The Farm Bill is up for reform this year, and though it may sound like it doesn't have anything to do with you, it does. The Farm Bill affects us all, even how the US deals with farmers in other countries. It affects land conservation, wildlife conservation, organic and local food production, access to food, biodiversity, and even food stamps are a part of the Farm Bill. Perhaps it should be called the Food Bill instead. Below is a way that you can have a say in what kind of food you may have access to in the future as chefs.
Taken from the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture:
Minnesotans are being asked to contact Rep. Collin Peterson to support funds for classical plant and animal breeding in the Farm Bill.
GET SEEDS & BREEDS IN THE HOUSE FARM BILL MARKUP
CALL Reps. HOLDEN (PA) AND PETERSON (MN) ASAP!
(Markup is May 1 -- they need to hear from everyone NOW!)
TELL THEM TO:
1) Put SEEDS AND BREEDS IN THE HOUSE FARM BILL MARKUP
2) ADD Classical Plant and Animal BreedingGaramond TO THE N.R.I. LIST OF PRIORITIES
Call Rep. Collin Peterson at: 202-225-2165
Call Rep. Tim Holden at: 202-225-5546
Please email Liana@hvc.rr.com to tell us who you have contacted.
QUICK BACKGROUND:In recent decades, public resources for classical plant and animal breeding have dwindled, while resources have shifted toward genomics and biotechnology, with a focus on a limited set of major crops and breeds. Unfortunately, this shift has significantly curtailed the public access to plant and animal germplasm, and limited the diversity of seed variety and animal breed development. This problem has been particularly acute for organic and sustainable farmers, who seek access to germplasm well suited to their unique cropping systems and their local environment.
Without renewed funding in this arena, the public capacity for plant and animal breeding will disappear. Yet the concern goes far beyond the needs of sustainable and organic farmers, and raises nationwide food security concerns. If we lose the capacity for classical plant and animal breeding, we also lose our ability to maintain a diverse set of plant and animal germplasm that is well adapted to changing environmental and climatic conditions.
By relying on an ever-narrowing pool of seeds and animal breeds our food supply is placed in a precarious position, as it exposes us to greater harm in the event of large-scale shift in climate or pest populations.
What Should be in the FARM BILL: (What to say when you call your Rep.)
• Amend the National Research Initiative (NRI) to list for competitive research grants, and modify term limitations for NRI research grants to reflect longer-term nature of breeding programs.
• Reauthorize the ARS National Genetic Resource Program and increase support for the collection, preservation and evaluation of germplasm collections. Direct ARS to accelerate long-term research in this arena.
• Enact a successor to the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems, and include classical plant and animal breeding as a priority.
National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture
P.O. Box 396, Pine Bush, NY 12566
845-361-5201
www.sustainableagriculture.net
For more talking points:
http://www.msawg.org/key-farmbill.html
http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/pr/06/newsr_061011.htm
http://www.crk.umn.edu/tws/MN/downloads/FINAL-MTWS-Farmbill07.pdf
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