Twenty farm groups came together today to launch Farmers for a Sustainable Future, a coalition committed to environmental and economic sustainability.
The farm group leaders gathered for the launch event avoided the term climate change, but highlighted the efforts of their sectors in increasing efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Leaders said they intend to make sure accurate data based on sound science is shared with policymakers, the media and the public.
American Soybean Association CEO Ryan Findlay said, “Soybean farmers have an awesome story to tell, including their sustainability initiatives, so it’s great to be able to collaborate with like-minded organizations to facilitate sound policy and program decisions and have a platform to share our efforts.”
“Today’s launch of the Farmers for a Sustainable Future is a defining moment,” said National Cattlemen's Beef Association vice president for government affairs, Ethan Lane. “Twenty-one agricultural groups — which represent the vast majority of the agricultural industry in our country — are standing side by side in unity to correct a false narrative that has haunted us for as long as I can remember. We’re here because we support incentivizing innovation, science-based research, resilient infrastructure, and focusing on outcomes.”
As policy proposals are developed and considered, the goal is for the coalition and its guiding principles to serve as a foundation to ensure the adoption of meaningful and constructive policies and programs affecting agriculture.
FSF’s guiding principles call for:
- policies that support science-based research,
- voluntary incentive-based conservation programs,
- investment in infrastructure, and
- solutions that ensure vibrant rural communities and a healthy planet.
The coalition members who spoke at the launch also emphasized while they've made a lot of progress toward sustainability, they are committed to making more.
More about the coalition members, guiding principles and sustainability achievements can be found at sustainablefarming.us.