Agricultural summit highlights high speed possibilities
High speed Internet, demands for alternative energy, and growing global markets are dynamic forces in today's world that hold promise for rural America if they can be harnessed properly, according to Thomas Dorr, the undersecretary for rural development for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Dorr highlighted these possibilities during the South Carolina Agricultural Summit on November 27th.
Creating connections and finding business opportunities on opposite sides of the world is where the Internet can play a large role. Spreading high speed Internet capabilities in rural areas allows for American agribusiness to move beyond traditional boundaries and bring American products to markets in China and Europe. South Carolina has already benefited from new Chinese markets, said Frank Brown, the president of MarketSearch, a Columbia, South Carolina research firm.
According to Dorr, the spread of high speed Internet to rural areas "means companies can operate from almost anywhere."
The state of South Carolina is taking steps to develop a strategy for agribusiness ventures that will hopefully become a model for using new innovations to redevelop industry in the state. Other states should take note and realize that the potential gains from universal high speed Internet are well worth the investment necessary to put such networks into place.
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