Iowa State is acting as host to eight World Bank members who are currently touring the state of Iowa to visit farms that practice sustainable agriculture.

World Bank, an international organization that aids developing countries, is involved with farming practices and technology that Iowa has developed during the last century. The organization is the largest source of assistance for poor countries, loaning about $30 billion a year to them.

“One of our objectives is to establish a relationship with other countries,” said Ramesh Kanwar, who is leading the group. “Iowa is a good place for this workshop because over the last 150 years, it has went from little agriculture to a national leader.”

Kanwar, professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering, said this is the second time World Bank members have come to Iowa. He said they want to learn about sustainable agriculture and possibly use it while working with developing countries.

Sustainable agriculture is a method in which farmers raise crops and livestock as naturally as possible. There are few or no chemicals used, and feed for the livestock is often grown on the same farm.

Some farmers try to create a self-sufficient cycle where their crops are produced for the livestock and the livestock manure is used for the next season’s fertilizer.

“Sustainable agriculture is more people- and environment-friendly than industrial farming,” said Vic Madsen, a sustainable agricultural farmer in Audubon County. Madsen’s farm was the first stop for the World Bank group Monday.

“The size of the farm isn’t as critical as it is to take care of the land,” Madsen said. “We want livestock production that is direct to the consumer and where the grain that the animals eat is produced right here.”

The group will be touring until Friday and will visit other farms and towns across Iowa, including ones in Ames, Harlan, Greenfield, New Hampton, Fairfield and Grinnell.

“Our ultimate goal is to learn from them and develop a long-term relationship with them,” Kanwar said. “In the future, this may lead to more involvement of ISU faculty on their projects.”

Kanwar said Iowa State already has faculty working with World Bank on a project in India.