Sustainable Agriculture

Beyond the USDA: How other government agencies can support a healthier, more sustainable food system

Introduction

Climate agreement must support shift toward sustainable agriculture

To effectively address global climate change, policy solutions must support a transition toward more sustainable agriculture systems that recognize the critical role agriculture plays in the world, concludes a series of issue briefs released today by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP).

Minnesota farm to school efforts catch eye of USDA Deputy Secretary Merrigan

Minnesota farm to school efforts that provide students with healthy, locally grown food are attracting national attention.

Bridging the GAPs: Strategies to Improve Produce Safety, Preserve Farm Diversity and Strengthen Local Food Systems

In the absence of federal regulations governing food safety at the farm level, a growing number of wholesale and institutional produce buyers are requiring farmers to comply with a food safety protocol and pass a third party audit in order to sell their product.

G-8 Commitment on Hunger Must Support Small-holder Farmers and Sustainable Practices

G-8 discussions on the food crisis must include more than additional money, and should prioritize agriculture and food policies that improve the position of small producers—particularly women.

Identifying Our Climate Foodprint

A look at the entire food system and opportunities to shift to a climate-friendly system. The industrial model of farming with massive resource intensive inputs for crops and livestock is the largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions throughout the food system.

How to Build a Climate-Friendly Food System

Sustainable practices in agriculture, combined with the development of local food systems, can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. food system, finds a new paper by IATP.

Sow the Seeds Announces Grants to Support Local Food Systems in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa

Sow the Seeds, a project of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) in partnership with the Wedge Co-op, announced a series of small grants today to support farmer education and outreach on season extension for fruit and vegetable production in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.

A Food System We Can Believe In

In 2008, prior to Barack Obama becoming president, we defined our nine policy positions for agriculture that could serve as a blueprint for the incoming administration. These policies directly addressed and corrected the six major areas causing the breakdown of our food and farming system.

Antibiotic Resistance: The Unwelcome Guest at Your Holiday Dinner

As the holidays approach, thoughts inevitably turn to an important part of these celebrations - food, and in particular, turkey. We may also wish to consider the health and environmental impacts of how the meat for our holiday is raised.