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  • From: "Tradingpost" <tradingpost@lobo.net>
  • To: livingontheland@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [Livingontheland] Sustainable Agriculture Standard Talks Begin
  • Date: Sat, 04 Oct 2008 11:54:03 -0600

http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2008/10/03/sustainable-agriculture-standard-talks-begin

Sustainable Agriculture Standard Talks Begin
By GreenBiz Staff
Published October 3, 2008

MADISON, Wis. -- More than 50 representatives from a broad range of
industries and areas have begun discussions to set a standard for sustainable
agriculture. The talks, facilitated by the non-profit Leonardo Academy, are
aimed at creating a voluntary standard under the rules of the American
National Standards Institute.

Members of the sustainable agriculture Standards Committee, which met in late
September, include diverse agricultural producers, food and clothing makers
and retailers, including Dole, Earthbound Farms, the National Corn Growers
Association, General Mills, Amy's Kitchen, Levi Strauss & Co. and Whole Foods
Market. The Committee also includes environmental, labor, government,
academic and certification representatives.

The group identified the main issues it will need to tackle, and laid out its
course of action. Major topics will include the relationship between organic,
mainstream and sustainable agriculture; genetically engineered crops;
continually improving standards; including small and medium farms and
conventional agriculture; carbon sequestration in soil; labor protections;
the intersection of product safety and sustainability; and applying standards
to livestock and non-plant agriculture sectors.

But before the Committee delves into those topics, it has settled on six
steps to take next: conduct a needs assessment for the standard; review and
articulate the mission, principles and scope of their work; collect reference
documents; report on different methodologies for measuring various aspects of
sustainability; identify potential funding to ensure full stakeholder
participation; and develop outreach efforts to include all stakeholders.

The Committee has so far chosen one reference, Scientific Certification
Systems' Draft American National Standard for Trial Use for Sustainable
Agriculture.




  • [Livingontheland] Sustainable Agriculture Standard Talks Begin, Tradingpost, 10/04/2008

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