As a farmer, Jim Whitaker’s passion for conservation and sustainability go hand in hand for his love of the land.
Why you should listen
Jim Whitaker is a fifth-generation farmer, born and raised in McGehee, Arkansas. He, his brother and their families own and operate Trinity Farms and Whitaker Grain, where the Whitakers have been farming the same piece of land since 1890. As early adopters of new technology and practices, Whitaker and his brother have become leaders in the sustainable farming community over the last 30 years. Their innovative methods have increased yields while drastically reducing water and nitrogen use.
Whitaker is a member of the Arkansas Rice Farmers Board, Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board, USA Rice Farmers Conservation Committee, USA Rice Sustainability Committee, USA Rice Domestic Promotion Committee, USA Rice Foundation and USA Rice Farmers Board of Directors. He and his brother have won multiple awards for their progress in sustainable farming.
Whitaker is a member of the Arkansas Rice Farmers Board, Arkansas Rice Research and Promotion Board, USA Rice Farmers Conservation Committee, USA Rice Sustainability Committee, USA Rice Domestic Promotion Committee, USA Rice Foundation and USA Rice Farmers Board of Directors. He and his brother have won multiple awards for their progress in sustainable farming.
Jim Whitaker’s TED Talk
Jim Whitaker, Jessica Whitaker Allen
A cleaner world could start in a rice field
12 minutes 25 secondsRice is the world's largest food source — and it's also a massive emitter of methane gas, a key contributor to climate change. Fifth-generation rice farmer Jim Whitaker and his daughter, farmer and conservationist Jessica Whitaker Allen, are working to slash rice's environmental impacts with innovative, sustainable farming practices. They share how they're keeping their family farm in Arkansas profitable while also spreading green farming practices to their neighbors — and, eventually, the rest of the world. "If you take care of the planet, it will take care of you," says Whitaker Allen.Posted Oct 2023
