“People worry climate policy will be done [to] them and not [with] them,” remarked Under Secretary of Farm Production and Conservation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Robert Bonnie,
during the Animal Agriculture Sustainability Summit held at the 2023 International Production & Processing Expo (IPPE). The Animal Agriculture Sustainability Summit is sponsored by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY), along with the American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) and the North American Meat Institute (NAMI).
During his presentation on “Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities Grants: Insights into the Benefits the Animal Agriculture Industry Can Realize,” Bonnie noted that “the USDA has a program that will make a big difference in the next decade regarding climate change and the approach USDA is taking, which will be important.” He provided insight into the program, which has $3.1 billion for projects to be developed in the next three to four years. Producers will have their own programs, production and projects, and incentives will be available to the producers, with USDA measuring the benefits. There will also be an opportunity for private sector investment. Bonnie remarked that the projects will help expand markets for America’s climate-smart commodities, leverage the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart commodity production and offer direct and meaningful benefits to production agriculture, including for small and underserved producers.