BRIEFING PAPER August 2020

1 TABLE OF CONTENTS

HOSTS’ WELCOME ��2 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS ��3 INTRODUCTION ��4 DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT ��5 THE AGRICULTURE SYSTEM STAKEHOLDER MAP ��5 CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND ��6 AGENDA FOR THE 2020 FORUM ��9 PARTICIPANT PRE-FORUM CHECKLIST ��10 US AGRICULTURE’S OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS ��10 THE CASE FOR A SECTOR-WIDE VISION AND COMMITMENT ��16 THE VISION ��17 THE COMMITMENT ��19 ACTION NETWORKS ��20 INVESTMENT & FINANCE ��21 DATA, METRICS AND TECHNOLOGY ��28 THE AGRICULTURE CLIMATE PARTNERSHIP ��32 COMMUNICATIONS AND STORYTELLING ��34 WORKFORCE AND LIVELIHOODS ��35 THE JOURNEY AHEAD – LOOKING TOWARD THE HONOR THE HARVEST FORUM 2021 ��39 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ��40 HONOR THE HARVEST ADVISORY COUNCIL ��40 CONTENT PARTNERS ��43 THE HONOR THE HARVEST FORUM TEAM ��43 ADDITIONAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FROM THE ASPEN INSTITUTE ��44 ADDITIONAL ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FROM USFRA ��44

1 HOSTS’ WELCOME

Thank you for committing your time, leadership, and expertise to the 2020 Honor the Harvest Forum. While a virtual convening is a poor substitute for an in-person convening, it is far more important to meet the moment we face today. We’re calling on you — leaders in the food and agriculture space — to step forward to develop and implement solutions to keep our agriculture and food supply system resilient, both — today and in the future.

We think of the challenges we face, but also the enormous opportunities we can reap. We now have fewer than 30 Harvests to get it right. We have already faced challenges in 2020 that few would have predicted, and we understand that we must collaborate to protect the health of our communities. We must also recognize that we must also collaborate going forward to meet other challenges, united in the recognition that we are all in this together. That collaboration and working together is the only way progress has ever been made — whether it’s protecting our health, the climate, our food system and this Earth we all share.

The Harvest Forum will prove to be exciting, engaging, and full of opportunities to step up and commit to meaningful change. Leaders like you — bold, thoughtful and strategic leaders — are needed to collectively advance our sector into the next decade. Your ingenuity, passion and knowledge will be used to shape our future.

In this moment, we ask that you read through this briefing paper to prepare for the days to come. We will need each leader involved to be ready to collaborate and communicate to make the most of our time together. Now is the time to think boldly. Now is the time to ignite a movement. Now is the time to make your mark on history in the food and agriculture sector. We are so honored to have your participation at the 2020 Honor the Harvest Forum. Thank you for committing to co-creating a better future!

Erin Fitzgerald Greg Gershuny CEO Executive Director U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action Energy & Environment Program, The Aspen Institute

On behalf of the farmers and ranchers represented by U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action, thank you for participating in the 2020 Honor the Harvest Forum. This is a moment in our history that will carve our path toward the future. Farmers, ranchers, sustainability executives, researchers, communicators and CEOs will all collaborate to uncover opportunities to change and evolve our food systems. And we are ready.

As a farmer, the legacy that generations have left before me carries me into the Honor the Harvest Forum. My parents and grandparents were passionate and resilient, and instilled their love of the land in me. With each generation, our family legacy grows — and I am truly honored to be building the foundation for my family’s future with leaders like you. Our task is enormous. Together, we will build tremendous solutions to secure a more sustainable future.

Thank you again for your participation and your commitment to our future.

Chip Bowling Chairman U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action and farmer from Newburg, Md.

2 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

US Farmers and Ranchers in Action and The Aspen Institute would like to extend a huge thank you to our 2020 sponsors who believed in the power of convening leaders. Their support and commitment provided the opportunity to envision a positive future for agriculture and collaborate together. MOVEMENT SPONSORS PRESENTING SPONSORS

PLATINUM SPONSORS

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSOR

BRONZE SPONSOR COPPER SPONSOR DONOR SPONSOR

For sponsor statements of support, please see Sustainability Messages from Our Sponsors.

This briefing paper was wholly or partially funded by U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action including support from the Pork and Soybean Checkoffs.

3 INTRODUCTION

This Briefing Paper has been created to provide Honor the Harvest Forum participants with the essential information that they need to participate in the Forum. The Forum brings together leaders and experts across the food and agricultural systems to collaborate with a shared purpose. Our Forum task this year is How might we accelerate economically viable, climate-smart agricultural solutions that will provide society with the food, fiber and energy it needs for healthy people, healthy communities, and a healthy planet?

This pyramid illustrates the organizing framework used to describe the work of the Honor the Harvest community, and movement.

The Vision statement, outcomes, and guiding principles provide a shared North Star. The Commitment is how each person and Vision organization signals that they will take new action. The Action Network is made up of all initiatives and Commitment organizations aligned with this effort and working to make it happen. Action Network

The Vision, which we aim to finalize and gain alignment on at the 2020 Forum, is the shared North Star that guides the work we do individually and collectively. The Commitment, the development of which will be kicked off at the Forum, refers to SMART goals that each stakeholder group will align on collaboratively and sign onto individually. The Action Network refers to the specific initiatives or projects that actually bring the vision closer to reality. The 2020 Forum will focus on four specific Action Networks: Finance & Investment; Data, Metrics & Technology; Workforce & Livelihoods; and Communications, Engagement & Storytelling. Each Action Network is discussed in further detail in the Action Networks section below.

4 DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION STATEMENT

The Honor the Harvest Forum has been designed in the hopes that it will create and foster collaborative, innovative, and creative conversations among leaders across the value chain. Our collective success depends on a robust exchange of ideas towards our shared future; an exchange that is fueled by a diversity of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and opinions.

We believe every leader is called upon to bring his or her expertise, resources and passion to meet this moment. We encourage and celebrate the uniqueness of everyone’s backgrounds and ask that you bring your authentic selves to this forum, while respecting and honoring one another’s differences, and that you engage, learn, and collaborate across these differences. Genuine collaboration and powerful innovation only begin when we hold space for appreciation, respect, acknowledgment of difference and inequity, and a deep commitment to the work of building a more just society.

We Value a holistic approach. We Encourage diverse and rich collaborations. We Celebrate and Welcome a diversity of backgrounds, geographies, perspectives, experiences, and opinions. We Believe every leader is called upon to meet this moment. We Ask that you bring your authentic selves to this forum and respect, be open minded to, and honor differences.

THE AGRICULTURE SYSTEM STAKEHOLDER MAP

A fundamental premise of the Honor the Harvest Forum is that the whole system must participate in creating change at the system level. In creating the invitation list for the 2020 Forum, the System Stakeholder Map below provided guidance to ensure all key stakeholder groups and subgroups are represented and are present in appropriate proportions.

Agricultural System Stakeholder Map for HTH

Value Chain Players

Communities Rural Development organizations/agencies Community organizations

Inputs Producers Transport/ Processing Packaging Retail Consumer Food Distribution Waste

Ag Tech Providers Animal Protein Producers Logistic service providers CPG Companies and Brands B2B packaging Grocery/general retail Consumers Food Waste Solutions Seed, Fertilizer, Pesticide Food and Fiber Crop Producers Trucking companies Processors B2C packaging Retailers – natural fibers Consumer Insights and Innovators Companies Organic & Non-organic Freight rail Co-op models Recycling experts and Foodservice Experts Equipment Manufacturers Urban Ag Innovators Food Banks Apparel and textiles companies advocates Convenience stores Consumer Advocates Industry Organizations Bio energy processing Online Aquaculture/Bivalves Restaurants & Chefs Alternative production Ghost restaurants and approaches supermarkets Farm-based energy production

Influencers

Academia/ Finance/ NGOs/ Government Agencies/ Media/ Tech Other Science Funders Initiatives Lawmakers/Regulators Comms/PR

Experts On: Foundations Youth-Focused Secretaries of Agriculture Expert Journalists/ Tech companies Biofuels/Energy Carbon Cycle & Climate Science Institutional and Private Investors Nutrition Advocates Ag House & Senate Committee Members Columnists Youth Ag Studies / Soil Health / Venture Capital Environmental Advocates Governors Authors Influencers Agronomy Lenders Ag / Farming Focused Federal Agencies (NRCS, FDA, Rural Development) Magazines Movement makers Human Health & Nutrition Insurance Rural Development Initiatives Aligned organizations or initiatives

5 CONTEXT AND BACKGROUND

The first Honor the Harvest Forum was convened in early June 2019. It brought together about 100 people from across the agricultural system. The diverse group gathered in a barn on the Bowling Family’s working farm in Newburg, Maryland, for two days, during which time they worked to define new initiatives based on the 2019 Forum Task: How might we harness the power of agriculture to propel year-on-year drawdown of greenhouse gases and adapt to an already changing climate, while growing shared value across the supply chain?

Top left: Working time in the barn in Newburg, Maryland Top center: Equipment demonstrations during break time at the 2019 Forum Top right: Erin presenting the Honor the Harvest Forum Challenge Coin to Sec. Perdue Middle left: The Honor the Harvest Forum Challenge Coin Bottom left: Lunchtime in the outdoor tent on the farm in Newburg, Maryland Bottom right: (from left) Former US Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack, current US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, former US Secretary of Agriculture Daniel Glickman

6 There were 12 new initiatives created at the 2019 Forum by nine Working Groups (three groups created two initiatives). These Working Groups continued to meet monthly to further develop their concepts. The 12 initiatives are listed here with an update on their current status.

Net Zero Pledge: Learning Farms: Rapid Response Platform: Create a pledge that grower Establish a set of Enable farmers adapting to organizations can sign on to that representative learning farms climate change to share site- publicly commits to pursuing to demonstrate and research and crop-specific knowledge carbon neutrality or better, climate-smart innovation and with each other through a aiming for 2030. best practices. crowdsourcing platform.

Action Network: Action Network: Action Network: Vision & Commitment Data, Metrics & Technology Data, Metrics & Technology

Status: Status: Status: • Created Commitment • This concept has been • This concept has been Landscape to provide context incorporated into the Ag incorporated into the Ag for Commitment discussion Climate Partnership’s Five Climate Partnership’s Five • Wrote White Paper on Year Plan. Year Plan. Voluntary Commitment Frameworks • Working session planned during Honor the Harvest 2020

Breakthrough Collaboration: CART Adoption: Widespread Metrics Create a platform to facilitate Support NRCS during rollout of Initiative Adoption: connection, dialogue and new conservation assessment Bring the farmer and rancher learning between farmers, ranking tool (CART) by perspective to the metrics environmental groups and encouraging farmers & ranchers conversation and facilitate food companies. to try it and provide feedback. increased adoption of shared metrics Action Network: Action Network: All Data, Metrics, Technology Action Network: Data, Metrics, Technology Status: Status: • It was determined that • NRCS staff met several times Status: Breakthrough Collaboration with groups of farmers to get • IDEA project: National Pork is actually a key principle for input on the CART tool that has Board and Smithfield will be each of the other initiatives. been the process of rolling our the ‘guinea pigs’ for transparent This concept has been for much of the past year. supply chain pilot facilitated by incorporated in each of the • USFRA stands ready to Purdue Open Ag Tech Systems other initiatives’ plans. help NRCS with further Center end of Aug / early Sept, conversations and connections. linking to e-pig initiative in Europe

7 Consumer Insights for Farmers: Value Stewardship: Innovative Financing: Create/curate and disseminate Use real data to prioritize Create and publish a report that details consumer and market demand on-farm practices based on how much funding US ag needs to insights that can inform ongoing impact, cost, and complexity to achieve SDGs relevant to food and ag planning for farmers, ranchers get the most ‘impact per buck.’ and what the ROI would be. and the whole food system. Action Network: Action Network: Action Network: Data, Metrics & Technology Finance & Investment Communications & Storytelling Status: Status: Status: • Taken forward as “LCA • Phase 1: Barriers to Adoption, • 13 organizations have Harmonization & Economics Tech Landscape and Capital provided their own consumer Assessment” project and Flows & Mechanisms for research, which is being results expected to be soil-based agriculture to be compiled for an August 2020 published September 2020 completed in September. Key launch. findings will be included in • Potential for regular updates pre-read for HTH Forum 2020 every 12-18 months • Advised by multi-stakeholder Working Group

Scientific Research Roadmap: Climate Recognition Prize: 2030 Vision: Create a roadmap for Profile 30 farmer climate heroes Develop a shared positive vision aligning funding and research in 30 days. In parallel, develop a for U.S. agriculture in 2030, and strategies for innovation and Climate Prize. share it with a broad range of tech transfer to achieve our stakeholders to build alignment Action Network: vision by 2030. and drive action. Communications & Storytelling Action Network: Action Network: Status: Data, Metrics & Technology Vision & Commitment Climate Heroes Recognition: Status: • Farmer stories included on Status: • Draft will be ready for USFRA website and shared on • Draft to be presented for Stakeholder Review by social media final feedback at Session 1 mid-September and • Full campaign needs funding of 2020 Forum submitted to NASEM by • Aim is to finalize Vision by end November 1. Initial findings Climate Prize: of HTH Forum and approve a will be shared as part of • Prize development paused final, full-color version of the HTH pre-read materials. pending funding Forum to be approved for sign-on by all participant orgs.

8 AGENDA FOR THE 2020 FORUM

Session, Date & Time Agenda Session 1: Introduction and • Introductory Remarks Vision • Share Vision, Commitment, and Action Network Framework Weds, Sept 9 • Present and Solicit Feedback on the Ag Sector Vision (created at HTH 2019 and further developed over the last year) 10am-12pm EDT • Quad Breakouts (4 people) – Vision and Leadership Discussion • Plenary Report Outs from Breakout Sessions • Closing Remarks Session 2: Finance & Investment • Introductory Remarks • Panel Discussion on New or Adapted Financial Mechanisms that Can Support Thurs, Sept 10 Climate-Smart Ag and Achieve Our Vision 10am-12pm EDT • Breakout Sessions • Plenary Report Outs • Quad Breakouts – Leadership Discussion • Closing Remarks Session 3: Data, Metrics & • Introductory Remarks Technology • Panel Discussion on the Ag Climate Partnership to Make Exponential Progress on Using Data to Achieve Our Vision Fri, Sept 11 • Breakout Sessions 10am-12pm EDT • Plenary Report Outs • Quad Breakouts – Leadership Discussion • Closing Remarks Session 4: Workforce & • Introductory Remarks Livelihoods; Communications & • Two Panel Discussions in Parallel: Storytelling • How might we build the food & ag workforce required and enabled by the Vision? Tues, Sept 15 • How might we build the movement to make progress toward the Vision through powerful storytelling? 10am-12pm EDT • Breakout Sessions • Report Outs • Quad Breakouts – Leadership Discussion • Closing Remarks Session 5: Commitment • Introductory Remarks and Framing for Commitment Groundwork Working Session Groundwork • Breakout Sessions: What can each stakeholder group uniquely do to enable us to achieve the Vision? Weds, Sept 16 • Plenary Report Outs 10am-12pm EDT • Closing Remarks Session 6: Vision Alignment & • Introductory Remarks Action Commitments • Present Revised Vision and Test for Alignment Thurs, Sept 17 • Personal Reflection • Commitment Roadmap and Leader Calls to Action 10am-12pm EDT. • Closing Remarks • Open Space Networking following the close of the program

9 PARTICIPANT PRE-FORUM CHECKLIST

• Block your calendar to attend each session of the Forum if you are able. If you need to pick and choose, here is how to think about it: • Sessions 1, 5 and 6 are “mandatory” and we encourage participants to join these three as a minimum. • Sessions 2, 3, and 4 address specific topics and participants may choose where to participate based on interest, expertise and availability: • Finance and Investment – Day 2 (Sept 10) • Science, Date & Metrics – Day 3 (Sept 11) • Workforce & Livelihoods – Day 4 (Sept 15) • Communications & Storytelling – Day 4 (Sept 15) • Read this Briefing Paper and/or watch the Briefing Paper webinar on August 26th from 10-11am Eastern. The webinar will also be recorded for viewing at your convenience. • Review the Vision – static version in this document and additional detail available in Vision Detail document on Crowd Compass. • Solicit additional feedback on the Vision from your constituents, colleagues, suppliers, customers, neighbors, and other stakeholders in the food and agriculture systems and bring it to Day 1 of the Forum. Please consider these specific questions: • What resonates with you? What excites you? • Recognizing that this Vision Statement, Principles and Outcomes package has already been reviewed by hundreds of people, and that we may each have our own preferences for one word over another that could be debated indefinitely, could you and your organization align with this Vision and support it, get behind it, and be committed to making it reality?

US AGRICULTURE’S OPPORTUNITIES TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

USFRA, with funding from the United Soybean Board, researched and wrote, and will soon publish, a report examining U.S. agriculture’s potential to contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For this report, the team interviewed 41 people from across the food system, from farmers to processors to food waste experts, and reviewed existing reports and studies.

This image provides a simple visualization of the high-level connection between the food and agriculture sectors and the Sustainable Development Goals. Stewardship is the foundation of our inherent values in the agricultural sector, and from that commitment to our vision and values, we are able plant the future and grow into the goals. The food and ag sectors uniquely unlock and touch all 17 goals.

10 This table provides a summary of the challenges to address and the opportunities to advance, drawn from the SDG report.

Summary of US Agriculture’s Opportunities to Contribute to the SDGs

Shaded rows are core SDGs for US agriculture

Progress Made and Challenges Still to Address Sustainable Opportunities to advance Development Goal • Most farmers receive off-farm income, but • Invest in the agricultural sector, which has small-scale operators depend on it.a a multiplier effect on rural economies, which • Poverty is more widespread in rural areas than can contribute to an economic renewal of cities. In 2018, the non-metro poverty rate was rural America. 16.1% compared with 12.6% for metro areas.b • Improve rural broadband and other data and technology infrastructure. • See opportunities under SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth • Ag sector output grew 170% from 1948-2015 • Build resiliency in the agricultural and food while inputs rose only 7% over the same supply chains through climate mitigation and period, demonstrating significant increase in adaptation, greater diversity of foods grown, productivity.c and agile packaging and distribution systems. • 88.9% of U.S. households were food secure, • Leverage sustainable productivity, innovation but despite plentiful food production and and stronger connections between farmers the largest food export market, food deserts and ranchers and hunger relief organizations continued to pose challenges to ensuring to ensure affordable, accessible food is nutritious diets.d available to all. • As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, an • Expand urban agriculture to provide more estimated 17 million more Americans will be fresh produce, especially to food deserts, as food insecure in 2020 than in 2019.e well as employment and green spaces in cities. • Both farm and rural populations experience • See opportunities under SDG 1 No Poverty lower access to healthcare along the and SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic dimensions of affordability, proximity, and Growth quality, compared with their nonfarm and urban counterparts.f

• Rural and farm populations often face limited • See opportunities under SDG 1 No Poverty access to resources and institutions due to and SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic isolation and poor broadband coverage. Growth Nearly one fourth of rural residents lack access to broadband.g • Land grant universities, individually and collectively, are working to expand access to education. • In 2017, 36% of farmers were female, a • Continue to support women in places where 27% increase from 2012.h their representation is already growing: Beef • Despite recent progress, gender equity cattle operations, other crop farming (hay or among farmers and ranchers is still lacking, row crops)j and studies have shown women are still not • Support women gaining representation in included in information sharing to the same areas where they remain underrepresented. degree that men are.i

11 Progress Made and Challenges Still to Address Sustainable Opportunities to advance Development Goal • Agriculture accounts for 80% of the U.S.’s • Adapt water use and nutrient management consumptive water use, and irrigated practices to maximize water efficiency and agriculture accounts for roughly half of the minimize total water use by the sector, help total value of crop sales.k contribute to ‘good’ water quality ratings in • Improvements in water management and coastal and freshwater bodies.l precision agriculture have led to an increase in on-farm efficiency, decreased runoff, reduced pesticide use, improved crop yields, and water cost savings.k • Farmers produce, utilize and store renewable • Expand use of renewable energy systems energy through managing renewable energy on farms. For example, an estimated 8,000 infrastructure on their land such as solar livestock farms in the U.S. have the potential panels and wind turbines, growing biofuel to host biogas systems with a total estimated crops, and operating anaerobic digesters in output of 13.1 billion kWh per year.n Biofuels livestock operations. can replace fossil fuels for aviation, automotive • In 2017, 6.5% of U.S. farms had renewable and other applications for a significant net energy systems, up from 2.7% in 2012.m reduction in GHG emissions (exact reductions depend on feedstock and land use change implications). Wind and solar also hold potential as scalable renewable resources that can be produced on farms and displace other GHG-intensive forms of energy. • 8 cents of each food dollar expenditure in • Protect and support the sector’s workforce. 2018 went to farm production, while the rest Agricultural and food sectors currently employ of the dollar covered costs from processing, 15% of the U.S. workforce and contributed wholesale, packaging, distribution, retail, and $2.96 trillion to U.S. GDP.p other value chain players.o • Invest in access to education, training and • Farmers and ranchers are caught in a price- other workforce development programs cost squeeze due to low profit margins to support the increasing sophistication of and high levels of risk, often experiencing modern agriculture (for example, technicians economic stress and significant levels of debt, to maintain precision agriculture equipment which must be taken on well in advance of and renewable energy systems on farms, knowing what profitability will be. validators to measure environmental benefit • There are concerns around labor practices, outcomes on farms for credit programs, etc.). safe working conditions, and human • Develop mechanisms to increase income for rights, particularly as roughly half of hired crop farmers, which could include new revenue farmworkers are estimated to be streams, opportunities to charge a premium undocumented.q for certain products, or new financing • Most farmworkers are exempted from the Fair mechanisms that allow farmers to share risk Labor Standards Act. and reward with other value chain partners.

12 Progress Made and Challenges Still to Address Sustainable Opportunities to advance Development Goal • The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted • Use Public-Private Partnerships to bring vulnerabilities in the food and agricultural further investment in research and innovation systems’ infrastructure, especially in packaging into agriculture. and distribution systems. • See opportunities under SDG 2 Zero Hunger. • The need for segregated transportation and distribution infrastructure for differentiated commodities has been a barrier to innovation, but there are efforts underway to address this both with and without changing physical infrastructure. • Agriculture receives only a tiny fraction of the federal funding for scientific research.r • Farmers and ranchers in the U.S. are still • Expand programs that support new, young predominantly White (95%), though the and diverse farmers number of principal operators who were • Ensure that the opportunities in SDG 8 Hispanic (3.3%), Native American (1.7%), African Decent Work and Economic Growth are Americans (1.3%) or Asian (0.6%) increased provided equitably and with a focus on from 2007 to 2017.s cultivating and supporting a diverse workforce • From 2001 to 2016, there was consolidation in across the food and agriculture sectos. agriculture toward fewer larger farms, and the number of new farmers decreased.t • Many workers in the food system take home poverty-level wages, feeding into large-scale inequity and inequality.u • In 2018, food insecurity was prevalent in Hispanic and Black, non-Hispanic households at nearly double the rate of White, non- Hispanic households.v • 2017 ended six years of population losses by • Encourage teleworking policies that allow non-metro areas as people moved to metro people to live outside of cities (which would areas, but cities are still growing faster than be significantly enabled by rural broadband nonmetro areas, at 0.82% compared with noted in SDG 1). 0.07% respectively.w and trends indicated that • Create and expand programs that better this trend could be amplified by the COVID-19 connect rural and urban residents including pandemic.x efforts by universities, governments, • Cities once offered opportunity to people businesses and civil society. whether they had formal education or not, • See opportunity on Urban Agriculture in SDG but this has changed. In fact, people without 2 Zero Hunger college degrees are leaving urban centers as their compensation fails to keep up with rising cost of living.y • An estimated 30-40% of all food produced in • Facilitate nutrient cycling through municipal the U.S. each year becomes loss or waste.z composting systems for residential and • Consumer products packaging, of which commercial food and yard waste, as well as a sizable amount is food and beverage through the expansion of practices to minimize packaging, made up 30% of municipal solid and repurpose food loss on farms. waste generated in 2017.aa • Innovate and scale sustainable food and beverage packaging, building off of the efforts by companies who are already focused in this area.

13 Progress Made and Challenges Still to Address Sustainable Opportunities to advance Development Goal • U.S. agriculture currently accounts for about • Use agriculture to drawdown carbon. U.S 9% of U.S. GHG emissions.bb agriculture has the potential to halve its • Companies across the food and ag value GHG emissions in less than 5 years using chain have set ambitious goals to reduce their only existing practices and technology. With own GHG emissions and work with others to innovation, U.S. agriculture can be carbon do the same. (See Commitment Landscape) positive by 2035, offsetting not only its own • Climate change and extreme weather emissions but those of other industries as well, cc continue to pose challenges for the ag sector. enabling a transition to a net zero economy. • Programs supporting farmers to reduce runoff • Expand Marine Aquaculture, which can play has improved water quality across the country. a restorative role in marine ecosystems while In one example, the EPA’s Chesapeake Bay also supporting human health and providing program restored water to its highest level in new employment opportunities.ee over 30 years.dd • Fund proven programs that support farmers • Nutrient runoff from land-based farming in to improve water quality in surrounding water many regions still affects marine water bodies bodies. with impacts including algal overgrowth and dead zones due to eutrophication. • More than 15% of U.S. farmland is used for • Cultivate Ag Lands as Natural Spaces: conservation and wildlife habitat improvement.ee Agricultural production accounts for over • Since 2012, soil health efforts have increased half of U.S. land usehh which means the by 17%. ff impact of continued adoption of practices • Between 2001 and 2016, 11 million acres like conservation tillage, planting cover crops, of farmland and ranchland were lost to incorporating buffer strips, and utilizing less development.gg productive areas of land within, near and alongside fields for wildlife is potentially very • There is still work to be done to continue significant. to address soil erosion and degradation, ecosystem stress, nutrient accumulation and • Protect Farmland from Development, which pollution, and increased and varied pests. releases carbon, reduces water retention, and reduces wildlife habitat. • The sector’s contribution to food security and • Food is foundational to peace. All of the resilient supply chains are vital in preventing opportunities described here will contribute and managing conflict as well as social and to a more resilient, just, and strong agricultural economic disruptions. sector, which is the foundation of a peaceful, just and strong society.

• There are ongoing collaborations among U.S. • Collaboration and partnership are essential agriculture and academic and government to realizing the potential for U.S. agriculture to institutions, as well as companies and NGOs, contribute to achieving the SDGs. but there are still gaps in terms of effectively sharing knowledge, data, decision making power, and economic value.

14 Sources: All links accessed on August 12, 2020. a. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/gallery/chart-detail/?chartId=58426 b. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/rural-economy-population/rural-poverty-well-being/ c. https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2015/september/us-agricultural-productivity-growth-the-past-challenges-and-the- future/ d. https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2010/march/access-to-affordable-nutritious-food-is-limited-in-food-deserts/#box1 e. https://www.bushcenter.org/catalyst/america-at-its-best/babineaux-fontenot-feeding-america.html f. https://www.hrsa.gov/rural-health/rfi-rural-health-care-access g. https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/reports/broadband-progress-reports/eighth-broadband-progress-report h. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-economy/farm-labor/ i. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08941920.2019.1584657 j. https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2017/index.php k. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-practices-management/irrigation-water-use/#:~:text=Agriculture%20is%20a%20 major%20user,percent%20in%20many%20Western%20States. l. https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-12/documents/305brtc_finalowow_08302017.pdf m. https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-biogasconverting-waste-to-energy n. https://www.agweb.com/article/dairy-farmer-says-federal-support-could-increase-dairy-sustainability o. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-dollar-series/documentation.aspx p. https://goodstone.guerrillaeconomics.net/reports/2de34cc0-e809-4b7d-8b69-4270b957c864 q. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/farm-economy/farm-labor/ r. https://www.aaas.org/sites/default/files/2020-07/Agencies.png s. https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/Highlights/2014/Farm_Demographics/index.php t. https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2019/04/13/advocates-hoped-new-report-would-find-diversity-ag-it-found-old- white-people/ u. http://centerforsocialinclusion.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Building-the-Case-for-Racial-Equity-in-the-Food-System.pdf v. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics/ “Prevalence of Food Insecurity, 2018” graphic w. https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/rural-economy-population/population-migration/ x. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jrose/2020/08/06/time-to-move-data-suggests-americans-may-flee-to-rural-areas-post- covid/#6954e68c7161 y. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/05/21/business/economy/migration-big-cities.html z. https://www.usda.gov/foodwaste/faqs#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20States%2C%20food,worth%20of%20food%20in%20 2010 aa. https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/containers-and-packaging-product-specific-data bb. https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions cc. https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks-1990-2016 dd. https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-provides-6-million-reduce-excess-ag-runoff-chesapeake-bay ee. https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/aquaculture/us-aquaculture ff. https://climatecrisis.house.gov/sites/climatecrisis.house.gov/files/Climate%20Crisis%20Action%20Plan.pdf gg. https://farmlandinfo.org/publications/farms-under-threat-the-state-of-the-states/ hh. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting-the-essentials/land-and-natural-resources/

15 THE CASE FOR A SECTOR-WIDE VISION AND COMMITMENT

At the 2019 Forum, a Working Group began to develop the idea of an Ag Sector Commitment, and this idea has been discussed and explored with leaders across the agricultural system over the last year.

USFRA is publishing a White Paper that examines voluntary commitment frameworks and when and how they can provide value to a sector. You can find the full report on Crowd Compass, the Honor the Harvest Forum event app. An excerpt summarizing the key findings is included here.

Shared commitments can give organizations and sectors a powerful sense of purpose while encouraging action. There are seven main benefits of joining a shared commitment.

1. Show leadership in proactively addressing the most pressing issues of our time. In the case of agriculture and its potential to address climate change, as well as many other SDGs, this is a chance to capitalize on this once-in-a- generation opportunity and leave behind the old, defensive status quo. 2. Attract investment: Investors of all kinds, and in particular ESG-focused investors, are seeking opportunities. A clear commitment by the sector reduces uncertainty and unpredictability, which creates the conditions for more investment. 3. Respond to Consumer Demands: Consumers, especially younger generations, see sustainability as a core responsibility of farmers, ranchers, food companies and the food value chain. They expect it. 4. Drive Sector Innovation: Use pre-competitive collaboration to drive research, development and innovation on shared challenges or barriers to progress. 5. Maximize Impact through Increased Participation: When the sector works together, it amplifies each of the benefits to a shared commitment, and it also means that the impact of the commitment will be greater as well. 6. Avoid Unwanted Government Regulation: A shared commitment allows organizations to set the bar themselves and lowers the perceived need for regulation. 7. Reduce the Cost Burden: The pre-competitive sharing of any costs related to sustainable practices greatly reduces individual economic burden and removes the initial barrier to sustainable operations, providing a route to reduced operational costs in the future.

The report also shows how lessons from past U.S. agriculture sustainability efforts and global shared commitments can be applied to the 2030 Commitment. Using the findings from the case studies highlighted in the report, these recommendations were developed to guide the development of the 2030 Shared Commitment Framework.

1. Use Common Definitions and Metrics: Use a common definition of success and clearly define key sector terms to eliminate confusion and ensure efficient collaboration. 2. Maximize Co-Benefits and ‘Handprint’: Recognized the interconnected nature of many of the issues being addressed and demonstrate the progress being made across a range of outcomes. It isn’t just about reducing the footprint – but increasing the ‘handprint,’ the positive impact that the sector can have on society. 3. Set Specific Targets Based on Science:Use the latest high-quality research to inform what targets are possible as well as what level of ambition is needed to adequately meet the challenges. 4. Differentiate Targets by Stakeholder Type: Each type of organization in the food and agriculture systems has its own unique ability to provide solutions. Bring out the most needed contributions from each type of organization by having each group set distinct targets for themselves. 5. Report Progress and Recognize Leaders: Regularly report progress towards targets to keep stakeholders and the public up to date and highlight the organizations and individuals that are leading the way.

16 THE VISION

The Vision was co-created by the ~100 participants at the 2019 Honor the Harvest Forum and further refined and developed through regular meetings with the Vision Group (a subset of people from Honor the Harvest 2019 and their colleagues who volunteered to be part of the process) between June 2019 and February 2020.

The purpose of the Vision is to capture and represent a shared vision for the future that:

• the sector can align around, • that all stakeholders see themselves in, and • that inspires new action and collaboration.

The Vision focuses on where there is broad alignment on the future we want to create. It does not attempt to reconcile all distinct perspectives but rather focuses energy on where we do agree rather than where we don’t.

The Vision has been shared broadly throughout the spring of 2020 for additional input and alignment, and the HTH Advisory Council has aligned with the current draft of the Vision.

INTENTIONAL DESIGN CHOICES ABOUT THE VISION

The Vision Group articulated a series of design choices as part of the process for refining the vision drafted at the Forum.

• Climate-centric using framing of Climate-Smart Agriculture – targets five outcomes: soil health, biodiversity, water, productivity and carbon sequestration (“planetary health”) • Other benefits come out fo these strategies as well – community vibrancy, food security, reduced hunger, increased resiliency, etc. • Ambitious but realistic: Describing specifically what we intend to do in real terms; not ‘solving hunger’ or ‘ending poverty’ • Tone: Positive language that inspires (as opposed to ‘crisis’ language) • The “who”: Broader system leadership (as opposed to ‘farmers and ranchers’ as the primary actor – recognizing we all need to do this together) • Scope boundaries: Agriculture system producing food, fiber, energy • Contextual inclusions: • Includes forestry, as a part of agriculture • Includes horticulture, as a part of agriculture • US/America (not global) • Focus on action now until 2030 (Decade of Agriculture)

VISION STATEMENT

• A resilient, restorative, economically viable, and climate-smart agricultural system that produces abundant and nutritious food, natural fiber, and clean energy for a sustainable, vibrant, and prosperous America.

17 VISION PRINCIPLES

Collaboration – Leveraging our diverse perspectives, experiences, and capabilities into shared strengths and action. Leadership – US agriculture is leading the unprecedented creation and deployment of global climate solutions. Appreciation – Valuing agricultural land and communities as the foundation for a thriving America. Ingenuity – Bringing innovative mindsets, technology, and practices to evolve the agricultural system. Stewardship – Holding ourselves accountable for the role we must play in responsibly managing our natural resources and caring for each other, today and for the future.

VISION OUTCOMES

Restoring our environment Investing in the next generation of agricultural systems through agriculture • Investment in technology and innovation is ushering in a new era of food, fiber, and energy advancements to that regenerates natural deliver climate-smart outcomes. resources. • Clear standards around data privacy, widespread traceability and transparency, open source data sharing, and • The entire agricultural interoperability – which connects everyone from the farmer to the consumer. system – across sectors • Public-private partnerships, land grant universities, extension services, and other institutions (that are appropriately and diverse farming funded) provide the education, science, research, and testing to deliver on the vision’s outcomes. systems - is providing solutions for a changing • Incentives, financial investment, and policies are aligned with our vision and the US is achieving ag-related climate. Sustainable Development Goals. • American production of food, fiber, and energy is Strengthening the resilient, within planetary social and economic boundaries, and without fabric of America waste. through agriculture • All the elements of • American agriculture is climate-smart agriculture providing food security are in place: healthy clean energy, and soil, abundant clean water, nutrition to support the carbon neutrality, health of all Americans. biodiversity, • Agricultural communities and productivity. across America are prosperous, economically resilient and vibrant. • The bioeconomy is supporting sustained Revitalizing our collective appreciation for agriculture economic vibrancy. • Americans have a greater appreciation for, understanding of, • All people working in and connectedness to the agricultural and food system. the food and agricultural • The next generation of agricultural leaders is engaged, mobilized and capable. sector are respected, • Farmers and ranchers are recognized as climate heroes for their efforts to combat climate change. protected and valued. • The full value chain is collaborating and working through collective action.

Graphic Recorder Diana Arsenian drew the original center image at the 2019 Forum and then digitized it to create this refined image. To understand what each part of the vision drawing represents, discover the Vision in more detail on the Honor the Harvest Forum Hub on CrowdCompass.

18 THE COMMITMENT

Commitment Landscape

There are many and varied commitments that have been made or are being considered that relate to agriculture and climate, as well as other related environmental and social goals. A number of organizations have already shown leadership in the work they have done to make their own commitments. These commitments should be celebrated and elevated as examples for all to take as inspiration.

USFRA has completed a high-level landscape of the commitments that have been set to date. This landscape allows us to visualize the spectrum of commitments and estimate their ambition in aggregate, as well as to recognize the great progress that has already been made.

The call for an Ag Sector Commitment should not be seen as a reaction to a lack of action by the sector or an effort to minimize the work done to date; in fact, the opposite is true. The commitments that have been made across the sector to date, and further commitments that are being or will be made, create an opportunity to tell the story of food and agriculture’s leadership to address the challenges of a changing climate. When the sector comes together as a whole, the world will take notice.

You can view the completed landscape on the Honor the Harvest Forum Hub on CrowdCompass.

The Ag Sector Commitment

The Ag Sector Commitment challenges all segments in the food and agricultural value chains to make a voluntary commitment to achieve the Vision. A Working Group for each segment of the value chain will work collaboratively to establish realistic targets that each individual company will then be asked to commit to. The commitments are expected to be SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound.

The Ag Sector Commitment is set in the context of the Decade of Ag, which aligns with the Decade of Action or Decade of Implementation, as it has been called by some, from 2020-2030. For organizations that have already set a goal with a timeframe of 2040 or 2050, these commitments can ensure those organizations are on a trajectory to meet their goals and can act as enablers for faster, more efficient progress toward achieving their own goals.

ILLUSTRATIVE Graphic Depicting the Aggregation of the 2030 Ag Sector Commitments

PLEASE NOTE: These are NOT suggested commitments. These examples are provided merely to illustrate the concept. Each Working Group will be asked to define their own metric and level of ambition for that metric.

2030 Commitments – On Our Way to Net Positive as a Sector by 2050

Align 100% of Transportation Facilitate flow $XB Halve food waste, Halve food waste, Provide product portfolio and distribution of ESG and other source X% renewable connect consumers zero-emissions with resiliency and emissions at X% capital to farms and energy from farms, to where their food equipment and net neutral farming reduction – while ranches for climate- and co-invest with comes from and make it easy to or better halving food waste smart ag suppliers to share the people who upgrade risks and rewards produce it

Implement Zero waste Focus X% / $X Provide Provide $XM Establish robust Shift the narrative Climate from food of research on technology and in funding or ecosystem toward optimism Change packaging, ag as a solution tools to enable in-kind expertise services credits for the role of Solutions on while halving to climate continuous to support pilots markets and agriculture in X acres of U.S. food waste change; facilitate improvement and innovation catalyze enduring addressing climate ag land interoperable on farms and demand change shared data ranchers

19 The 2020 Forum will launch the process of developing the stakeholder-type commitments, and all participants of the Forum and their organizations are invited to participate in this process. See below for the proposed timeline.

Commitment Development Process

Sept 2020 June 2021 Sept 2021

Compile and Individual elevate individual commitments commitments to date

Begin to develop Stakeholder Working time Commitments commitments working at Forum to Public launch by stakeholder by stakeholder groups further hash out final Organizations of stakeholder group group* develop details secure internal commitments commitments approvals to and ag sector Working time sign on commitment at Forum to explore roll-up Ag Sector into Ag Sector Commitment Commitment

* e.g. farmer/ rancher, ag inputs, banks, processors, retailers, etc.

ACTION NETWORKS

Action Networks Investment & Data, Metrics & Communications & Workforce & are the engines of implementation Finance Technology Storytelling Livelihoods that drive Unlock and mobilize Collaboration between Use digital storytelling Develop and support the achievement of capital for all US farmers farmers and scientists to and dialogue to build workforce for the food and commitments and ranchers to adopt achieve net negative relationships and share agriculture sectors and ultimately, the climate-smart agriculture emissions for the ag ideas across the ag sector, fulfillment of the practices sector. the value chain, and the • Opportunities for vision. country young people from • Innovative financial • Farmer & Scientist all backgrounds to get Four Action mechanisms for getting learning networks – • Connect the public with experience, education, Networks have low-cost capital to access to latest data/ farmers and ranchers in mentorship been defined farmers and ranchers science, collaboration new ways • Expand and embrace to support this • Carbon and ecosystem • Demonstration / • Recognize the diversity in its many work so far and services credit markets Lighthouse farms to leadership of farmers forms in the food and ag additional ones that provide financial test and accelerate the and ranchers in sectors may be activated recognition for effective adoption of climate- addressing climate in the future. These • Ensure decent stewardship smart ag change four are Investment livelihoods for all who & Finance; • Catalytic capital / • Site-specific insights to • Tell the stories of all work in the food and Date, Metrics blended finance optimize for economic people working in the agriculture sectors & Technology; approaches to funding and environmental food and ag sectors • Protect farmworker Communications the transition to climate- outcomes / business • Shape and inform rights and safety, end & Storytelling; smart practices intelligence solutions public perception of US laborer trafficking and Workforce & • Value chain financing • Illuminating and agriculture • Access to health care, Livelihoods. solutions, where supporting farmers and • Create a race to the top stress management customers partner companies in navigating to inspire and challenge support, mental health with producers to and harmonizing the the whole ag value chain resources for all workers co-invest in social landscape of metrics, to continue innovating in food and ag supply and environmental tech and tools and making progress chain outcomes

20 VISION OUTCOMES

Vision Outcomes Communications & Storytelling Data, Metrics & Technology Workforce & Livelihoods

Restoring our environment Investing in the next generation of agricultural systems through agriculture • Investment in technology and innovation is ushering in a new era of food, fiber, and energy advancements to that regenerates natural deliver climate-smart outcomes. resources. • Clear standards around data privacy, widespread traceability and transparency, open source data sharing, and • The entire agricultural interoperability – which connects everyone from the farmer to the consumer. system – across sectors • Public-private partnerships, land grant universities, extension services, and other institutions (that are appropriately and diverse farming funded) provide the education, science, research, and testing to deliver on the vision’s outcomes. systems - is providing solutions for a changing • Incentives, financial investment, and policies are aligned with our vision and the US is achieving ag-related climate. Sustainable Development Goals. • American production of food, fiber, and energy is Strengthening the resilient, within planetary social and economic boundaries, and without fabric of America waste. through agriculture • All the elements of • American agriculture is climate-smart agriculture providing food security are in place: healthy clean energy, and nutrition soil, abundant clean water, to support the health of all carbon neutrality, Americans. biodiversity, • Agricultural communities and productivity. across America are prosperous, economically resilient and vibrant. • The bioeconomy is supporting sustained economic vibrancy. Revitalizing our collective appreciation for agriculture • All people working in • Americans have a greater appreciation for, understanding of, the food and agricultural and connectedness to the agricultural and food system. sector are respected, • The next generation of agricultural leaders is engaged, mobilized and capable. protected and valued. • Farmers and ranchers are recognized as climate heroes for their efforts to combat climate change. • The full value chain is collaborating and working through collective action.

INVESTMENT & FINANCE

The focus for the Investment & Finance Action Network is to unlock and mobilize capital for all US farmers and ranchers, and the food and ag value chain, to adopt climate-smart agriculture practices. This effort began at the 2019 Forum with a Working Group focusing on Innovative Financing. This group recognized that there is a ‘perfect storm’ currently of an increase in ESG and climate-focused investing, a growing maturity in data and technology enabling new insights and investment, and an agriculture sector poised to be a solution to climate change with the right influx of capital. The goal of the Action Network is to spur investment into the ag sector. This section of this Briefing Paper provides a summary of the findings from the Transformative Investment in Climate-Smart Agriculture project to set the stage for action-oriented conversation at the Forum.

21 The image below shows which Vision Outcomes are directly connected to the Finance & Investment Action Network.

Vision Outcomes Communications & Storytelling Data, Metrics & Technology Workforce & Livelihoods

Restoring our environment Investing in the next generation of agricultural systems through agriculture • Investment in technology and innovation is ushering in a new era of food, fiber, and energy advancements to that regenerates natural deliver climate-smart outcomes. resources. • Clear standards around data privacy, widespread traceability and transparency, open source data sharing, and • The entire agricultural interoperability – which connects everyone from the farmer to the consumer. system – across sectors • Public-private partnerships, land grant universities, extension services, and other institutions (that are appropriately and diverse farming funded) provide the education, science, research, and testing to deliver on the vision’s outcomes. systems - is providing solutions for a changing • Incentives, financial investment, and policies are aligned with our vision and the US is achieving ag-related climate. Sustainable Development Goals. • American production of food, fiber, and energy is Strengthening the resilient, within planetary social and economic boundaries, and without fabric of America waste. through agriculture • All the elements of • American agriculture is climate-smart agriculture providing food security are in place: healthy clean energy, and nutrition soil, abundant clean water, to support the health of all carbon neutrality, Americans. biodiversity, • Agricultural communities and productivity. across America are prosperous, economically resilient and vibrant. • The bioeconomy is supporting sustained economic vibrancy. Revitalizing our collective appreciation for agriculture • All people working in • Americans have a greater appreciation for, understanding of, the food and agricultural and connectedness to the agricultural and food system. sector are respected, • The next generation of agricultural leaders is engaged, mobilized and capable. protected and valued. • Farmers and ranchers are recognized as climate heroes for their efforts to combat climate change. • The full value chain is collaborating and working through collective action.

USFRA would like to acknowledge United Soybean Board and Wells Fargo for their generous sponsorship of the Transformative Investment in Climate-Smart Agriculture project, from which the content for this section was drawn.

22 Capital Flows in Food and Agriculture

Hundreds of billions of dollars flow through the U.S. food and agriculture sector every year. To better understand the state of current financial instruments and identify which approaches may be most effective for targeting investments into climate-smart agriculture, we collected and mapped data on U.S. capital investment flows in the food and agriculture market. The chart below depicts the capital flows in food and agriculture starting with asset owners and flowing through asset classes, financial intermediaries and arriving at farmers, rancher, and food and agricultural value chain operators. This snapshot reflects the best available data for 2019.

Agricultural Capital Flows in the United States ($B) 523 481 609 282 442 456 432 364

Asset Owners Asset Classes Financial Intermediaries Farmers, Ranchers and Agricultural Source: The Croatan Institute Value Chains

Overview of Financial Mechanisms

The table below provides a summary of financial mechanisms identified that have the potential to unlock capital for the implementation of climate-smart or other sustainable agricultural practices.

These mechanisms overcome existing barriers for accessing capital in a range of innovative and creative ways. Type Mechanism Avg Deal Size/ Originating Target Entity Examples Invest-ment Entity Needed Cash & Thematic Small - Medium Commercial Farm Operating Self Help Credit Union’s Green Term Equivalents Certificates of banks Capital, Certificate invests in sustainable businesses, Deposits (CDs) Value-Chain including solar farms, sustainable food, and and Money Companies land trusts. Market Funds Cash & Targeted Small - Medium Commercial Farm Operating The Carrot Project in a partnership with Equivalents Institutional and banks, Farm Capital, community bank Salisbury Bank & Trust Bank Lending Credit System Value-Chain Company offered the Greater Berkshire Companies, Agricultural Fund. Farmland Fixed Income – Land-Secured Large Government, Farm Operating Land-secured assessment financing has Public Bond Assessment Institutional Capital recently been used to invest in sustainability Financing Investors, Fixed improvements through the Property Assessed Income Clean Energy (PACE) program.

23 Type Mechanism Avg Deal Size/ Originating Target Entity Examples Invest-ment Entity Needed Fixed Income – Climate Bonds Medium - Large Institutional Farm Operating As of January 2020, Agriculture has been Public Bond Investors, Fixed Capital, integrated as a criterion in the Climate Bonds Income, Funds Value-Chain Standards and Certification Scheme. Companies Fixed Income – Blended Capital Medium – Large Commercial Farm Operating The Agri3 Fund Technical Assistance Facility Public Bond Facilities Banks, Farm Capital, bridges the gap between the needs of farmers Service Agency, Value-Chain and the limitations of banks by providing Individuals Companies, de-risking financial instruments and technical Farmland assistance Fixed Income – On-Bill Financing Medium – Large Institutional & Farm Operating On-bill financing is well-established in the Private Debt Retail Investors, Capital, U.S., particularly with energy utilities, to enable Government, Value-Chain customers to invest in energy efficiency. Fixed Income Companies Fixed Income – Environmental Medium – Large Commercial Farm Operating Blue Forest Conservation, supported by Private Debt Impact Bonds banks, Farm Capital, Ag philanthropies as well as the World Resource (EIBs) Credit System, Value-Chain Institute, developed the Forest Resilience Government Companies Bond (FRB) to deploy private capital to forest restoration projects, delivering benefits to private and public stakeholders Fixed Income – Sustainability- Large Commercial Farm Operating Cofco International’s $2.3 billion sustainability- Private Debt Linked Loan banks, Farm Capital, linked loan facility Facilities Credit System, Value-Chain USDA Companies, Tereos Sugar and Energy Brazil took out a Farmland $105 mil sustainability-linked loan Louis Dreyfus Company took out a $750 million sustainability-linked loan

French agricultural cooperative Agrial took out a €900 million sustainability-linked loan Fixed Income – Tailored Lending Small – Medium Commercial Farm Operating Austin Foodshed Investors’ (AFI) Bridge Private Debt Programs banks, Funds, Capital, Loan Fund and California Farm Link both Farm Credit Value-Chain offer tailored loan programs that support System Companies, farmer and rancher access to the NRCS Farmland Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Fixed Income – CDFI Loan Funds Small – Medium Commercial Farm Operating Maine’s Coastal Enterprise Inc (CEI)’s Private Debt banks, Funds, Capital, Sustainable Agriculture and Food System Farm Credit Value-Chain Program offers loans and investments to farms System Companies, and agricultural value-chain businesses. Farmland Nebraska’s Rural Investment Corporation has a selection of loan products specifically designed to assist farmers Public Equity Initial Public Medium – Large Public investors Ag value chain Vital Farms, a pasture-raised egg company, Offering companies filed for an IPO in July 2020. Public Equity Exchange Traded Medium – Large Financial A variety of The NextGen Food & Sustainability ETF which Funds (ETFs) and services & asset assets that follows the BlueStar Food and Agriculture Mutual Funds management could include Sustainability Index. In Australia, many AgTech firms value-chain companies have listed on the Australian entities with a Securities Exchange (ASX). Krane Fund relationship to Advisors launched the KFA Global Carbon ETF, climate-smart which tracks the IHS Markit Global Carbon agriculture Index and could have eventual connections with agricultural carbon markets. Private Equity & “Bridge” Capital Small -Medium Private equity and Ag value chain Traction Capital launched a hybrid private Venture Capital Funds venture capital companies equity and venture capital fund to invest in or firms raise capital acquire early-stage and lower, middle market for bridge capital companies that are stuck in the "capital gap". funds from retail and institutional investors

24 Type Mechanism Avg Deal Size/ Originating Target Entity Examples Invest-ment Entity Needed Private Equity & Small Business Large Institutional Farmland, Farm M&T Bank announced a $5 million private Venture Capital Investment investors, banks, Operating equity investment with Blue Highway Growth Company / and money Capital, Ag Capital, a registered RBIC, to support small Rural Business managers Value Chain rural businesses in the Northeast and Mid- Investment invest in funds Companies Atlantic. Company managed by venture The Open Prairie Rural Opportunity Fund is capital firms; licensed RBIC that has received investment government can from Farm Credit Institutions including invest in debt Compeer Financial and CoBank commercial capital and community banks, family offices, and high net worth investors. Private Equity & Community Small Foundations, Ag value chain CEI Ventures provides equity venture capital to Venture Capital Development banks, financial companies businesses in underserved rural New England Venture Capital institutions, communities, including a limited number of (CDVC) government, “natural and organic” food companies. NGOs, and retail investors Private Equity & Venture Capital Small -- Medium Accredited Farm operating Almanac Investments is a $30 million venture Venture Capital Fund retail investors, capital, capital fund focused on climate-smart financial agriculture value agriculture by investing in CPG, retail, and institutions chain companies technology companies. Private Equity & Corporate Large Corporations Farm operating Patagonia created a $20 million corporate Venture Capital Venture Capital capital and venture fund called Tin Shed Ventures to Funds agriculture value invest in early stage companies that are chain companies addressing environmental problems, including those related to agriculture.

General Mills launched 301 INC, a business development and venture unit to work with innovative and growing brands that align with General Mill’s core business. Farmland and Opportunity Small Accredited retail Farmland, farm Harvest Returns’ Sustainable Agriculture Real Assets Zone Funds investors operating capital, Opportunity Fund is currently open for agriculture value soft investment commitments. The fund’s chain companies investment objective is to achieve tax- advantaged capital appreciation in production agricultural projects that are economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable Farmland and Real Estate Small - Medium Retail investors, Farmland Iroquois Valley Farmland REIT offers investors Real Assets Investment Trust including director ownership in a diversified portfolio (REIT) accredited and of organic farmland, which in turn, supports non-accredited independent farmers with long-term access to investors; land. This addresses one of the biggest barriers family offices; to organic farming by offering innovative foundations leases and mortgages to transitioning organic and organic farmers.

Farmland LP targets farmland poised for long-term appreciation with a strong demand for locally grown, organic food, robust existing farming communities, and favorable long-term climate projections. They convert conventional farmland to organic.

25 Enabling Infrastructure

Category Description Overview Examples Cash & Equivalents Climate Risk Integrate climate stress-testing into banking In 2017 nine international banks conducted Assessment at Banks & and loan fund risk management, in order to modeling exercises using a tool developed as Lending Institutions adequately plan for and assess the effects of part of a framework designed by the Natural climate change and expand the pool of credit Capital Financial Alliance and GIZ to measure for farmers seeking to invest in climate-smart the impact of severe droughts on farms’ ability farming practices and technologies to repay loans. This modeling showed that severe droughts could cause significant losses to banks. Cash & Equivalents Voluntary Standards Industry-wide standards and certifications lend • Global Alliance for Banking on Values and Certifications credibility and foster trust between customers • Platform for Carbon Accounting Financials and producers, they hold businesses, financial • Benefit Corporation (B Corp) institutions, and organizations accountable for using agreed practices. These affiliations may • UN Principles for Responsible Investment also be required for securing Green Bonds or • Leading Harvest Climate Bonds. • Climate Bonds Standard and Certification Fixed Income – Credit Enhancements Banks, private lenders, philanthropies, and Singapore energy company Sindicatum Public Bond for Climate Bonds other funders could provide enhancements to Renewables issued three green bonds totaling strengthen the credit ratings of Climate Bonds, approximately $60 mil, enhanced by a full credit specifically those targeting climate-smart guarantee from GuarantGo. agriculture. Credit enhancements, such as partial or full guarantees, subordinated debt, insurance, The Republic of Seychelles issued the world’s and A/B loans, are strategies for reducing risk first “Blue Bond” of $15 mil in 2018, which exposure for investors, which helps bonds offer was enhanced through a concessional loan, better loan repayment terms or a lower interest to finance sustainable marine and fisheries rate on the bond. projects. Fixed Income – Loan Guarantees Loan guarantees are contractual obligations The USDA Farm Service Agency has a loan- Private Debt where one party agrees to be liable for all or a guarantee program with $150 mil set aside for portion of the debt of another party if it is not conservation projects, which went unutilized in repaid. The guarantor can be the government, both FY2017 and FY2018. an organization (like a company or philanthropic foundation), or an individual. Guarantees PVGrows Investment Fund, a lending vehicle can also be used to mitigate risk and provide managed by the Franklin County Community multiple access points for investors with Development Corporation in the Pioneer Valley different financial and impact objectives. of Massachusetts, has a risk capital pool funded by foundations that serves as a loan-loss reserve for its community loan fund financing regional food systems.

The Small Business Administration (SBA)’s 7(a) Loans, the Community Development Corporation (CDC)/504 loan guarantee programs, or the SBA’s Microloan program, provide funds to specially designated non-profit intermediary lenders, which then issue loans to eligible borrowers, and small businesses with small, short-term loans — up to $50,000 — for working capital or to buy inventory, supplies, machinery and equipment.

Other Enabling Mechanisms: Credit Risk frameworks and Ecosystem Services Credits & Markets

There are two other significant enabling mechanisms that must be addressed when considering how to catalyze greater capital flows to agriculture: Credit Risk frameworks and Ecosystem Services Credits & Markets

26 Credit Risk frameworks

Over the last decade, many frameworks, tools, initiatives, and structures have emerged to add transparency and accountability to public companies that both reflect and capture their internal operations, but also their supply chains. This list is not exhaustive, yet as these mature can provide a rationale for investors to shift their decision-making toward investments that are helping to advance a more climate-smart agriculture.

• The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TFCD) and the World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WBCSD) have developed guidance specific for companies in the food, agriculture and forestry space. • Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) has identified materiality concerns with GHG emissions in the Food and Agriculture industry. • The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) program TEEB for Agriculture and Food is focused on true cost accounting through a holistic evaluation of agriculture and food systems’ value chains and has proposed an evaluation framework in Measuring What Matters in Agriculture and Food Systems. • The Environmental Impact Reporting in Agriculture (EIRA) initiative laid the foundation for dynamic, globally- relevant benchmarking of environmental impacts in agriculture and has begun design of an EIRA prototype that can be applied in multiple regions. • Ceres has an initiative on water called Feeding Ourselves Thirsty, which links water risk management as a business imperative for food businesses. • The Natural Capital Finance Alliance has provided a comprehensive framework that captures agriculture’s impacts and dependencies on natural capital, including those which have not been fully evaluated by lenders in the past, leading to sub-optimal allocation of capital in current credit risk assessment processes. • In their report, Stranded Assets in Agriculture: Protecting Value from Environmental-Related Risks, the University of Oxford’s Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment conducted a high-level assessment of the materiality of environmental-related risks that can strand assets throughout the agriculture supply chain.

Ecosystem Services Credits & Markets

With a potential $13.9 billion market demand for US ecosystem credits from agriculture, there has been a range of approaches trying to track, verify, and compensate these services through markets. Here is an overview of existing efforts in this space.

• The Ecosystem Services Market Consortium (ESMC) seeks to create a national marketplace designed to sell carbon and water quality and quantity credits in the agriculture sector operating by 2022. • The Soil and Water Outcomes Fund is a new partnership between the Iowa Soybean Association, Quantified Ventures and Cargill. It is a market-based program to accelerate soil health and water conservation by providing financial incentives to farmers for implementing best agricultural practices that yield environmental improvements on their farms. • The Bayer Carbon Initiative will reward farmers in Brazil and the U.S. for generating carbon credits to help meet the company goal of reducing field GHG emissions by 30% in 2030. • California has created a carbon marketplace through its carbon cap and trade program, and carbon credits, or offsets, are issued by two registries in the U.S. which design and operate voluntary and compliance GHG reporting programs. One of these, Climate Action Reserve has developed protocols to measure ecosystem services carbon credits, such as the Soil Enrichment Protocol, currently under development. Through the California Climate Investments initiative, the proceeds from California’s Cap-and-Trade program help fund the California Healthy Soils Program, which provides financial assistance for implementation of conservation management that improve soil health, sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

1 For the analysis behind the total potential ecosystem services in the U.S., see the 2018 Informa – HIS Markit study, Economic Assessment for Ecosystem Service Market Credits from Agricultural Working Lands, commissioned by ESMC

27 • Bi-partisan U.S. legislation was introduced in June 2020 to encourage sustainable, climate-friendly farming and forestry practices, and allow participation in private greenhouse gas credit markets. Under the Growing Climate Solutions Act of 2020, farmers and growers would get credits for finding ways on their land to reduce their carbon emissions, which would be verified independently, and then they would be assigned credits to sell on the market. • Other carbon marketplace schemes that have been developing include • Startup Indigo Ag, backed by companies including recent investor FedEx, which is planning to pay farmers based on how much carbon they have stored in their soil, which it analyzes. • Software company Nori is building the open source market infrastructure to allow for carbon removal projects to measure and monetize their activity based on blockchain technology to manage the transactions. • Regen Network is building a platform for farmers and ranchers to monetize their ecosystem services. Their platform will collect and organize data, produce transparency, and assure accountability by applying blockchain technology to track and verify the production of long-term ecosystem services, and remote sensing to verify carbon levels in the soil. • Community Markets for Conservation (COMACO) is a social enterprise founded in Zambia in 2003 to reduce illegal wildlife poaching by addressing the root cause of rural poverty. COMACO has partnered with the World Bank to expand into a carbon credits business segment; a share of the revenue from these credits is redistributed to the cooperatives, creating an even stronger incentive. COMACO has further leveraged the carbon credits to strengthen its revolving loan program. • The full report on Transformative Investment in Climate-Smart Agriculture is available in a version For Stakeholder Review – Not For Distribution, and is not yet published. You can review this version on Crowd Compass, the Honor the Harvest Forum event app.

Focus for the Forum:

Session 2 of the Forum is focused on Finance and Investment and will examine several of these financial mechanisms in more detail ask participants to consider what specific actions they are prepared to take to unlock the flow of capital to support the implementation of climate-smart agriculture on U.S. farms and ranchers.

Questions to consider:

• Which of these financial mechanisms would be most elevantr to me / my organization – either as a provider or recipient of capital or in a supporting role? What would need to be true for me to take action on this opportunity? • What specific needs or opportunities am I aware of that the Honor the Harvest community could help get over the line? • What do I need or what can I offer to spur action in this area?

DATA, METRICS AND TECHNOLOGY

Several of the 2019 Forum Working Groups’ concepts came together within the Data, Metrics and Technology Action Network. There is a recognition of the interdependency between this Action Network and the Investment & Finance Action Network as data and the insights and intelligence it brings on risk and return are a pre-requisite for unlocking new sources of capital. The insights and intelligence that are enabled by data, metrics and technology are also essential to identifying the most cost and resource-efficient approaches to transforming the agriculture sector from a net emitter to a net sink for carbon. This section of the briefing paper provides a summary of work and findings to date through a number of projects that USFRA has supported or participated in on this topic, and are presented to provide a foundation for rich, action-oriented discussion at the Forum.

28 The image below shows which Vision Outcomes are directly connected to the Data, Metrics & Technology Action Network.

Vision Outcomes

Vision Outcomes Communications & Storytelling Data, Metrics & Technology Workforce & Livelihoods

Restoring our environment Investing in the next generation of agricultural systems through agriculture • Investment in technology and innovation is ushering in a new era of food, fiber, and energy advancements to that regenerates natural deliver climate-smart outcomes. resources. • Clear standards around data privacy, widespread traceability and transparency, open source data sharing, and • The entire agricultural interoperability – which connects everyone from the farmer to the consumer. system – across sectors • Public-private partnerships, land grant universities, extension services, and other institutions (that are appropriately and diverse farming funded) provide the education, science, research, and testing to deliver on the vision’s outcomes. systems - is providing solutions for a changing • Incentives, financial investment, and policies are aligned with our vision and the US is achieving ag-related climate. Sustainable Development Goals. • American production of food, fiber, and energy is Strengthening the resilient, within planetary social and economic boundaries, and without fabric of America waste. through agriculture • All the elements of • American agriculture is climate-smart agriculture providing food security are in place: healthy clean energy, and nutrition soil, abundant clean water, to support the health of all carbon neutrality, Americans. biodiversity, • Agricultural communities and productivity. across America are prosperous, economically resilient and vibrant. • The bioeconomy is supporting sustained economic vibrancy. Revitalizing our collective appreciation for agriculture • All people working in • Americans have a greater appreciation for, understanding of, the food and agricultural and connectedness to the agricultural and food system. sector are respected, • The next generation of agricultural leaders is engaged, mobilized and capable. protected and valued. • Farmers and ranchers are recognized as climate heroes for their efforts to combat climate change. • The full value chain is collaborating and working through collective action.

USFRA would like to acknowledge the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research for their funding and partnership on The Agriculture Climate Partnership, from which the content for the Agriculture Climate Partnership section was drawn.

The Data Integration Journey

It is often noted that the biggest barrier to digital agriculture may be the pen-and-paper notebook in the farmer’s pocket and the three-ring paper binders in the office – though this is starting to change. Overcoming data collection barriers hinges on consistent recordkeeping, calibration, configuration, storage, and organization to create clean, useful datasets that can feed Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems. When it comes to data collection, the old adage “garbage in, garbage out” certainly also holds true for climate-smart technology solutions.

In almost all instances, producers will likely move along a digital data integration journey that will start with a crawl, move to a walk, and hopefully end in a run. Below is a description of that journey with the key questions producers can ask along the way and examples of the types of technologies appropriate for each step on that journey.

29 Data Integration Journey The Climate-Smart Soil Tech Landscape 2020

Over 150 different solutions were identified to construct the Climate-Smart Soil Technology Landscape. This landscape was created with a specific soil health focus and does not imply an evaluation of measurement protocols and standards. This is a Global/Local landscape, in that the search for hardware, software and applications was global, whereas the Information Sharing, and Calculators, Models, and Reporting Tools and Farm Management Software Interfaces focused on North America for relevance to U.S. farmers and ranchers. Source: The Mixing Bowl

Climate-smart soil tech landscape 2020

Sampling Only – Too Many to Show

It is notable that this graphic cannot contain all of the Calculators, Models and Reporting Tools or Information Sharing technology as these are areas with particular proliferation of efforts currently. As noted below in the results from the initial landscaping done as part of the Ag Climate Partnership project, over 180 databases have been identified, over 18 models have been reviewed, and this is not yet an exhaustive exploration of this space. It is hard to believe that these many disparate efforts are the most effective approach to unlocking the value that data holds for agricultural production.

For a complete discussion of the landscape, please see the full report on Transformative Investment in Climate-Smart Agriculture, which is available in a version For Stakeholder Review – Not For Distribution, and is not yet published. You can review this version on Crowd Compass, the Honor the Harvest Forum event app.

30 Implementing agricultural solutions to climate change

The work of the Data, Metrics & Technology Action Network is intimately entwined in the scaling and success of new mechanisms to finance as detailed data on risk and outcomes as necessary to enable investment.

One visualization of this linkage is shown in the “staircase” (“Scaling Climate-Smart Practice Adoption with Technology”). The staircase illustrates a step-by-step pathway for producers to use information technology, data- driven marketplaces, and financial reward mechanisms to make the transition to climate-smart practices less of a leap of faith and to aid producers in optimizing climate-smart production, including by receiving corresponding remuneration for making those efforts. The green arrows represent that idea that every project or deal that moves up to the next step generates further evidence and insights that strengthen that pathway, allowing more and more of those efforts to be done.

Scaling Climate-Smart Soil Tech Adoption

Pre-competitive, interoperable science and data repository

Source: The Mixing Bowl

Insights from Farmer and Rancher Interviews

1. Promote Online Locale & Practice-Specific Info-Sharing 2. Decrease Barriers to Calibrated Producer Digital Soil for Greater Confidence Health Testing

Producers and others in their organization’s ecosystem With only 30% of producers testing soil, mostly for fertility, need to feel confident that climate-smart soil practices and only a subset of those testing for SOM/SOC, we need will work for them. Hearing the experiences of other to make available cheaper, easier, and more automated producers and experts can build confidence and help testing. If SOM/SOC testing is cost-prohibitive, even simple develop trust networks. Producers are self-organizing measurements like water infiltration and soil aggregate online to supplement numerous organizations with formal stability can be used as interim proxies. In-field, do-it- programming. Many others (like extension services) should yourself SOC sensor testing has been close to market be doing more. COVID appears to be accelerating the use readiness for a few years and could use industry support to of online digital technologies for this purpose, in lieu of get to a workable product/market fit. on-site farm/ranch visits (underscoring the importance of expanding access to broadband service in rural areas, as Industry, academia, NGOs and government can support noted above in the section on SDGs). Leveraging these producer soil testing by providing standard protocols or general purpose communication technologies more should regimes to avoid the “garbage in, garbage out” problem of be easy as most are already integrated into the day-to-day data collection. lives of producers and their support ecosystem.

31 3. Integrate Digital Soil Health Test Data into Digital Farm Management Solutions

The necessary first step on a producer’s digital ag “data Industry, academia, NGOs and government can assist integration journey” has to be data capture and the very by developing standards or calibrating translation tables next should be inputting that data into a digital farm between hardware sensors, for instance, or lab-testing management and decision support solutions that can protocols or aerial imaging, semantic interoperability and interconnect soil data with production data or other application protocol interfaces all to accelerate greater data interoperable large databases. On this front, we are keen to analysis. With greater data to analyze, AI/ML models can be see the Soil Health Institute’s farm management solution rapidly refined to provide producers or crop advisors with later in 2020 that they are planning to make available locale and practice-specific recommendations to support for free. the climate-smart soil flywheel.

THE AGRICULTURE CLIMATE PARTNERSHIP have always been committed stewards of our land, animals At last year’s Forum, several action projects were proposed and natural resources – protecting these finite resources under the premise that accelerated data and science is often with razor-thin margins – they cannot accomplish needed to enable farmers to be resilient, adaptive, and net negative status for GHG emissions on their own. productive in the face of climate change. While it was This collaboration between the agriculture and scientific agreed that there was a lot of great work underway, there communities mobilizes farmers, ranchers, scientists, data was not a comprehensive network or strategy to channel providers and funders to develop climate-smart solutions these efforts toward a singular data- and science-based and data models that will help reduce GHG emissions initiative, akin to the “Human Genome Project.” Further, and ultimately strengthen the resiliency of our farms and startups and corporations looking to provide enhanced ranches by slowing the pace of climate change. tools to farmers often struggle to secure sufficient resources or burn through capital that instead could sit The Agriculture Climate Partnership works in three ways: in a precompetitive space to accelerate shared solutions. through collaboration, scientific discovery, and data sharing. Out of recognition of both the problem and the need, the We need broad collaboration to avoid costly duplication; Agriculture Climate Partnership (ACP) was launched. ACP to unearth gaps in data, research and information; and to is an initiative led by U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action, scale the successes of existing ag- and climate-focused the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research, and the programs. Through scientific discovery, we will identify World Farmers’ Organisation that aims to mobilize farmers, and develop climate-smart solutions that meet three ranchers, scientists, data providers, stakeholders and criteria: reduce emissions, maintain or increase yields, funders to develop and implement climate-smart solutions and provide economic benefit to the farmer or rancher. that reduce GHG emissions and are both environmentally Lastly, data sharing will enable improved decision support and economically sustainable. on the ground while providing necessary information on the relationship between specific production practices VISION: Every farmer and rancher will employ at least one and reductions in GHG emissions. Throughout this effort, climate-smart solution on every acre of farmland by the our focus will continue to be on resilience and climate year 2050. adaptation on the farm and ranch. GOAL: To transform U.S. agriculture into a net-GHG- To accomplish this goal, we are establishing a consortium negative sector by the year 2030. of farmers, ranchers, public and private data providers and STRATEGY: Mobilize scientists and farmers to unlock scientists. The ACP will mine public and private data and the climate-solving potential of our farmlands through research, create common data sharing protocols, identify unprecedented collaboration research gaps, coordinate current research, and capitalize on the innovation in computer and data science to test To reduce GHG emissions from agriculture, we must and deploy methods to accelerate the reduction of GHG collaboratively develop and widely deploy climate-smart emissions in the agriculture sector. solutions that advance the natural ability of plants and soils to use and sequester carbon while maintaining yields and ensuring economic prosperity. While farmers and ranchers

32 At the same time, we will leverage existing farmer networks learning and farmer adaption and that will serve as a that inform and influence decision-making on the farm science-based, data-driven repository of climate-smart and ranch. Building on the insights identified by the farming solutions. consortium, scientists and farmers will collaboratively While our efforts are starting in the U.S., we will expand develop customized climate-smart solutions to be deployed globally in partnership with the World Farmers’ Organisation, on farm and ranch lands. Some of these solutions will be replicating and refining the U.S. model and activating crop- or animal-specific, some will be specific to a region or farmers, ranchers and scientists around the world. geography, and some will be specific to an individual farm. The work is just beginning. This year, we are undertaking The need for a combination of solutions at the geographic, a series of landscape scans focused on GHG emissions crop, animal and even individual farm levels speaks to the research, data networks, and farmer learning. Preliminary complexity of our farming and ranching universe. No two results from the research and data assessments are shown farms or ranches are alike. In turn, the optimal climate-smart below. An exploration of farmer learning networks will solutions may not look the same from farm to farm or ranch be underway in the coming months. Collectively, the to ranch. landscape reviews demonstrate that we need to accelerate As our consortium begins to identify relevant data and collaboration and channel resources to fill gaps in the co-create new practices, we will build a Climate-Smart research, data, and farmer learning spaces. Activation Platform to share data that will advance scientific

Research

Over the past several months, we have been developing an inventory of research initiatives, programs, and departments in the U.S. that have a direct impact on GHG emission reduction or carbon sequestration in the agriculture value chain. Through a combination of desktop research, interviews with subject matter experts, and feedback from USFRA and FFAR advisors, we have identified a total of 252 initiatives to date, across several types of institutions.

Institutions comprise the majority of organizations conducting GHG research

113 N=252

41 36

Institutions NGO Public Private Foundations

Key questions explored in the research scan have revealed the major crop and livestock species for which most of the GHG research is occurring and the specific focus areas the research is covering. This information, along with other related findings, will be compiled into a database that will be used to shape future ACP activities.

33 Crops are a primary component in the Ag GHG and Carbon Sequestration space

Source: The Context Network

Animal research is primarily focused on cattle with four key areas of research

Source: The Context Network

34 Data

On the data side, we are undertaking a comprehensive landscape scan to determine where critical agricultural and GHG data sits, the state and structure of that data, how it is utilized, and any privacy or accessibility restrictions related to the data. We are actively surveying 580+ organizations across different sectors to identify opportunities for data integration and development of a pre-competitive data repository.

Source: Open Rivers

Our current findings indicate that public institutions, academia, and international ag organizations tend to share more comprehensive public information.

Source: Open Rivers

35 Results to date also indicate that many organizations work extensively in the data space but may not be able to publicly share or disclose the data they engage with. As we move further along with the data scan, we will also gain insight into the specific focus areas covered by the data, e.g., GHG emissions, carbon sequestration, land use, farmer profitability, climate change, etc.

Source: Open Rivers

Insights from these landscape assessments will be utilized in subsequent phases of the ACP to identify and fill gaps in GHG emissions research; develop a protocol for integrating existing public and private data set contributors to the project; and build and deploy a platform to support farmers and ranchers in implementing climate-smart practices and tracking the results.

Focus for the Forum:

Session 3 will provide a new perspective on the agricultural data landscape and engage participants to think about their role in it.

Questions to consider:

• When it comes to data relevant to decision-making in the agricultural value chain, what are my needs and what could I offer? • What would need to be true for me / my organization to be able to share or contribute data to a data aggregation effort? • What barriers or opportunities do I see relative to data in terms of achieving the Vision Outcomes?

COMMUNICATIONS AND STORYTELLING

The Communications and Storytelling Action Network recognizes the essential role of communications and storytelling in connecting people, changing minds, sharing ideas and success stories, and recognizing and catalyzing the leadership needed to achieve the Vision.

This Action Network encompasses ideas and work ranging from the work done by the 2019 Forum Working Groups to develop concepts for a Climate Prize, Consumer insights donated by organizations, and for a Farmer Climate Hero Recognition Campaign. The 30 Harvests video, debuted by USFRA at the 2019 Forum and has gone on to be seen over a million times and won a number of awards including most recently the National Agri-Marketing Association’s Best in Show award for the Consumer category as well as the Grand Champion prize.

The image below shows which Vision Outcomes are directly connected to the Communications & Storytelling Action Network.

36 The image below shows which Vision Outcomes are directly connected to the Data, Metrics & Technology Action Network.

Vision Outcomes

Vision Outcomes Communications & Storytelling Data, Metrics & Technology Workforce & Livelihoods

Restoring our environment Investing in the next generation of agricultural systems through agriculture • Investment in technology and innovation is ushering in a new era of food, fiber, and energy advancements to that regenerates natural deliver climate-smart outcomes. resources. • Clear standards around data privacy, widespread traceability and transparency, open source data sharing, and • The entire agricultural interoperability – which connects everyone from the farmer to the consumer. system – across sectors • Public-private partnerships, land grant universities, extension services, and other institutions (that are appropriately and diverse farming funded) provide the education, science, research, and testing to deliver on the vision’s outcomes. systems - is providing solutions for a changing • Incentives, financial investment, and policies are aligned with our vision and the US is achieving ag-related climate. Sustainable Development Goals. • American production of food, fiber, and energy is Strengthening the resilient, within planetary social and economic boundaries, and without fabric of America waste. through agriculture • All the elements of • American agriculture is climate-smart agriculture providing food security are in place: healthy clean energy, and nutrition soil, abundant clean water, to support the health of all carbon neutrality, Americans. biodiversity, • Agricultural communities and productivity. across America are prosperous, economically resilient and vibrant. • The bioeconomy is supporting sustained economic vibrancy. Revitalizing our collective appreciation for agriculture • All people working in • Americans have a greater appreciation for, understanding of, the food and agricultural and connectedness to the agricultural and food system. sector are respected, • The next generation of agricultural leaders is engaged, mobilized and capable. protected and valued. • Farmers and ranchers are recognized as climate heroes for their efforts to combat climate change. • The full value chain is collaborating and working through collective action. While there has been a broad range of work and ideas for advancing this Action Network, the organizing framework is still being developed.

Focus for the Forum: Session 4 of the Forum will provide an opportunity for participants to engage with the question of how to use communications and storytelling to build the movement.

Questions to consider:

• How might we go ‘from microphone to megaphone’ by working collectively to shift how agriculture is seen in the U.S. and the world? • What are innovative and exciting examples of using storytelling to create authentic connection between different groups? • What stories and whose voices are under-represented today that can be elevated and celebrated?

37 WORKFORCE AND LIVELIHOODS

The Workforce and Livelihoods Action Network emerged as a priority through the Vision development process. In imagining an ideal future, the group kept coming back to the centrality of people in this future. After years of prioritized focus on the environmental impacts of the food and agriculture system, its impacts on people and society are now becoming increasingly recognized as priorities. As discussed in “U.S. Agriculture’s Opportunities to Contribute to the SDGs” above, the food and agriculture systems employ a significant portion of the U.S. population directly, and impact even more indirectly. U.S. agriculture’s enormous environmental, social and economic reach create the potential for significant positive impacts, as well as opportunities to a

The image below shows which Vision Outcomes are directly connected to the Data, Metrics & Technology Action Network.

Vision Outcomes

Vision Outcomes Communications & Storytelling Data, Metrics & Technology Workforce & Livelihoods

Restoring our environment Investing in the next generation of agricultural systems through agriculture • Investment in technology and innovation is ushering in a new era of food, fiber, and energy advancements to that regenerates natural deliver climate-smart outcomes. resources. • Clear standards around data privacy, widespread traceability and transparency, open source data sharing, and • The entire agricultural interoperability – which connects everyone from the farmer to the consumer. system – across sectors • Public-private partnerships, land grant universities, extension services, and other institutions (that are appropriately and diverse farming funded) provide the education, science, research, and testing to deliver on the vision’s outcomes. systems - is providing solutions for a changing • Incentives, financial investment, and policies are aligned with our vision and the US is achieving ag-related climate. Sustainable Development Goals. • American production of food, fiber, and energy is Strengthening the resilient, within planetary social and economic boundaries, and without fabric of America waste. through agriculture • All the elements of • American agriculture is climate-smart agriculture providing food security are in place: healthy clean energy, and nutrition soil, abundant clean water, to support the health of all carbon neutrality, Americans. biodiversity, • Agricultural communities and productivity. across America are prosperous, economically resilient and vibrant. • The bioeconomy is supporting sustained economic vibrancy. Revitalizing our collective appreciation for agriculture • All people working in the food and agricultural • Americans have a greater appreciation for, understanding of, sector are respected, and connectedness to the agricultural and food system. protected and valued. • The next generation of agricultural leaders is engaged, mobilized and capable. • Farmers and ranchers are recognized as climate heroes for their efforts to combat climate change. • The full value chain is collaborating and working through collective action.

While USFRA does not yet have an Action Network up and running on Workforce & Livelihoods, there are many organizations who are doing innovative, effective work in this area. The table below provides an organizing framework for the Workforce & Livelihoods Action Network and provides a handful of examples of organizations focused in each area. This list is by no means exhaustive.

38 Overview of Dimensions of Workforce and Livelihoods

Category Sub-category Types of work being done Examples Ethnic and racial • Outreach and engagement • MANRRS minorities • Education • Together We Grow • Leadership development • National Black Farmers Association • Networking / Community • National Black Growers Council building • National Latino Farmers and • Advocacy Ranchers Trade Association

Women • Networking / Community • Women Food & Ag Network Diversity, building • American Agri-Women Inclusion & • Advocacy • National Women in Agriculture Equity • Training Association Indigenous people • Distributing grants • Indigenous Food and Agriculture • Training Initiative • Advocacy • Native American Agriculture Fund • Legal analysis • Policy research LGBTQ • Networking / Community • Queer Farmer Collective building • Cultivating Change Foundation • Outreach and engagement Veterans • Small grants program • Farmer Veteran Coalition • Labels

39 Attracting / • Offering access to work • New Entry Sustainable Farming supporting new experience Project farmers • Rogue Farm Crops

Youth programs • Clubs and activities • 4-H • Leadership development • FFA • Conferences/Events • Scholarship programs Access to education • Scholarship programs • America’s Farmers – Grow Ag and development • Leadership development Leaders by Bayer Fund opportunities programs • Agriculture Future of America

Rural development • Training and education • University extension programs Workforce • Small business loans • USDA Rural Development Development • Energy, housing, telecom, water, community facility programs Precision agriculture - • College degree and certificate • Universities, university extension maintenance programs services, technical colleges, and technicians • Internships / Apprenticeships other educational programs Measurement and • College degree and certificate • Universities, university extension validation of programs services, technical colleges, and environmental • Internships / Apprenticeships other educational programs outcomes on farms Renewable energy • College degree and certificate • Universities, university extension maintenance programs services, technical colleges, and technicians • Internships / Apprenticeships other educational programs Farmworker • Collaborative agreements with • “Fair Food” Coalition of Immokalee protections / rights customers Workers • Collective bargaining • United Farm Workers • Labels • Farmworker Justice • Campaigns Food and commercial • Collective bargaining • United Food and Commercial worker protections / • Access to free education Workers Union rights • Other discounts and perks Farm Safety • Training • Universities, university extension Health, Rights • Other resources services, technical colleges, and and Protections other educational programs • OSHA • National Farmers Union Access to healthcare • Resource hub • Farm State of Mind initiative • Research (American Farm Bureau Federation) • Workforce development training • National Center for Farmworker • Scholarships Health Stopping human • Hotline for immediate help • Polaris Project trafficking • Business leader summits • United Way Center on Human • Policy advocacy Trafficking & Slavery

40 Focus for the Forum: deepened collaboration, a finalized Vision, specific actions that people and organizations are prepared to pursue, and Session 4 of the Forum looks at the workforce and a commitment to work together to develop a sector-wide livelihoods for the food and agricultural sector and commitment. considers what it will take, and what we can do, to get closer to accomplishing our Vision. The Forum is not an event as much as it is a moment to stop and reflect on the larger journey we are on together. Questions to consider: Following the Forum, all participants are invited to stay • How might we build the food & ag workforce required engaged through the Working Groups that USFRA will and enabled by the Vision? facilitate with partners. Participants are also encouraged to • What do you see already happening today to move closer find other ways to stay involved and engaged with USFRA’s to the Vision that inspires you? How might we amplify, and the Aspen Energy & Environment Program’s work – the scale, or accelerate this work? best way, of course is through becoming a partner. • What specific action can you/your organization take now Honor the Harvest 2021 to make tangible progress toward the Vision? Dates to be confirmed Honor the Harvest 2021 will be hosted by the Henry THE JOURNEY AHEAD – LOOKING TOWARD THE Family on their fourth-generation farm, LongView Farms, in Nevada, Iowa, assuming that by this time it will once HONOR THE HARVEST FORUM 2021 again be possible for people to meet together in person. Before we know it, the Honor the Harvest Forum 2020 The barn awaits! will be in the books. We expect there will be many exciting outcomes from the 2020 Forum: new connections and

41 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

HONOR THE HARVEST ADVISORY COUNCIL

We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to the 2020 Honor the Harvest Advisory Council for all of their support in ensuring that the 2020 Forum could happen this year and their guidance as we navigated uncharted waters with COVID-19.

Christopher Adamo

Chris is Vice President of Federal and Industry Affairs for Danone North America, where he works to strengthen the role of business as a driver of social and environmental good. Prior to Danone, Chris served in the Obama Administration on the White House Council on Environmental Quality and lead the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.

Townsend Bailey

Townsend leads sustainability strategy for McDonald’s North American markets. He has also served as the Global Lead for Packaging and Happy Meal premiums in McDonald’s worldwide supply chain. Prior to joining the company in Chip Bowling 2011, Townsend started his career as a high school teacher and coach. A host of the inaugural Honor the Harvest Forum, Chip is the Chairman of USFRA Board of Directors in November 2018 Addy Battel and the past Chairman of the NCGA. He and his family farm near the Chesapeake Bay, where Chip’s family has farmed Addy is an active 4-H and FFA member who will be a since the early 1700s. The Bowling family raises grain crops. freshman at Michigan State University in the fall. Her passions include agriculture, sustainability, food security and youth Pipa Elias empowerment. She co-founded a nationally recognized nonprofit Meating the Need for Our Village and grew up Pipa is Director of Agriculture in North America. Skilled raising livestock and poultry and producing maple syrup. at applying scientific research to advance policy and conservation solutions, she leads an interdisciplinary team of experts in a collaborative approach to help producers David Bennell meet the growing demand for food while protecting critical David is the North American Manager of Food and Nature lands and waters. In her eight years working on the UN for the WBCSD. He previously worked for Microsoft, REI and climate negotiations, she led a coalition of nearly a dozen LL Bean in leadership development, product development NGOs that helped influence the system of incentives and and sourcing positions. He also held a five-year adjunct measurements for the land-use sector in global climate faculty position at MIT, where he taught sustainable design agreements. and development.

42 Erin Fitzgerald Brad Greenway

Erin serves as CEO of the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Brad is the immediate former Chairman of USFRA Board Action (USFRA), a farmer- and rancher-led organization of Directors and previously served as Vice President of the committed to encouraging stakeholder and consumer NPB. He owns a wean-to-finish operation that markets dialogue about how food is grown and raised. Erin’s 14,000 hogs and 250 beef cattle annually and raises corn, thought leadership in the sustainability space convenes soybeans, wheat, alfalfa, and beef cattle on 2,500 acres in food and agriculture stakeholders in an inclusive dialogue Mitchell, S.D. on the sustainable food systems of the 21st century. Erin is recognized as a White House Champion of Change for Sustainable and Climate-Smart Agriculture, an Aspen Scott Henry Institute First Movers Fellow and a Crain’s Chicago 40 under Scott is a partner of LongView Farms. He is responsible 40 recipient. for business growth, process management and the implementation of precision technology on LongView’s Avi Garbow seed and commercial acres. He graduated from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business, Avi is a nationally-recognized environmental leader, lawyer, International Agriculture and Finance, and received an MBA and advocate, with decades of experience tackling the most from the Kelley School of Business and an MS in Agricultural critical threats to our air, water, and lands. Honored by Economics from Purdue. the National Law Journal as an Energy and Environmental Trailblazer, Avi currently serves as Patagonia’s Environmental Advocate. Avi served as General Counsel at EPA from 2013 Kevin Igli to 2017 – the longest to hold that position - and prior to Kevin is the Chief Environmental Officer & SVP, Sustainability that served as the Agency’s Deputy General Counsel. for Tyson Foods, Inc. He leads a team of over 400 professionals who oversee the company’s Environmental Greg Gershuny Management/Compliance, Sustainability Implementation, A host of the Honor the Harvest Forum, Greg serves as and Sustainability Reporting and Analytics processes. Kevin the Executive Director of the Aspen Institute Energy and previously served as the Vice President for Environmental Environment Program (EEP), and is the Managing Director Affairs for Willamette Industries, Inc., a leading forest and the James E. Rogers Energy Fellow of the program. products company based in Portland, Oregon. Kevin Prior to joining the Aspen Institute, Greg served in the U.S. currently serves on the Boards of The Nature Conservancy Department of Energy of Energy Policy, the White House of (TNC) Arkansas, Ozarks Water Watch (OWW), and is Presidential Personnel, and the White House of Science and affiliated with other professional and trade organizations. Technology Policy. A.G. Kawamura Dan Glickman A.G. is former Secretary of California’s Food and Agriculture Dan Glickman is Vice President of the Aspen Institute and Department by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2003. Executive Director of The Aspen Institute Congressional He is a third-generation farmer and a founding partner Program. He also serves as a Senior Fellow at the Bipartisan of Orange County Produce LLC, where he manages the Policy Center. Prior to joining the Aspen Institute, he served company’s 600 acres of growing and harvesting operations as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture in the Clinton Administration. in Southern California. He was appointed by former Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack as the Chair of the newly created Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research and represented the 4th Joe Koss Congressional district of Kansas for 18 years in the U.S. Joe is president and chief executive officer of Culver House of Representatives. Franchising System, LLC, the franchisor for over 740 Culver’s restaurants in 25 states. Since 2000 he held the role of chief financial officer and was named president and CEO in December 2016. During his tenure the Culver’s system has grown from 53 restaurants with system-wide sales increasing from $58 million to over $1.5 billion.

43 Phil Lempert Pam Strifler

Known at The Supermarket Guru(R), Phil founded The Pam Strifler serves as Vice President of Global Stakeholder Lempert Report and SupermarketGuru.com, is the author of Strategy and Affairs for Bayer Crop Science and is 5 books, served as the Food Trends Editor for NBC’s TODAY also a member of the Crop Science Public Affairs and Show for close to 20 years, hosted WOR Radio’s syndicated Sustainability Leadership Team. In her previous role, Pam show Shopping Smart, columnist for Forbes.com and served as the Vice President of Global Sustainability, Winsight Grocery Business and is the host of USFRA’s Stakeholder Engagement and Corporate Insights Lead at Farm Food Facts podcast. He is one of the nation’s most Monsanto where she was responsible for key stakeholder regarded retail food analysts and is a distinguished speaker relations collaborations, societal outreach and market and author. intelligence.

Anne Meis Rob Trice

Anne is Secretary of USFRA Board of Directors and serves Rob is founder of The Mixing Bowl, where he connects as a Nebraska Soybean Board Member. She and her family innovators in food, agriculture and information technology. own and operate Meis Farms in Elgin, Neb., where they He also founded Better Food Ventures, which makes seed- raise corn, soybeans, alfalfa, and beef cattle. stage investments to apply IT to the food and agriculture industries.

Chuck Rice Blair Van Zetten Chuck is a University Distinguished Professor and holds the Vanier University Professorship at Kansas State Blair is Treasurer of USFRA Board of Directors, Former University where he is a Professor of Soil Microbiology Chairman of the American Egg Board and President of in the Department of Agronomy. He has also served in Oskaloosa Food Products Corporation in Oskaloosa, Iowa. numerous capacities with professional societies including His business specializes in dried, liquid, and frozen egg President of the Soil Science Society of America in 2011 products and serves domestic and international markets. and internationally, he served on the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate in 2007 and 2014. Chuck chairs the Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources of the U.S. National Scott VanderWal Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. Scott is Vice Chairman of USFRA Board of Directors and Vice President of AFBF. He is a third-generation corn and soybean farmer and cattle feeder from Volga, S.D., where Sally Rockey he farms with his family and operates a custom harvesting Dr. Sally Rockey is the inaugural Executive Director of operation. FFAR having joined after a 30 year career in the Federal Government. FFAR supports innovative research through public-private partnerships. Prior to FFAR she oversaw Tom Vilsack extramural research programs at the National Institutes of Secretary Vilsack led the USDA as its 30th secretary, Health and at USDA cooperative State Research, Education appointed by President Barack Obama in 2009. Previously, and Extension Service. She has dedicated her career to he served as the two-term Governor of Iowa, an Iowa State bettering people’s lives through science and research. Senator, and the mayor of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.

Jack Scott Chad Willis Jack Scott serves as Nestle Purina PetCare’s Vice President of Sustainability and Responsible Sourcing. He joined Chad is the Senior Vice President of Safety, Compliance and Purina in 2003 and has led roles in Brand Marketing, Operations Support for Ruan where he provides leadership in Contract Manufacturing, and Responsible Sourcing. executing safety programs, regulatory compliance activities and operational improvement initiatives. He joined Ruan in 2005 and has more than 26 years of transportation management experience.

44 CONTENT PARTNERS USFRA would like to thank these organizations for their partnership and commitment to our shared work.

For the report on Transformative Investment in Climate-Smart Agriculture, USFRA would like to thank these content partners for their work:

For the report on U.S. Agriculture’s Opportunities to Contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals, USFRA would like to thank these content partners for their work:

For their work on the Agriculture Climate Partnership project, Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) and US- FRA would like to thank these content partners:

A further thank you to USFRA Summer Intern Kyle Walker for his work on the Voluntary Commitments white paper and to Ryder Bennell for his research on the Sustainability Commitments Landscape.

THE HONOR THE HARVEST FORUM TEAM

• USFRA: Erin Fitzgerald, Cynthia Gismegian, Cindy Hackmann, Jennifer Johnson, Annie Kramer, Ladonna Lee, Joanne Ragalie • The Aspen Institute: Greg Gershuny, Kate Jaffee, Anna Giorgi, Catherine Pollack • Moss & Mollusk Consulting: Ellie Moss, Rebecca Harris, John Whalen

45 ADDITIONAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FROM THE ASPEN INSTITUTE

The Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Program would like to acknowledge The Aspen Institute’s Congressional Program as a whole, and in particular, Secretary Dan Glickman, for its leadership and support on Honor the Harvest and the larger effort of which it is a part.

ADDITIONAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FROM USFRA

USFRA is a non-profit collaborative. Thank you to our partners whose generous support enables the organization’s mission and programming. https://usfarmersandranchers.org/our-community/our-funders-and-partners/

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*Provided by our sponsors. These messages don't reflect the opinions and/or practices of U.S. Farmers and Ranchers in Action. Agriculture is How We Will Nourish the World Working with Farmers to Feed People While Preserving the Planet

Farmers work hard to grow the food our world needs to thrive. Today, the people who do that important work are faced with the task of meeting a rapidly rising global demand for food while reducing agriculture’s contributions to climate change. Farmers are on the front lines of climate change. Shifting weather patterns and extreme weather events impact production. Farmers’ livelihoods and the future of our global food system require collaborative climate action. That is why Cargill is partnering with farmers on solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while providing farmers the resources, choices, and flexibility they need to prosper. Working together, agriculture is how we will address climate change while nourishing the world.

Our Goal Healthy Soil Beefing Up is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is critical in helping slow climate our sustainability efforts in our North across Cargill’s supply chains 30% change. As the largest ‘carbon sink’ American beef supply chain, in per ton of product by 2030. Cargill is on land, the soil where our crops grow partnership with farmers and ranchers, working with farmers and ranchers on store three times more carbon than will make a big impact. North American a voluntary basis to achieve that target forests and other vegetation. Enhancing beef production is already 35% more – beginning with reducing emissions in soil health yields multiple benefits for sustainable than the global average. our North American beef supply chain farmers and ties directly to Cargill’s Working with producers, we can build on and implementing soil health practices key priorities of reducing emissions, that progress and create farm profitability that improve performance and capture protecting our water resources, and with better grazing management, soil carbon. helping farmers prosper. health, feed production, and innovative feed solutions.

Cargill’s 160,000 employees in 42 states and 70 countries work relentlessly to achieve our purpose of nourishing the world in a safe, responsible, and sustainable way. Every day, we connect farmers with markets, customers with ingredients, and people and animals with the food they need to thrive. We combine 154 years of experience with new technologies and insights to serve as a trusted partner for food, agriculture, financial, and industrial customers in more than 125 countries. Side-by-side, we are building a stronger, sustainable future for agriculture. Learn more about us at www.cargill.com. THE FUTURE OF AGRICULTURE IS HAPPENING TODAY We believe collaboration is the key ingredient to creating truly sustainable food systems. Farmers, processors, companies and brands, all at the table together, feeding families, building stronger communities and ultimately leaving the planet a better place for future generations.

In part, this means embracing a broader definition and understanding of sustainability. Supply chains that stand the test of time will positively and proficiently address climate change, food access, affordability, waste and worker safety, all while demonstrating an ability to adapt and innovate as the world evolves.

These kinds of multi-dimensional and complex challenges are bigger than one farmer, one company and one sector alone. That’s why forums like Honor the Harvest are so critically important to our collective progress, and how U.S. dairy will achieve its vision of becoming an environmental solution.

U.S. Dairy Stewardship 2050 Environmental Net Zero Initiative Commitment Stewardship Goals NZI is an industry-wide effort that Demonstrating U.S. Dairy’s impact U.S. Dairy and farmer leaders will help U.S. dairy farms of all sizes from farm to table, the U.S. Dairy recently endorsed environmental and geographies continue to Stewardship Commitment is our goals including carbon neutrality, implement new technologies and social responsibility pledge to cleaner water and maximized adopt economically-viable practices consumers, customers and other recycling by 2050. These goals in feed production, cow care, energy stakeholders that highlights focus on where U.S. dairy can efficiency and manure management longstanding values in responsible collectively have the greatest – making progress toward GHG production, nourishing impact and where dairy companies emissions reductions and significant communities and continuous and farmers have demonstrated improvements in water quality and improvement. leadership and impact through new quantity and farmer livelihood, from technologies and on-farm practices. field to farmgate. NATIONAL PORK BOARD

The National Pork Board executes specific programs in the areas of promotion, research and education. Checkoff-funded promotions are designed to increase domestic pork sales through consumer, retail and food service outreach. Foreign promotions for U.S. pork funded by the Pork Checkoff have helped to move the U.S. from a net importer to a net exporter of pork. Research conducted through the National Pork Board is administered in all areas of pork production, processing and human nutrition to develop a higher quality and more profitable product in the competitive meat protein market. Research funds are invested in animal welfare, environmental and production studies that help producers meet the challenges of responsible pork production. Checkoff funds are also used to find new pork products for our growing consumer base. Access to the latest technologies and information is often the key to a producer’s ability to be competitive. Seminars, workshops, videos, digital tools and other instructional materials are made available by the National Pork Board to all pig producers. For these, topics range from employee management to producer issues to genetics. Food editors, chefs, journalists and other food trend influencers in the U.S. receive pork industry information regularly. Checkoff funds also make information about how pork fits into a healthy diet available to health professionals, registered dietitians, teachers and others.

National Pork Board’s commitment to sustainability and the next decade of agriculture: The National Pork Board is proud of what they have accomplished and are committed to continuous sustainable improvements within the pork industry. Over the past six decades, increased research and adoption of new technologies has improved today’s pig farming methods. Sound science means today’s farms promote sustainability by using proven methods to improve animal well-being, food safety and the environment.

Continuous improvement means continuous innovation. Through cutting-edge technology and ongoing research, the National Pork Board continues to increase the sustainability of pig farming. Over the years, pig farmers have embraced advancements in food safety, sustainable farming methods and animal care. These innovations lead to a better future.

More than five decades of continuous improvement in the pork industry have led to more sustainable farms. Over the past 50 years, pig farms have reduced their environmental impact by using 75.9% less land, 25.1% less water, 7% less energy, 7.7% lower carbon emissions. Over time, pig farming has evolved to incorporate new ways of managing herd health and preventing disease, better manure management, improved feed use and nutrition, and leaner hogs. Farmers’ commitment to continuously improve practices has resulted in better, more sustainable methods in many areas of farming over time.

Farmers know that earning the trust our communities, customers and the public is critical to our business. By sharing our progress improving the environment, public health, animal health, worker safety and communities around us, we can demonstrate our commitment to sustainable farming future.

51 UNITED SOYBEAN BOARD

The term sustainability is used frequently in the agricultural industry, but sustainability is more than a buzzword. It is a commitment to the effective stewardship of the air, water and soil. U.S. soybean farmers have implemented sustainable practices on their farms for years. As consumer demand for sustainable products continues to rise, soybean farmers find ways to implement new production practices, continuously improve sustainable agriculture and support stewardship values throughout the supply chain. Meeting customers’ sustainability needs with quality soy products is one of the soy checkoff’s top strategic objectives. Many users of soy have made commitments to purchase all or a portion of their product ingredients from sustainable supplies. Each soybean farmer’s commitment to continuous improvement at the farm level, through the use of new tools and management systems, enables them to deliver the sustainable outcomes end users desire.

The U.S. soy industry strives to be a global leader on sustainability. Groups representing U.S. soybean farmers, including the United Soybean Board, American Soybean Association and U.S. Soybean Export Council, outlined and committed to goals for improvements by 2025 on a key set of metrics to reduce land use, soil erosion and greenhouse gas emission while increasing energy efficiency. Achieving these goals can be attributed to 1) implementing new production practices to continuously improve sustainability while protecting the air, water and soil; 2) on-farm technology advancements to grow more food on less land and use pinpoint accuracy when applying fertilizer, water and pesticides; 3) hands-on sustainable practices like crop rotation, reduced tillage, cover crops and water and soil management help establish a sustainable production system.

52 WELLS FARGO

The Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2) is a $50 million collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) that identifies, validates, and scales promising cleantech startups with the goal of commercializing high-impact, low-carbon solutions. The program launched in 2014 with a focus on improving efficiencies within the built environment, and expanded in 2018 to identify opportunities at the nexus of food, energy and water. IN2 is now working with 11 agtech startups focused on sustainable innovation in crop nutrition, protection and enhancement, precision planting, and more. IN2 helps these early- and mid-stage cleantech startups overcome market barriers by delivering non-dilutive funding, research and development support from world-class scientists, access to lab facilities at NREL and the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, and connections to a robust, cross-industry network of foundations, investors, and other stakeholders. With agriculture accounting for 70% of water consumption and 14% of energy consumption worldwide, the need to reduce the sector’s environmental impact is urgent, and the stakes are high. IN2 is committed to accelerating a more environmentally and economically sustainable future for food and ag. Learn more at www.in2ecosystem.com.

53 NATIVE AMERICAN AGRICULTURE FUND Sustainability is our tradition. Native American farmers, ranchers, fishers, harvesters, and food people have been sustainability feeding their communities for millennium. The Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF), a private charitable trust created by the Keespeagle v Vilsack class-action lawsuit, is actively supporting Native producers who are sustaining their agricultural traditions while also preserving our planet. Over the next 18 years, NAAF will invest over $260 million to assist Indian Country in building up its sustainable food system.

The future of sustainability in food and agriculture must include the 70,000+ Native American farmers and ranchers. Indian Country is ready to work together to feed our people and protect our planet. We hope you will join us.

BAYER There has never been a more important time for innovation in agriculture. Our world faces enormous challenges including a changing climate, a decline in biodiversity, limited natural resources and a growing population. And we believe agriculture can be part of the solution for a healthier planet as we recognize the need to meet current and future demands for producing food, fuel, and fiber while using fewer resources. At Bayer, we are working to shape sustainable agriculture through breakthrough innovation to benefit farmers, consumers and our planet. We are constantly seeking to improve sustainable farming practices. As the world’s leading company in agriculture, Bayer Crop Science’s new sustainability strategy is only part of Bayer Corporation’s overall commitment to deliver solutions through bold, measurable and transparent transformational commitments. Through our work, we’re committed to delivering responsible solutions for all farmers while enabling more choice for consumers to help them and our planet thrive. For more information, please visit www.cropscience.bayer.com. BADER RUTTER Food matters. It always has and always will.

But vast changes have shaken the dialogue around food brands: environmental, social and human issues, the growth of technology, and the demand for transparency. What matters to consumers about food has changed, so the stories food brands tell should change too - specifically, where those stories begin. Most food brands have instituted changes in their supply chain, and that’s where today’s relevant food stories start. People no longer accept dissonance between their values and the way their food is grown, raised, and sourced. Smarter brands now create compelling messages around supply chain stories to close the gap between makers and consumers.

For eight years, we’ve gleaned insights like these for our clients through The Intel Distillery - our proprietary tool that analyzes emerging trends in the food production world. We’ve also spent nearly 50 years marketing agriculture and food brands, so we recognize the value of showcasing demonstrable changes that support sustainability. Now is the time to focus on supply chain stories to differentiate food brands. As fierce champions of our clients’ success, that’s where Bader Rutter finds today’s most relevant and powerful audience messaging. You might too.

54 CORTEVA Corteva Agriscience is committed to advancing sustainable agriculture to enrich lives and our planet for generations to come. We’ve established 14 goals to achieve by 2030 that will increase the resilience of our global food system.

DAIRY WEST Innovation is foundational and begins on the farm where dairy farmers have long been pioneers in agriculture. As in other sectors, rapid technological advancements have significantly altered options in dairy farming and resource stewardship. A successful future involves evaluating all possibilities so that a diversity of farms has opportunity for adoption. Innovation doesn’t stop at the farm. Dairy farms, their cooperatives and processors are working together more closely than ever, and Dairy West’s role is to inspire change-maker thinking while aligning and leading the industry toward strategic solutions for the future prosperity of our communities and planet.

EDELMAN Edelman intimately understands the food and agriculture industries working on the frontlines of food culture and with deep in-network expertise including global trade, nutrition policy and labeling, supply chain transparency, animal health, food safety, food insecurity and the evolution of modern-day farming. Edelman exists to create a better future by building trust among brands, people and society. We develop powerful ideas and tell magnetic stories that move at the speed of news, make an immediate impact, transform culture and spark movements. We partner with organizations to embrace change by evolving, promoting and protecting their brands and reputations. And we do it without ego. Our work speaks for us.

ERNST & YOUNG EY is committed to building a better working world — one that creates sustainable and inclusive economic growth. We recognize that our responsibility to minimize the environmental impact of EY business operations extends to EY people and clients and to the wider communities in which we all live.

EY is a proud participant in the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), and our environmental strategy has been designed in alignment with the UNGC environmental principles. We are taking action on a global basis because we recognize the opportunities and challenges that environmental sustainability poses to the communities in which we operate. Across the world, EY and all EY people are committed to this environmental statement, which aligns to our purpose and our core values.

55 FOUNDATION FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURE RESEARCH (FFAR) The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) was established in the 2014 Farm Bill though bipartisan support. FFAR connects funders, researchers and farmers to pioneer the next frontier of agriculture innovation to provide every person access to affordable, nutritious food grown on thriving farms. FFAR has, for the last six years, worked towards its mission of building unique partnerships to support innovative science addressing today’s food and agriculture challenges. FFAR has worked with over 400 distinct partners across industry, nonprofit, and academia to pioneer innovative solutions that address climate change, bolster soil health, improve agriculture water use, increase crop yields and manage pests and pathogens. Together we’re addressing livestock diseases, ensuring access to nutritious foods, promoting healthy practices, reducing food waste and engaging local communities to make food systems more effective. FFAR is committed to building the collaborative partnerships needed to surmount the growing challenges on in agriculture.

FROG DESIGN frog is proud to be part of the Capgemini Group, a global leader in consulting, digital transformation, technology and engineering services, committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. For the past 50+ years, frog has used the power of design to help companies, nonprofits and NGOs create transformation at scale. From our work on digital farming, carbon sequestration programs, electric charging infrastructure and energy management solutions to the development of value-added mobile services for smallholder farmers to improve crop yield, we are committed to partnering with all stakeholders in the food value chain to usher in the future of regenerative agriculture.

MCDONALDS

McDonald’s is proud to Honor the Harvest in partnership with U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action. The Forum’s visionary leadership is poised to harness the dedication of America’s farmers and ranchers to meet the challenge of feeding a growing population while addressing climate change. As McDonald’s works to deliver on our sustainability commitments, including a science-based GHG target, we are excited to collaborate with America’s farmers and ranchers to feed the communities we serve while we partner to increase resiliency, viability and position agriculture to be a provider of solutions relating to our world’s most urgent environmental issues.

NEBRASKA SOYBEAN BOARD Biodiesel is the first commercially available fuel to meet the EPA’s definition of an advanced biofuel. These requirements protect forests and native grasslands and ensure renewable fuels have multiple environmental benefits over fossil fuels. Biodiesel and renewable diesel are produced from diverse U.S. resources – such as used cooking oil, recycled animal fats and surplus soybean oil – all of which are excess byproducts of food production. These domestically produced, commercially available advanced biofuels reduce carbon emissions by 52%-79%, even when accounting for market-mediated land use change. Soybean oil makes up more than 50 percent of biodiesel feedstocks, making biodiesel the second largest user of soybean oil in the U.S.

56 NUTRIEN Nutrien produces and distributes over 25 million tonnes of potash, nitrogen and phosphate products for agricultural, industrial and feed customers world-wide. Combined with our leading agriculture retail network that services over 500,000 grower accounts, Nutrien is well positioned to meet the needs of a growing world. We continue to invest in the development of a portfolio of sustainable products and solutions for growers, and we’re supporting many climatesmart technologies through our innovative digital platform. We’re helping to drive nutrient use efficiency and farm productivity, provide environmentally sustainable soil and plant health solutions, and enable digital agronomic and sustainability analysis. We are committed to taking on a pivotal role in facilitating change, identifying opportunities, setting targets and following through on GHG emissions reductions across our value chain.

OCP NORTH AMERICA “The adoption of innovative soil COBANK fertility solutions must be one of the At CoBank, we believe that a commitment to drivers of progress towards climate- sustainability and the environment is an smart agriculture - and we’re confident that together we can integral part of good corporate citizenship. accelerate action at this year’s Honor It’s about making life better now in the the Harvest Forum.” communities where our employees and - Kerry McNamara customers live and work, while helping to CEO, OCP North America ensure a better, healthier future.

NESTLE PURINA Purina is committed to the safety and health of your pets, your family, and the future of our planet.

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