A New Vision for Food and Ag Policy

Transcription

1 A New Vision for Food and Ag Policy Todd Barker Senior Partner, Meridian Institute National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research December 14, 2012

2 A Need for Integrated Policies Food and agriculture are central to a number of policy issues, including Health National security Education Energy Economy Natural Resources Integrated policy approaches to food, nutrition, agriculture, and economic issues are needed to meet changing demands and conditions

3 AGree AGree exists to create a safe forum for developing breakthroughs in the current policy paralysis, and to build the foundation for continual, transformative change across the food and agriculture system. AGree fosters a unique kind of discourse that benefits from rigorous, research-based discussion among diverse interests. AGree is harnessing the power of diverse viewpoints in a process that yields practical results.

4 Leadership Co-Chairs Dan Glickman Former Secretary of Agriculture under President Bill Clinton Gary Hirshberg Chairman of Stonyfield Farm Jim Moseley Former Deputy Secretary of Agriculture under President George W. Bush; a fourth generation Indiana farmer AGree Staff Deborah Atwood Executive Director; Former Associate, Corporate Affairs and Public Policy at Mars, Inc.; Special Assistant to U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jim Moseley Todd Barker Senior Partner, Meridian Institute Mil Duncan Research Director; Founding Director of the University of New Hampshire s Carsey Institute and Former Professor of Sociology Emmy Simmons Former Assistant Administrator for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade, U.S. AID

5 Advisory Committee Rudy Arredondo Ousmane Badiane Tres Bailey Dave Baudler Chuck Benbrook Jim Borel Craig Cox Jeff Dlott Kristin Weeks Duncanson Bev Eggleston Ginny Ehrlich Jeremy Embalabala Debra Eschmeyer Steve Flick Paul Guenette Hal Hamilton Susan Heathcote A.G. Kawamura Mark Keenum Shiriki Kumanyika Carl Mattson Rekha Mehra Eric Olsen Pat O Toole Judith Redmond Nancy Straw Elizabeth Thompson Robert Thompson Johanna Nesseth Tuttle Connie Veillette Claire Wang Shonda Warner Fred Yoder

6 Research Committee Chris Barrett, Cornell University Ken Cassman, University of Nebraska, Lincoln Douglas Jackson-Smith, Utah State University Philip Martin, University of California Davis John Reganold, Washington State University Beatrice Rogers, Tufts University Katherine Smith, Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics Thomas Tomich, University of California Davis Parke Wilde, Tufts University

7 Foundation Working Group on Food and Agriculture Policy Ford Foundation Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation Robert Wood Johnson Foundation W.K. Kellogg Foundation The McKnight Foundation David and Lucile Packard Foundation Rockefeller Foundation The Walton Family Foundation

8 Meridian Institute, a 501(c)(3) organization, designs and facilitates collaborative solutions to some of society s most complex and controversial issues through collaborative problem solving. AGree: Transforming Food & Ag Policy is an initiative at Meridian Institute. To ensure AGree has the necessary tools in place, the initiative s 501(c)(3) activities will complemented by a 501(c)(4) strategy to develop and allocate resources for a strong and comprehensive advocacy campaign.

9 AGree s Mission AGree seeks to drive positive change in the food and agriculture system by connecting and challenging leaders from diverse communities to catalyze action and elevate food and agriculture policy as a national priority. Through its work, AGree will support policy innovation that addresses four critical challenges in the food and agriculture system in a comprehensive and integrated way.

10 AGree s Key Challenges Meet future demand for food Strengthen farms and communities to improve livelihoods Improve nutrition and public health Conserve and enhance water, soil, and habitat

11 AGree s Strategies AGree has identified a comprehensive framework of strategies that, together, address the four challenges The challenges and strategies were identified through dialogue and informed by research There is no hierarchy among the strategies and all are needed to successfully confront the challenges Many strategies are being addressed by other organizations and where possible, AGree will seek to amplify the work of the others

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13 Priority Strategies for Redirect research, education, and extension priorities and strengthen institutions in the U.S. and developing countries. Ensure vulnerable populations access to nutritious food through a food systems approach. Align agricultural and food production in the U.S. with improved environmental outcomes. Create a stable, legal food and agriculture workforce in the U.S. Attract young people to food and agriculture.

14 AGree REE Workgroup Co-Chairs Dan Glickman, former Secretary of Agriculture Emmy Simmons, former Assistant Administrator, U.S. AID Advisors Ousmane Badiane, IFPRI Dave Baudler, Cargill AgHorizons Jim Borel, DuPont Mark Keenum, Mississippi State University Johanna Nesseth Tuttle, CSIS Bob Thompson, Johns Hopkins SAIS Britt Lundgren, Stonyfield Farms Research Committee Members

15 Redirect research, education and extension on priorities and strengthen institutions Support Efforts that: Prioritize key research issues, including: o Basic research; agronomic research; soil health; agro-ecological systems; behavioral research; etcetera (aligned with challenges and public v. private) Strengthen public sector REE system: o Examine balance between formula funding and competitive granting models o Innovation Ecosystem (PCAST) o Reduce duplicative research, streamline knowledge sharing, and coordinate efforts given dwindling research resources o Forthcoming recommendations informed by commissioned concept papers Capitalize on 21 st century information communication technologies to ensure that publicly funded research is widely available and used

16 Redirect research, education and extension on priorities and strengthen institutions Develop and Advance Strategies that: Expand the availability and attractiveness of food and agriculture education and training: o Expand opportunities for non-farm students in elementary and secondary schools to pursue careers in food and agriculture o Increase emphasis on vocational training abroad Increase collaboration among developed and developing nations: o Enable skill sharing among nations o Increase international collaboration among universities

17 AGree Work Flow

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19 Questions and Discussion