By: Andy Harig, Senior Director, Sustainability, Tax & Trade, Food Marketing Institute
.tmb-large-350-.jpg?Culture=en&sfvrsn=def706e_3 "mg-caption: President Obama Signs the 2014 Farm Bill")
George Orwell wrote, “Each generation imagines itself more intelligent than the one that went before it and wiser than the one that comes after it.” When it comes to sustainability, it is easy to fall into that very trap. The high value placed on sustainable supply chains and greening retail can make current leaders feel like they’ve seized on an opportunity missed by previous generations, but for the food wholesale and retail industry it is actually old hat. All you have to do is look at the history of the Farm Bill.
In the agriculture and food industries, the Farm Bill is one of the single most important pieces of legislation the industries operate under. To people inside the Beltway and out in the fields, farm policy discussions are commonplace, but what about the consumers between the farms and fork? This bill covers everything from crop insurance for farmers to healthy food access for all families, especially low-income households to sustainable production practices training. This package of laws sets the course for food and farming, and as retailers play a key role in the food supply chain, we must ensure the Farm Bill reflects what our country’s farmers and eaters need for a sustainable future.
The Farm Bill originates back to 1933 as part of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal legislation. This time period was tumultuous for our country, with farmers and families suffering the most. The policy was drafted in response to the economic and environmental crises of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. The original goals of the bill were to ensure an adequate food supply, keep food prices fair, and to protect our country’s natural resources. Since then, the Farm Bill has been reauthorized by Congress nearly every five years. Members of Congress who serve on the Senate and House Committees on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry are primarily responsible for drafting legislation. Currently, the agriculture and food industries are authorized under the 2014 Farm Bill, which includes 12 sections or titles. The titles cover:
- Commodities
- Conservation
- Trade
- Nutrition
- Credit
- Rural Development
- Research, Extension and Related Matters
- Forestry
- Energy
- Specialty Crops & Horticulture
- Crop Insurance
- Miscellaneous—things like advocacy programs and workforce development
The next Farm Bill is expected to be reauthorized in the fall of 2018. Hearings, discussions and negotiations are well underway in Washington. With food retailers oftentimes the delivery mechanism of the bountiful harvest of farmers, we must be engaged in dialogue to ensure our voice is heard on issues that are critical to the grocery industry.
One way to get involved is to attend the 2017 Global Sustainability Summit in Nashville, TN August 9-11. Conversations about how to thrive and remain sustainable in an ever-changing world will be had, and we need you to take your seat at the table. For more information on the Summit and food policy, tune into FMI’s Facebook page for a live discussion on policy issues that will be discussed at the Summit on Thursday, July 13th at 10 a.m. EST.
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