Sebastopol Grange Potluck: A Green New Deal...for Agriculture?
With climate change threatening our farms and food system, more and more Americans are doubting the promise of incremental reform, calling instead for bold, sweeping legislation to develop a carbon-neutral economy as soon as possible. For some, the Green New Deal holds this promise. But what does this resolution actually say about agriculture? Who from the farm community is at the table helping to develop its details? And what can we—farmers, ranchers and advocates of regenerative agriculture—provide to policymakers to assure their efforts are informed by those in the field?
Join CAFF & The Farmers Guild for an interactive public forum asking: what would a Green New Deal need to include if it were to truly support family farms, regenerative agriculture and equitable rural economies?
Contrary to popular belief, the Green New Deal (as currently written) is not a comprehensive bill, but rather an aspirational manifesto of sorts. The only language specific to agriculture states that among its strategies would be:
"working collaboratively with farmers and ranchers in the United States to remove pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector as much as is technologically feasible, including by supporting family farming; by investing in sustainable farming and land use practices that increase soil health; and by building a more sustainable food system that ensures universal access to healthy food.”
But the devil is in the details, yes? Unless we write them. The goal of this evening is to engage you, our community, in a robust conversation and develop a set of recommendations for our policymakers: food system and agricultural reforms needed to achieve the Deal's admirable if still vague goals, as stated above.
Donations are welcome at the door; no one turned away for lack of funds
All are welcome, however attendees are asked to join us prioritizing the input of those working in the agricultural field.
Tuesday
May 7, 2019
6 PM – 9 PM
Sebastopol Grange Hall
6000 Sebastopol Rd (Hwy 12)
Sebastopol
