des Moines at the 2009 World Food Prize Symposium. He gave an outstanding speech today that focused on Productivity and Sustainability in agriculture. He touched on many of the same concerns we have voiced about hunger and poverty, as well as technology and the environment.

 As Mr. Gates spoke, I began to think about the opportunity we have to impact the world.  At TerraManus Technologies, LLC, we know that the answer to poverty and world hunger isn’t simply found. We know poverty alleviation must begin with agricultural development in rural areas. We believe that small farm families can progressively work their way out of poverty when they have access information, technology, and to high-quality agricultural tools, and this is precisely what Bill Gates was saying today! He said, “The next Green Revolution must be guided by small-holder farmers, adapted to local circumstances, and sustainable for the economy and the environment. Farmers need new seeds, of course. But they tell us they also need new tools and training.” He said, “If farmers can get what they need to feed their families and sell their surplus, hundreds of millions of the world’s poorest people can build themselves a better life. It will take passion and focus and a sustained sense of urgency.”

We have that shared vision, that shared goal and that shared passion which has turned into a crusade.

In agriculture, nothing is more powerful than water. It can produce wealth or devastation. It can transport much needed moisture and nourishment or wash away valuable topsoil leaving cropland unprotected and vulnerable. In poorer nations the immediate needs for fertile soil and solutions to hunger are what drive the course of action. TerraStar Technology addresses both soil erosion and water conservation.

We will strive to work together with others to achieve a proper balance between productivity and sustainability.

We will empower people to feed themselves to establish long-term food security by using our innovative, proprietary technologies locally, nationally, and globally.

The American Food Venture Forum (AFVF) is the only venture capital and angel investor event in the country focused solely on the food industry and value-added agriculture. The AFVF leverages Iowa’s status as a top agricultural state to draw both innovative companies and leading venture capital firms to the event.

TerraManus is in good company, with 18 additional presenters from US and Canada.  For more information visit the American Food Venture Forum

We are creating a links page to our friends.

The first addition will be an organization called the Imprinting Foundation.  The foundation was created by Dr. Robert Dixon. Dixon has used land imprinting in desert areas with success.  He has conducted several studies on this technology and has given his praise to the TerraStar technology. 

Read more about The Imprint Foundation.

Cleantech Forum XXV Beijing

What an honor to be chosen to present the TerraStar technology at such a prestigious event!

After presenting at the Cleantech Forum in Boston, MA we were selected to present at the Cleantech Investor Forum in Beijing, China (we placed fifth in Boston as the most promising company in the clean tech investment market finishing only four points below the winner).

TerraStar offers a real solution for China’s severe agriculture run off pollution. Read more in the abstract posted on Science Direct on nitrate pollution of groundwater in northern China