Transcripts For CSPAN2 Hearing On Sustainability The Food System 20220719

The chair is authorized to declare recess at any time. As a reminder, members participating in a hearing remotely should be visible on camera throughout the hearing. Members are responsible for controlling their own microphones and members can be muted only to avoid background noise. As a reminder, statements, documents must be submitted to the electronic. Finally, members and witnesses experiencing technical problems should inform Committee Staff immediately. Thank you all for being here and for joining us on affordable and resilient Food Supply Chains. Today we review pathways to create a sustainable affordable Food Supply Chain that is resilient in the face of Climate Change. We will examine opportunities for the system to be a climate solution while supporting human health and livelihood and now i will recognize myself for five minutes for an Opening Statement. Scorching temperatures and widespread disasters are putting livesut at risk and harming communities this week like those that swept through Yellowstone National park and at the same time there is to little water leading to frequent wildfires and dangerously low river and lake levels in texas forcing the industry like to conserve electricity or rent a potential blackout and europe facing the heatwave and over 200 years. So it was disappointing to learn and senator manchin is joining republicans and rejecting investments to reject this crisis. Investments that would reduce our dependence on expensive fossil fuels while helping to create jobs and cut dangerous heat trappings. Pollution, the American People have consistently supported cleaner, Cheaper Energy like wind and solar. So, while this is a quite disappointing this morning, we must move forward and use all the tools that we have to solve the Climate Crisis. Thee cost of inaction is too hih and claimant injustice is too great and our kids futures are too precious. Its challenging the ability to put food on supermarket shelves and dining o room tables across america. According to the American Farm bureau federation, major disasters left 12. 5 billion in damages to crops just last year. In north dakota, persistent drought damaged over 2. 4 billion worth of wheat, soybeans, corn and other crops. A texas lost 2 billion in the aftermath of that weird winter storm, a hurricane and other disasters. And extreme weather in california has led to the loss of about a half billion dollars worth of fruit and not crops. These impacts will worsen if we do not address them and the costs are being passed on to consumers. That is why Congress Must invest in Climate Smart food systems that lowers cost, increases Food Security and incorporate solutions from farm to fork. Every person along the food chain from producers to consumers to everyone in between can make the Food Supply Chain more sustainable. And each step in the supply chain represents an opportunity for innovation. That includes updating walls around food donations and labeling, strengthening Sustainable School lunch programs and increasing Technical Assistance for producers and supporting urban agriculture. Improving Food Distribution at the local level and working to reduce food waste. We can cut methane and drive down methane emissions from livestock by expanding the use of innovative seed and help farmers adopt proper regenerative techniques that help the soil sequester more carbon. Moving quickly on these solutions will be crucial as we clean up the food supply system which makes up nearly 30 of global heat trapping pollution and it will help us make progress on reducing biodiversity Laws Committee for station, desertification and water scarcity. With the support of President Biden weve taken steps in the right direction. The American Rescue plan included 3. 6 billion to enhance Food Distribution, expanded expand localand regional food sd support historically disadvantaged farmers. We also made progress through this years government funding legislation, which invested in and initiatives like the urban agriculture and Innovative Production Program and farm to school grant and finally, the Biden Harris Administration Just Announced a new framework to shore up the Food Supply Chain leveraging 2 billion in investments that would reduce pollution and make nutritious food more affordable for families. As we move closer to the economy, we have an opportunity to create a food system that works for americans, and ensuringaccess to safe, healthyr generations to come and we are going to get some good advice from the witnesses here today, and i look forward to that. At this time i recognize the Ranking Member for his fiveminute Opening Statement. Thank you, madam chair. The chair and i both represent coastal communities on the gulf of mexico, and we absolutely share a strong desire to make sure that our communities are protected and safe, sustainable. There is no division between us on that. However, the Opening Statement that was made connecting flooding in virginia recently to Climate Change is a tenuous connection and i think the only way we are going to solve this problem is if we are sticking to science we could cut every bit of emissions today and it wouldnt have a single impact. It wouldnt have a single impact on any changes or weather patterns according to the united nations, the ipcc models. Maybear 75 years or maybe even 0 years. In fact, actually i take that back because it wouldnt have an impact globally. If the entire world cuts emissions we are looking at 50, 75 or 100 years away before you would actually see changes in weather patterns if the models are accurate. Me tell you Something Else thats important for us to keep in mind and it is also science based. For every 1 ton of emissions produced over the last 17 years, for every 1 ton we have reduced in the United States, china has increased it by four. Itss a global environment. We are headed in the wrong direction even in the paris climatic cord. China gets to increase their emissions and other 50 between now and 2030 despite the fact that they are releasing more than the unitedth states and european union, japan, south korea. We can sit here and talk all day long and say all these things and make people feel good. The truth is the policies that are being pushed today by this administration are actually causing greater harm to the environment. We saw Inflation Numbers come out at 9. 1 , the highest number in over 40 years. Gas prices are doubled, seeing Natural Gas Prices triple. We are pushing people into energy poverty, and having greater emissions as a result of the R Administration strategy. We fail on affordability and emissions and Energy Security. The president of the United States is in saudi arabia today asking that nation for more oil, choosing cartels and opec plus cartels over home state. I will stop with the rhyming and come back to reality though. We are talking about farms today, farm to table. Fertilizer right now, we have seen a huge increase in the availability. One of the largest inputs and fertilizer, natural gas. Driving up the cost for farmers. Since the 1950s, youve seen any efficiency in the United States increase in terms of our farm production, excuse me, 1940s. A bit over 300 , we had the most efficient farming operations in the world in terms of emissions perch bushels or acres produced. We are looking right now at pushing 13. 1 Million People into a hunger crisis as a result of whats happening globally with ukraine with u. S. Energy policies. We are making it unaffordable to farm in the United States as a result of diesel prices going up and spiking as a result of gasoline prices. The unavailability or the on affordability of fertilizer. At this administrations Energy Policies are causing all of these problems. And its a thing is that there is a solution. The solution is as we have shown and science proves more Domestic Energy production results in the lower emissions because weve produced it a safer, with cleaner emissions than virtually anywhere else in the world. Just this week we had a bill in the kennedy down the hallway but we were banning critical mineral production in the United States, those like lithium, graphite, nickel, copper, things required for renewable energy. You have to have these Critical Minerals but we will have a 400 to 600 increase in demand for the minerals for graphite and lithium, a 4000 increase. We cant just wish this stuff to happen. Weve got to have a strategy. This Administration Says no to oil and gas, yes to saudi arabia and iran and venezuela but no to Critical Minerals needed for renewable energy. That is a note to the any of the above strategy failing of the American People and the environment. And it is unfortunately failing the Energy Security and Economic Impacts as well. Now i want to welcome the witnesses. Thank you all for being here. We are very focused on how we improve the Food Supply Chain to lowercost for consumers, so please keep that at the center of your testimony along with the Climate Solutions and how we reduce the impact of the Climate Crisis. The executive director of food waste and loss across the system offered a landmark 2012 report wasted, how america is losing up to 40 of its food from farm to fork to landfill and the kitchen handbook. Previously worked as a Senior Scientist with the National Resource defense council. Candace swisher is the president and ceo of the north American Renters association. He leads the work to represent the industry that re purposes Meat Products that would otherwise be considered not edible such as fat and bone. Hes a member of the usda trade Advisory Committee on animals and animal products and previously worked at the continental gray and the company, the Grains Council and the trade association. Doctor melinda is the Vice President for Natural Solutions and working lands at the National Audubon society and works to advance natural Climate Solutions and conservation on working land such as rice fields and forests. A trained veterinarian, she previously served as a Senior Adviser and deputy chief of staff at the United States department of agriculture. Ellie brown is the coexecutivee director of the San Diego Food System Alliance and coleads the alliances work to build a healthy and Sustainable Food system in San Diego County and prior to joining the alliance, worked in Nonprofit Consulting and as an independent advisor to nonprofits, and social enterprises. Without objection, the witnesses written statements will be made a part of the record and with that, you are recognized to give a fiveminute presentation of your testimony. Good morning. Thank you for the introduction and in addition to that i am also the mother of two children who last summer had five weeks of postponed school due to wildfires. My 7yearold sometimes has trouble sleeping because shes afraid a fire will come during the night. Climate change is real and present and i appreciate your action on the issue. I was asked to present the Climate Impact of the entire food system and food waste thats like covering all of energy and Energy Emergency in efficiency infive minutes. Unlike energy, its often overlooked and a factor in the crisis. It produces 23 to 42 of the total gas emissions globally. Just the footprint is more than that of the entire aviation industry. Without intervention, that footprint is projected to increase by one third by 2050. E the system is part of the solution. It also deeply is vulnerable to the impact of Climate Change and agricultural productivity already estimated to have declined 21 . Given the Critical Role one hearing on food is simply not enough and i encourage a much edeeper dive. Perhaps even adding a new section to the congressional action. One often overlooked component of the solution is timing because the Greenhouse Gases are saving 1 ton of Greenhouse Gases annually it is ten times more valuable if it can start next year than if it starts ten years from now. As one a key climate leader said, timeea is more important. New is good but now is better. In contrast to others, Food Solutions are available now. In addition they are fundamentally suggesting the shortterm impacts against critical. And beyondca just claimant it offers opportunities to address food and securities, biodiversity, water scarcity and even creating jobs. My written testimony i go into more detail to consider. The first is encouraging a shift in diet away from animal products which is the largest source of u. S. Methane. These in particular have by far the largest footprint. Offering the impossible alternative allows burger king to save emissions equivalent to over 500 million passenger miles in one year. Next, the move toward Climate Friendly is a huge opportunity to both reduce emissions and sequester carbon and soil. Third, protecting grasslands is critical. Especially in the moment when rising food and fuel prices create additional incentives for farmers to expand. Last, and my focus area, reducing food waste is an immediate strategy that inherently addresses all of the above mentioning impacts. Imagine walking out with three bags dropping in the parking lot and not bothering to pick it up. Seems crazy but that is essentially what is happening across the country today. 35 of food goes on eaten and over 400 billion worth. The average family almost 200 in 2019. Just imagine how that dropped grocery bag might look to the food insecure americans that could be fed three times over the amount of food that is wasted. If all of the money was in one place, the mega farm work for wr more land than nebraska, missouri and oklahoma combined and more than 50 American Homes would harvest enough to fill up a semi truck every 20 seconds but instead it would go straight to a landfill and emad methane as a component. In fact, who does the number one contributor today and landfills are the thirdlargest resource of funding. All told, its the equivalent to 58 million annually. Wasting less food increases which makes food more affordable. Its far more effective from a financial lien claimant perspective. The good news is unlike any of these issues im sure you deal with, this one is solvable. They start to build over 200 Global Food Companies making commitments including kroger, General Mills reporting reductions and huge growth in the private investment including 2 billion in 2021 alone more than double the previous year. Even with all this momentum we produce by only 2 per capita since 2016. The uk has achieved a 27 reduction. Some key steps to consider include a National Awareness campaign to target consumers and a national Publicprivate Partnership to engage businesses incentivizing local action for state andg local governments, increasing donations or adjustments in the tax incentives and Liability Protections and what i think is the lowest hanging fruit, standardizing to prevent consumers from discarding. Wasting less food is something so everyone can get behind and in some cases the time to act is now. Thank you. Thankk you for your testimon. Next you are now recognized to give a summary of your testimony. My apologies. Good morning Ranking Member and members of the select committee. I am president of the north american renderers association. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. The trade association representing the interest of the industry in the United States and canada. Thirtytwo Member Companies operate 178 plants and represent over 95 of the north american production. The industry includes independent renders many of which are multigeneration familyowned companies as well as integrated renters that process only their own animal byproducts. The industry accounts for 10 billion in u. S. Economic activities and employs tens of thousands of people across the country in fulltime jobs with benefits. They have operations in rural and urban communities. Rendering is the drawing of meat and other animal byproducts not used for human consumption. They are often referred to asre the original recyclers and are a major force to ensure a clean and healthy environment. Up cycling the animal products that we do not want to or cannot eat into valuable proteins for livestock feed, pet food and industrial uses. The u. S. Rendering industry is essential to the reduction of Carbon Emissions in the atmosphere. Americans considered about 50 to 60 of an animal edible which means the other 40 to 50 is deemed in edible. Instead of wasting about half the meat, rendering the leftovers into essential ingredients for countless new products. I would like to make three key points in my testimony today. First the rendering industry is an essential pathway and creating a Sustainable Food system. Each year they recycle more than 56 Million Pounds of meat and bone leftovers. It saves cropland more than 13. 6 million additional acres would have to be planted to make up for the protein and energy that would result without the ingredients using pet food, biofuels inc. Life co feed. The plant sequesters five times more Greenhouse Gas emissions from the environment. If not for rendering the nationwide capacity of available landfills would be only four years and if the byproducts were disposed of in landfills during the decomposition, they would emit large volumes of Greenhouse Gases detrimental to air quality and runoff could threaten the surface Water Quality. Rendering is important in a critical part of the solution to reduce the food waste. It directly addresses food waste by signing practical uses for the wide range of leftovers that consumers consider in inedible. It makes the footprint is smaller. A second, they recycle billions of pounds of used cooking oil for food items like french fries into bio diesel. The renewables are important to reduce and in 2010 epa concluded the lifecycle Greenhouse Gas emissions by 86 compared to 2005 petroleum admissions. Finally theyve been collecting and repurpose thing animal byproducts for decades transforming them into valuable new products. They are used extensively as ingredients in livestock and petfood. Rendered protein providing essential nutrients and energy to keep Animal Agriculture and pets healthy and growing. In addition, a source of calcium and phosphorus which can be used in animal feed and organic fertilizer. Helping reduce the reliance on imported fertilizer. Renderers are early adopters of the resilient biobased solution to reclaim end of cycle food waste. We are an essential element to the select committees goal of achieving substantial permanent reductions in pollution and other activities that contribute to Climate Crisis. Supporting the level Playing Field among recyclers to prevent unfair market advantage and unequal competition for the byproducts. Not against those receiving the government financial incentives providing them with an added advantage. Federal support shouldnt divert leftover meat and byproducts from the traditional renderers to other recyclers. In closing looking at being a part of the discussion as the Committee Considers future legislative initiatives. We would appreciate thehe recognition of the Important Role in learning and sustainability and reducing Carbon Emissions. The rendering respectfully recommends any legislative effort and adequately recognizes the early leaders in reduction in order to avoid unintended consequences in the future. Thank you. You are recognized for a summary of your testimony. Im honored to testify this morning on behalf of the National Audubon society represented morewe than 1. 8 million members together with 45 million americans that enjoy bird watching. I appreciate the opportunity to discuss how we can mitigate Climate Change and support biodiversity on working land while building the resilient supply. I would like to start by telling you about a visit to the dakotas. I was meeting with ranchers and one of them told me he knew the conservation plan k that had ben developed through the conservation branching initiative. He knew because his 9yearold father who still lived on the ranch told him that the front passenger sounded like when he was a kid because it was long absent birds had returned and he knew the landscape once again was a sign of its improved productivity. I could explain the bird survey results were shared a lot of statistics with you this morning but i think the stories like that demonstrate the impact of the partnership with farming, ranching, forestry and fishing families across america. They know intuitively that words are indicators of the health of the places they love. So the water level during a rainy season they talk about birds as the sound of success. They know from experience scientists have proven, that their livelihoods are intertwined with biodiversity and Climate Change. Global experts have concluded one of the most important available actions we can take his implementation of Sustainable Agriculture and forestry practices. Doing so would increase the gas emissions, support Wildlife Habitat and improve the capacityty to adapt to Climate Change. Cpeople who farm, ranch, fish d produce timber feel the effects of Climate Change firsthand. From 1980 through 2016, weather and climate disasters with 1 billion or more average 6. 3 events per year but the last five years that is nearly tripled to 17. 8. We think of the wildfires in california, oregon, washington and colorado, the hailstorms in texas, the flooding in louisiana, the hurricane tropical stormsic and tornadoesn florida and at the southeast, the dirty chinos that escalation happened alongside the accelerating loss of biodiversity. North America Today has only two thirds of the wildlife it had in the 1970s. Two thirds. They likewise plummeted by 30 but the good news. Species that communities and governments have committed to protecting through Financial Investments into legislative safeguards have rebounded. I believe the Success Stories shared in my testimony demonstrate how Climate Smart agriculture and forestry can support biodiversity, resilient supply chains and other important outcomes like Water Quality and quantity. The stories that thrive in the grasslands that are sustainably storing carbon and water and the candle that nests on Hardwood Floors that soak up floodwater and improve Water Quality. They lift up optimizing land to support carbon storage, wildlife oohabitat, Food Production with water and more. Audubon believes such conservation must be and can be beneficial for all including private landowners across the country and customers. We recognize Different Solutions are needed in different places and we work to support durable conservation among the communities and landscapes. The Conservation Forestry researchch and extension policy programs authorized in the farm bill are important to delivering promises. But they are significant moreer interest in the programs then there is capacity. For example, 46 of the applications for a single federal contribution product went unfunded meaning producers depended and were interested in 1. 1 billion worth of voluntary conservation proposals above and beyond what the program could deliver in just one year. We can and should expand the programs while also promoting the marketplace private Sector Investment and Innovative Partnership like the one in my testimony. Such work is only part of what is needed to stem the tide of Climate Change and biodiversity law we can scale the programs to meet the demand we can Work Together to improve climate, biodiversity and outcomes while simultaneously reporting the resilient supply chain and finding communities. We do not face a zerosum scenario. They are not in conflict with one another. Thank you for the opportunity today and i would be happy to answer any questions. Thank you. Ms. Brown, you are recognized for five minutes for your testimony. The coexecutive director of the System Alliance we are a diverse and Inclusive Network in the san diego region committed to operating an equitable sustainable business. Most recently, we launched the ten year plan and movement with an understanding thatt the time to reimagine and reconfigure is now. It was created with 250 organizations and primarily individuals most marginalized by the dominant system. Low income residents, communities, farm workers and businesses. 2030 outlines the perspective was threefold and to build resilience. We are cultivating justice access sources divided along the racial lines whether it is the capitales land, housing, busines ownership, the history and continued in equity. Inequity. Second, the claimant change as pointed out the industrialized is the biggest offer to the Climate Crisis and at the same time a localized food system that generates how we circulate the resources into the most natural way and it truly is an impactful solution. But we are building resilience and the pandemic farmers and fishermen that really struggle to survive every single day we need to do a better job creating Better Safety nets for communities and to really tap into these assets that we have that are not reliant on the larger industrialized system that is just not nimble enough as we look beyond the pandemic there is a opportunity anymore localized food system and increased amount. Power of the committee system. So by regional community. The current racial climatete inequities can directly be contributed to our power resides. We must shift power away from topdown control proved reason defined by the characteristics of a Natural Environment rather than manmade. A dissenter in equity and values and or governance and allow for there to be adaptability but this is a term that is defined by the food resources in a particular bioregion. Second, simultaneously the second is to Resource Fund and humanize the prophecy. Resources from the u. S. Government for a late move and support Community Projects led by communities. We need to remove a burdensome bears are out r permitting, i applications, monitoring, compliance of reporting if we are to truly have a supportive environment. And too many things test drunk monitoring and reporting. We need to build Resource Funding, both trust and accountability. That way the system placing emphasis on accountability mechanisms that is expected unrealistic. To streamline if we are truly the climate and equity goals. I went to emphasis that really our goal should not be supplying change system. It should be to transform it completely by confronting the unjust justice that were distributing power across communities to multigenerational effort. Our federal government is for the most important in this transformation. I encourage all of us to open mind. Thank you very much. F quick thank you and thanks all of our witnesses and insightful and informative testimony. Now it will to member questions. Went to recognize of illinois first for five minutes. Thank you madam chair. Thank you to over witnesses. This committee has been aroundsa for about four years. And it makes me sad that after four years many of our same memberships continue to tells stories about trying to score political points and calling of science. Ranking member led off by criticizing the president were going to saudi arabia. While they criticize the present for tapping into the Strategic Petroleum reserve for those soof those are increase applied to costs that energy to coast and cut the cost of energy for our farmers to cut the cost of natural gas or fertilizer costs will go down. I do not recall any noise when donald trump went to the saudis and said im going to remove th military from your countrymen should should cut down on Oil Production so that we can increase the cost of oil so we can save our oil industry. Oil went up double digit the next day, crickets. You dont admirable job of representing your district or you do an admirable job of repeating the talking points of your party. The district depends on exporting fossil fuel. Our fossil fuel industry is trying to sell and produce as much fuel as they can because they want access to european markets. That does not make them bad people make some profitseeking businesses. Just onees example about when ellen to terminal cop fire and domestic price of gas felt. What ever going to do for ther people who matter . How are we going to actually lower cost . By not being beholden to Vladimir Putin for not going to do it by scoring cheap talking points. So, lets talk but the actual science here. Ie if we are going to give a stable planet to our kids to not have your kids staying home from school as result of the wildfire. After go backwards we have to get back to 300 thrift 50 parts per million in the atmosphere. At quarter to do that the only place i have seen that actuallye profitably takes you to out of the atmosphere in the Agricultural Sector. We can put direct air capture in but were going to have to pay a lot of money for those. To doctor the start with you. As you think about what tools we have. We hear a lot about approaches from bio charge, short rotation grazing to cover crops, what are the ways we can actually increase the wealth for our farmers that would reduce as much co2 from the atmosphere as possible . Because were out of time for politicking be cut start doing these things today. What are the areas youd like to see the Agricultural Sector tose focus on polling sealed to out of the atmosphere that makes sense for farmers . Great question, thank you congressman. I would like to fight can kind of talk a little bit about the structure that is needed to implement the practices in addition to the practices themselves. I just want to underscore, so much of the type of conservation work in Sustainable Practicest that need to be implemented in the field at scale. Not just kind of isolated, requires substantial Technical Assistance as you are learning to implement them. Every is different every force tract is different. So part of that really relies on having a strong technical Delivery Service and system. Whether its the Natural Resources conservation service, the on the staffing capacity they have, state agencies, partners including audubon staff. We have economists helping develop management plans and conservation plans of certified forsters on staff. It is both about supporting a practice but also supporting Technical Assistance so local solutions what works best for specific soil types and specific microclimates peopleol are producing and its really important to be delivered. Annoying tight on time. Weve got a program in illinois where we have been paying farmers to reduce their Crop Insurance payments for every acre they put into cover crops. Weve got a program to try to do that nationally gemini thoughts and comments on that and how broadly applicable that might be for the country . Im happy to follow upfo with you and your staff on that specific bill. Another anecdote im from the Eastern Shore of maryland printy maryland has a great state Cover Crop Program that again was intended to develop with the eye to the Chesapeake Bay health and really resulted in a substantial adoption of cover crop in the volunteer level across private working lands come across the state. There certainly different models in different ways to work to scale that print happy to work with your office on that specific bill. I think Creative Solutions to make it financially feasible for producers to implement those practices across landscapes not just individual fields. Quick them out of time thank you very much. If anyone does have further comments with our office and what that might do for soil hope that the longer portion i yield back my time too. Were present of miller recognized for fivepr minutes. Quick thank you chair caster. Thank you Ranking Member for having this today. I do not think anyone on this committee denies Climate Change. Siour world has been changing er since it was created. We now have the science in order to deal with that. We are learning every day what dwe can do to change it. Chair castor i appreciate your concern over the flooding in southern West Virginia and virginia. And recognize the unique phenomenongn we have that often when it rains too much because of our mountainous terrain, it has to go somewhere. When theres too much rain it goes down. My community is hundred huntington had a flash flood because her 4 inches of rain hit somewhere else and boom, there was it was. My friends had 9 feet of water in their o basement. But i think we need to do is Work Together on Proactive Solutions that should our individual communities and set up trying to one side spits out mandates. I am a bison farmer. I have owned your mental West Virginia for the past 28 years. Im also a member of the farm bureau. I understand things like episodic hemorrhagic disease which occurs during droughts. I understand sometimes the government does make suggestions or policies that end up not working like mortal floral rose as a living defense which which then became a nightmare later for farmers because they were fighting those multiple or roses through their crops. I understand the lack of Meat Processing plants per am acutely aware of the struggles that are farmers and ranchers today face reaching bringing their goods to market for the opera in such thin margins trying to make and living. But they work hard but ive seen bad years when the harvest is not particularly good and i have seen it when i heard to succumb to disease. The farmer and rancher these things happen they are often out of our control. But there are some crises that we can play a role in fixing but unfortunately, those bad policy decisions that have pushed inflation and gas prices and diesel prices to record highs. Justice last week we learned inflation last month was 9. 10 the highest in 40 years. For our Food Supply Chains to survive it must first have the resources to do so. That means ensuring we are making it easier to hire drivers to fix the worsening trucker shortage. Lowering fuel costs for both transportation and farmer, and producing more fertilizer here in the United States. It also means not allowing the activists to dictate our energy and agricultural policies. But instead, why dont we listen and take the common sense odapproach that balances the nes of our people with conserving our country for future generations . Unfortunately many of theke peoe who live on both coasts where there is so much population, they do not understand that it really is fly over country that not only feeds you, mr. Swish and as up by sir jon bison for myself im aware how important is to make full use of the herd we raise on our land for those who lived on the land before us knew they had used every part of the animal they hunted in order to survive. And that is why i have such a respect for your industry bring your testimony mention the high tech process they use. Can you explain p the supply chn crisis that we are facing today . And how it has impacted your industry . And whether that is through delivery or equipment shortages . Thank you congresswoman. The supply chain crisis has affected us and multiple ways. And one way the shipping of our product so exporting our proteins we are highly dependent on the expert export market. We filled containers and ship containers. You all know there is a major issue getting containers to our plants. Containers are going back to asia empty when we had product to put in those containers. On the other side, we move a lot of raw material into our plants pretty have a huge trucking fleet. We have pickups that grossedde every Grocery Store you see we probably have a truck going there picking up expiredhi meat. Every restaurant even up here on capitol hill have a vat behind the restaurant and our trucks pickup used cooking oil paid the cost of fuel, and it disruptions in the supply chain affects our business on both ends. Can you explain a little bit how the rendering industry actually uses all the food that is not consumed . What did they do over the top products you create . Wheres i think what to takee that question for the record. If we are going to stay on time too. Thank you very much. You are reckon its for five mins per. Thank you chair thank you tour witnesses. The Food Supply Chain is both contributing to im being harmed by rising emissions and Climate Change. 2021 report the un food andha Agriculture Organization found Food Supply Chain as much as 30 of human Greenhouse Gas emissions but lesser the northwest cherry growers, including my home statete of oregon represent oregon, washington, idaho and utah estimate the heat dont events of last june and july resulted in the loss about 20 of the states cherry crop thats equivalent to 4 millionpound boxes that never went to market. I also want to recognize the passing 8 30 8yearold farmer who died during the 115 degrees heat wave and washington intractable but also mitigate the role they play in fueling emissions created unnecessarily ways in stranding our Natural Resources. So, and portland nutrient is a Small Business creating mill. That verified offsets work with Dairy Farmers to reduce their overall Carbon Footprint due to changes in grazing, manure, nutrient management. A they recently applied for commodity grant to expand their important work to tackle production from beef production for it and went test mr. Brown how can the federal government help Small Businesses and nonprofits that are seeking to address the emissions in agriculturalst sector to more effectively be able to access federal grants question work which federal programs have been most helpful in allowing you to meet your Organization Goals . Thank you for the question. My second ask was really conduct a comprehensive effort to examine how government can streamline and humanize these processes so they are a lot more accessible but currently theyr not accessible unless you have excellent technical facility in the region to support access for farmers, access for us part ownership interesting example which allowed us to create a new program dont help support further resources and another example that i wanted to highlight our partner which is a smalll farm acker basis taken on eight leadership challenge. Applied for 5 million federal grantt for carbon fund pilot. It has really smart people in that team that have experience in grant writing. Theyve been complaining about how cumbersome thatan processes. Its pretty much impossible. Most farming groups do not have professional grant writers on the team. Thank you thats really helpful. I just met with a vineyard owner they use some federal assistance to transform their energy and have almost all their energyrt coming from solar panels is going to pay for itself in a few years. In your testimony you outlined a number of bills given energy enacted with the draft food waste challenges. What food waste related issues have not received sufficient from congress . Well, i think the one starting to receive more attention are the extension of ndliability protection theres been quite a lot of attention toward donation lately. Whats not receiving attention is how to prevent the food from going to waste in the first place. Whenever food is wasted theres money wasted with it. Things like how much food is being wasted on food that is purchased by the federal government . Any sort of measurement techniques to understand how much the department of defense a huge purchaser of food actually wind up throwing out and all cost of that with it . That is been something that is not received much attention lately at all or ever. I appreciate that. I think it is important to note that in many places in this country havee significant of fod insecurity print we could do a much better job of aligning the food waste issues and addressing the serious problem of hunger and our communitys been going to yell back a few seconds i have remaining thank you madam chair. Thank you next you are recognized for five minutes. Oh excuse me. My fault. Good morning you are recognizede for five minutes. Thank you madam chairman. On the food waste i like to point out is a lot of food waste in our country is in our Public Schools. A direct result of government food programs began with the s Obama Administration after Michelle Obamas Nutrition Program went into effect there. Were over almost 1. 1 million schoolkids quit eating school lunch altogether. It is now estimated roughly somewhere between 30 and 50 of all food in the Public School systems is thrown away. I think that needs to be parted the discussion. Also, it is interesting to me both sides are guilty of this of politicizing this, the facts are sthe facts. If it were not for fossil fuel would have hundreds of millions of people malnourished and possibly starving to death. But the fact of the matter is since we have introduced modern farming techniques that are fueled for fossil fuels, machinery like tractors, harvesters, planters, transportation vehicles, processing equipment, refrigeration, these are all things that are byproducts of the fossil fuel industry even though the World Population has doubled you cannot see this but the number of people who were dying from starvation has gone down. I mean like a, sinking ship. That isha a good thing. And what we found is when you introduce these policies that are being advocated for how we produce foodod and how we provie energy, it can have catastrophic results. Just look at salonga. Yet people marching on the government capitol we have just seen this the dire crisis the government mandates creates. I attempts that policies the government mandated chemical fertilizer bands create a food price spike in economic peril the people are suffering through right now for the countries on the verge of collapse. Youve got to think about the unintended consequences. My colleague mentioned someone who died from heat exposure. I keep pointing this out and they dont like for me too point it out, other medical journals in the world have made it clear they are 17 times more people die from related issues thant heat. I grew up dirt poor. We group most of our own food. I am thankful that my grandpa had a tractor. I am thankful that we had a freezer. And a refrigerator. I am thankful there were places we could go utilize modern techniques to process some of the food we produced. I do not understand why we want to go so headlong into adopting policies that are clearly going to have a negative impact on peoples lives. That is astounding to me. It is almost like we have people who think we need to enforce some sort of population control and that might include starvation for im not accusing anyone of that i am just saying what is happening in sri lanka is evidence going too far too fast. Mr. Swisher, i appreciate the work you are doing. I just wonder in your efforts on the work you are doing if you contact the Public School systems to get access to the food thats going out in the trash cans every day . Thank you. We have networks and trucks that go to restaurants but that would include schools. We pick up meat scraps. So the meat scraps from any commercial establishment orr restaurant would be a place we would visit and recycle that material. I dont think theyre throwing out the meat pretty think is the other stuff. With that i yield back. Next, mr. 11 you are recognized for five minutes. Thank you chair but today is a tough day for those of us that want to see Climate Action commensurate with what science demands. But make no mistake, to those who demand action particularly the next generation we see you. We hear you, and we will not stop until the actions we need are taken. Now to the topic of todays hearing. I am particularly glad the select committee gets the opportunity to hear from ellie brown coexecutive director of the San Diego Food System Alliance. San diego Food System Alliance is a Visionary Organization in our region fostering collaboration across all aspects of our food system. In order to build a more sustainable, healthy and fair food system. San diego county food vision 2030 which the Alliance Developed over two years and created in collaboration with our community is a testament to that vision. Food vision 2030 provides a ten year roadmap for food system that enhances the vitality of our local communities, protects our environment creates additional Economic Opportunities within our county. For those who do not know San Diego County is home to a robust food system. Across the county food system activities generate over 35 billion in economic output and account for 15 of all jobs in the region. However, our local food system is a group of challenges some high operating cost to a Climate Crisis exacerbates water scarcity and other environmental stressors. Ntwith this contacts me start of at the very basic but important question for ms. Brown forgiven all the challenges farmers and other producers in our region face, why is a strong local food economy and Agricultural Sector key to san diegos success . Thank you it is been honored to be here to represent san diego and our work. As i mentioned, 35 billion in economic output that is significant. The majority of the food thats produced in our region, small farms, small fisheries most of the food is exported. During the pandemic entire supply chain shut down. Many of us really had to step up to support our local Food Producers. So imagine we can create a more just food system for local Food Producers. I one that really looks at the environment there is a significant opportunity here. Keeping things localized can help us build more human relationships and really address that pain everyone is talking about and the need for transition to one where we are really looking at the economy from many different ways. I love the local work that allows us to have Real Relationships and understand the needs on the ground. And the realities of the ground of the farmers, and fishermen pay. Thank you for that answer. How can investing local food systems from resilient to climate like drought and water scarcity. In terms of community theres a lot of issues. Food insecurity, these committees are at the front line. Being to address the issues and symptoms first. Inequities are all tools available by the government, public assistance, more resources into communities and toward the healthy local food economy. I think physically from the food but at the same time you need to address the roots. These issues were not just created the food system. It was to the history of injustices of the Economic System but wene need to resist r reduce power. I want to provide a quote, people do not go hungry from the lack of food. Rather from a lack of power. Power to access food andfo power to access land to grow food. I was also impressed by your local Food Economy Lab and excited to hear about the usda grant that you received. Can you expand on your vision for this lab and explain why building capacity at the local level is a key element of strengthening and increasing the resilience about regional food system . The program to the regional food system partner grant, or just cocreated this program the local Food Economy Lab was commerce and fishermen and our region in terms of what they were looking for. The program is now a pretty robust programed which includes. Mentoring, support services as well as Financial Support for thesend businesses. We intend to work a thin ecosystem of providers in this region. The intention to support the viability of these businesses and to treat it as sort of an experiment we are observing over time in terms of how were doing, setting yourself accountable in terms of the goals we want to see, but also supporting models that are different type of economic models that will help build community cooperatives, worker owned businesses. These businesses is not a common thing in the United States but we want to see how we can make these businesses viable in our region brickwork think you get them out of my time per think if for your work on behalf of San Diego County and i yield back. Mr. Carty are recognized for five minutes per. Thank you manager think all the witnesses were being here. I want to say right off i really appreciate the fact that we are having this hearing about rural america. A big part of my district is rural. A lot of ag, a lot of forestry. This is important. Justice i dont feel like the United States gets the credit for the decrease in Carbon Emissions we have achieved over the years, i dont think our farmers, our foresters at the credit they deserve for what they have done with sustainable for serving this, our farmers are producing more food, more fiber, more feed and Renewable Fuels without using more resources. Nine states farmer feeds the world. And here we are trying to criticize them for carbondo emissions. It just baffles me. I want to regional couple ofwh things here, personal agricultural productivity was increased 287 from 1948 2017 paid American Farmers are require a 48 million fewer acres or 33 fewer acres in 2018 to produce the same amount of corn that would have had to in 1990. 4 million fewer are 20 fewer for cotton. Perhaps the most attacked a part farming, agriculture is livestock. But they continue to reduce their admissions. Admissions per unit of beef have declined 18 unit of pork and 25 unit of milk. Even the secretary of agriculture, appointed by President Biden, the democratic secretary of agriculture said and i quote, i do not think we have to reduce the amount of meat our livestock produce in the u. S. In a significant percentage is exported per its not a question of eating more or less or producing more or less per the question is making production more sustainable. That is the secretary of agriculture. The democratic secretary of agriculture said that. Eric and farmers are part of the solution. They are not part of the problem. Mr. Sweitzer i appreciate you being here. I want to start by saying that one of your members is located in my district in georgia and bacone o county and i visited there often. Ctand quite impressed with the work they are doing there. But when i was listening to your testimony on the magnitude of animal byproducts that are recycled everyday across the u. S. Reminds her the Critical Role renderers play in thet sustainability of animalon production by utilizing nearly all of the byproducts. Almost all of the byproducts from the production of meat. And in addition to preventing waste, there also providing sustainability produce inputs multiple consumer products. We each and every day. So, let me ask you, but the key inputs renderers for the supply chain that would not exister without your industry . Yes thank you. We produce meals and fats and oils. One really positive Success Story we have a sweet replace the fish meal and aquatic rations. So over time fish Meal Production has been flat since the 80s it is not increased. Agriculture production has skyrocketed because her Animal Protein we fit in those rations much better because of our amino acid complex and things like that. So we are replacing fish meal on a global level in indonesia and other countries as well. Then our fats and oils, back in the early 1800s we produce candles and things out of beef tallow. Those markets have changed over time. And now we are producing more Renewable Diesel and biofuel as a complement to the liquid fuel per. Me ask you this but earlier by the other witnesses indicated most of our landfills were animal products. Do your members, are they filling up the landfills . Or are they recycling byproducts . We are recycling byproducts. We are keeping the raw material from going to the landfills. We are producing things like meals and fertilizers and fuels. That is the one thing that bothers me about this committee, if i could about them chair please indulge. The whole cycle youve got to look up the whole cycle. You cannot look at one part of it. This is the whole cycle recycling the byproducts is part of the cycle thank you yelled back too. Next you are wrecking us for five minutes per. Thank you met them chair. Thanks for holding this hearing. I been looking forward to it. My first question goes to ms. Gonders. Food waste is a very large contributor as mentor to Greenhouse Gas emissions. As you have said their bills in congress to address at myriad of labeling confusion. Can you speak to the labeling issue and its contribution to food waste and Climate Change . Absolutely. Thank you. First like to clarify i actually did not cite animal products are filling up landfill, food scraps overst all as a number one prodt entering landfills today. On your question for labels, yes. The used bi, best buy, cell bike, enjoyed by the many words that you see to describe the date on food are actually quite confusing to consumers. Consumers are misinterpreting those dates to mean they are supposed to throw the food out. So 86 of consumers are somewhat confused on the dates and are therefore throwing food away prematurely. There is no federal regulation for the states but consumers im sorry manufacturers can putor whatever they want onto the product. The solution we see is to standardize the food date labels do have two phrases one is about quality in one thats about safety. And to require only those two phrases be used. As a way to create actual definitions and reduced confusion. There is a bill that is currently introduced in this congress to create that ac standardization. There is an industry voluntary agreement. Much of the industry is actually behind this change including companies. Thank you for that and on the same subject of labeling, what impact do you think labeling arestrictions on alternative proteins, milks and cheeses may have on their adoption and how important is adoption to combating Climate Change . Yes. My understanding of the alternative protein is quite limited. I understand there are some labeling issues that they would like to be able to call almond milk they would like to be able to call that milk. I think theres no single bullet. But offeringim c alternative products that are similar to animal products is one of the tools in the toolkit to reduce the overall consumption of meat as we look forward per its important to note food demand is predicted to increase quite a bit the un predicts with about 50 more food by 2052 feet our global population that we do today. I think we are talking about reducing consumption is not leslie reducing production but rather trying to freeze the footprint of food at what it is today and order to feed eight growing demand. Thank you. Staying on the same thing, recently in Grocery Stores i have noticed some Food Producers have begun to label their foods as carbon neutral. I do believe creating a uniform Climate Friendly labeling would help address Climate Impacts of Food Production . And incentivize consumers to choose more Climate Friendly alternatives similar to calorie labeling and nutrition labeling . Thank you for the question. So i think more generally marketbased Conservation Program have thehe potential to diversify Income Opportunities for producers which is great provide a signal for the marketplace to support durable on the ground conservation of Climate Smart adoption and largescale adoption in particular of Climate Smart practices. I think there are certainly a wealth of different ways of approaching package of labeling in doing so in a way that is assistant, fair, and transparent for consumers and also reflects the side of the practices and the outcomes in the field. And balancing that so it is accessible for consumers in the marketplace is certainly needed. But those signals to have the potential to support largescale adoption of the practices which is what weve talked about today is really being needed to realize the solutions potential. Thank you with that. I will yield back thank you met them chair per. Thank you representative graves were recognized for five minutes. Thank you met them chair. Madam chair, i went to respond to some comments are made earlier. First of all, comments were made that President Trump askedpo sai arabia to cut Oil Production. I read this and report that was in april of 2020. I want to make note of the press at were actually negative range. They were in the negative range. So if we are going to sit here and we are going to talk about oil prices lets do that. You come hold the summer . So look at what is happening with gas prices paid this is during the biden administration. So we were talking about prices my friend was talking about prices when they were negative. Literally oil futures were negative. So yes he did go to the cartel leand asked them to cut productn so we could continue to have Energy Production in the United States and here is why. We have some the lowest omissions in the world forgive narrative Energy Produced here. Why would you want to kill that industry . So this is what has happenede during this administration it sort of suggests there were issues with that conversation, fascinating. I dont have a crystal ball and he will tieie im not very smart this is a generate 27 of 2021, last year january of last year i could recognize whats going happen with Energy Prices i said this it is a result of executive and other organs biden was take with higher electricity bills higher prices at the gas pump, lost revenue sharing for hurricane protection, Flood Control and Coastal Restoration of my home state of louisiana, alabama, texas, mississippi and others. Higher delivery costs for products been delivered all across United States. More dependence on Foreign Energy from china, russia, iran and other countries. Increase in global admissions as a result begin energy from other countries offering services. I got to tie that is batting 1000 thats better than i ever did in college. I dont think this stuff is really Rocket Science here. In fact was so its not Rocket Science you can make aer cartoon off of whats happening right now and partly somebody did. Present brides that were going to palouse and were not going to pollute with ours is going to sound insane can we use yours . That is exactly what is happening right now. This is completely baffling to me that is what we see going on. That is what we have going on. The last thing is, this right here. As the letter from center cantwell, senator menendez, senator markey and senator schumer, just read this went the current World Oil Prices is effectively a tax on everyve american familys discretionary budget. Except that the money goes to the opec cartel rather than the u. S. Treasury. Could not agree more. Ill highlight this wordla tax. Because when you go back and you look at this went right here, and that as a tax. The president of the United States had no it making less than 40000 was going to get a tax. Campbell, schumer, menendez and mosomebody else markey, thanks. And markey said thats a tax. That is a tax. Every american is paying it. Pushing people into energy poverty. Keep up the false choice to do so are they open excuse me the going to pay theirat electricity bill, feel their car get groceries for this is unbelievable im going to say its resulting in higher emissions. Went to ask i believe you, dr. Kagan when you carryout better farming practices as you noted i assume that results in sequestered Greenhouse Gases, is that accurate . Or potentially question. Yes, sir. Hope is by implementing Sustainable Practices were storing more carbon in the soil youre improving the Water Filtration rate a list of benefits goes on it also improves habitat potential for wildlife yes. Thank you. I did not mean to go off i just ate all of my time. I did not have much coffee today im going to yield back im going to submit some questions for the record because i dove a number of them by have a note for mr. Huffman just said. And will go to mr. Huffman for five minutes you are recognized by. Thank you metatron to commend you for trying to have a serious conversation about how agriculture and our food supply could part of a solution for it how we can build a more resilient Food Supply Chain. Just for those might be watching this hearing, this is not a rerun of the eye level oil show. We see that rerun all the time around here. Were trying to talk about Food Security and resilience. The piece of this i am most interested in, is food waste. For those of ours witnesses who work in this field i just want to tell you i think your work is so important. I went to make sure you know it is appreciated. And i would think food waste could be something we would find common cause on. It seems like such an obvious thing to tackle together produce a huge contributor to Climate Change. A report by the epa compound annual gas emissions from lost and waste alone equals that of 42 coalfiredd power plants mineral water and energy use in food waste isho enough to supply 50 million homes. So why would we know it to tackle this together, use our food better, reduced waste and improve Food Security. I by the with a slot of methane involved in that food waste. And iff we care about inflation addressing food waste actually saves families money. It is they went on so many levels. Miss gonders, i want to ask you for some ideas for how congress can tackle this issue. What are some thoughts about how we in congress can invest upstream to try to reduce food waste . Thank you so much. Absolutely i think it is a solution to be increasing prices were seen today. Several studies have shown lower income households and higher income households actually waste approximate the same percentage of their food budget. So helping those folks, especially in lower income stretch those budgets is an important component especially today. That is what really focusing on Consumer Food waste is an important place to focus such as a National Consumer campaign there really helps educate consumers. Gives them the tools to stretch the food budget. Another place further upstream is creating a national Publicprivate Partnership. There is a really successful start to a Publicprivate Partnership on the west coast right now. We have seven retail signatories include walmart, kroger, the largest in our participating and working pretty competitively to identify opportunities. In taking that type of Partnership National can expand the potential but they are piloting all sorts of new projects for their sharing learning, theyre looking at specific sectors like dairy, produce, how can they reduce waste to the manufacturer even in production all the way through to retail. So really look at some of this partnership is critical. In funding would be a key step. Another is look at opportunities in school. There are things that can be done such as shared tables being put out all across the country. Shared tables are popping up her students who do not want their food can put it on a table and those who would like more or to take some home are able to take that food. Simple Solutions Like that can be elegant. The other art milk dispensers. Instead of putting milk and little cartons that can be and a dispenser and those students who care for milk and take what they would like. Those who dont, do not have to take the carton and put it straight into the garbage. Lastly, waste is eight local issue. Really providing funding to local and state jurisdictions to explore policies in this area, to fund Technical Assistance, food waste prevention programming can be a great solution as well. Thank you. In the time i have left let me just respond to the suggestion earlier that by promoting healthier school lunches, Michelle Obama somehow contributed to food waste because 1 million kids stopped in their school lunches. Lets be clear if Michelle Obama had endorsed twinkies, fox news and rightwing immediate would probably declare that twinkies are yucky and a Million Peoplean wouldve stopped eating themro because that is what their parents and fox news told them to do. I have seen my district district and in my state and around the country that healthy food can also be yummy food. So i hope we can dispose of that and get back to the subject of healthy, nutritious food and reducing food waste and having a more resilient food system, so thanks i yield back. Right. Next will go to you are recognized for five minutes per. Thank you met in chair. Many thanks to our panelists who are here today both in person and virtually. Really grateful to all of you for yourn nd work. Food is a really critical components of the effort to tackle the Climate Crisis spreads a madam chair thank you for bringing us back to focus on Practical Solutions and ideas around food. And i think too many r americans do not realize the power of their decisions as consumers and thee impact those decisions have on the Climate Crisis and the climate emergency. Our Country Waste between 30 40 of the food supply. This is not just immoral but it is a devastating to the environment. I do applaudac communities and people across the country who are working to change that. In my own home district of el paso, texas we have seen a rise in urban farms such as fossil based farms helping tackle Food Insecurity in our community and helping educate the community by showing w individuals how to fam and garden effectively at a low cost. There also local Organization Since as no loss for the provides meals to families in need but also focusing on reducing the food waste that goes into our landfills. Congress has to do more. But we have to support not just the local urban farmers, agricultural organizations and ranchers who face a climate related to the Food Supply Chainat. We also have to do Everything Possible to legislate around that. Time to educate the public as well. Miss gonders, have a couple of questions for you x have one eequestion for you. Can you please talk a little bit more about the importance of up adopting technologies for food waste of what Congress Must do to encourage Food Waste Technology innovation . Absolutely. There is explosion of innovation right now happening around food based its incredibly successful we are seeing things like using big data and Machine Learning to improve forecasting for retailers. Using new types of imaging and technical vision to evaluate the quality ofno products. Using sensors to evaluate how much temperature exposure has happened and allowing companies to route products that have a shorter life to places that are closer in places with a longer life going further. There is a ton of technology popping up. And yet it is taking some time to innovate and to be adopted. Certainly incentives that would help take more incentive for innovationlu as well as for eary deployment and adoption of some of the technologies thatng are proven would be hugely impactful. Well, i agree. I think that once those incentives are really important so we can ensure there is an urgency to that innovation. And we get into the marketplace as quickly as possible. I have a question for ellie brown. Ensuring families have affordable and Healthy Foods is crucial especially economically disadvantaged communities like my own. Not having Healthy Options lead to health risk environmental impacts that affect the most vulnerable. Can you please explain the importance of them provingor Community Food environments especially economically communities and what policies specifically what federal necessary to ensure improve . Environments thank you for the question. The reality is, are current is one that is very topdown. And the folks in that community they are struggling accessing healthy food. Ultimately really reclaiming the type of food thats available i. These communities. Like a mention in farming there is a movement for communities in terms of their own power to reclaim their food system as a sovereignty. Really what is important ultimately is a more Community Driven food system or food governing system. In the short term we could do everything we have in our government toolkit to support these communities from economic incentives of course dollars that help match resources into the local economy. We have seen a lot of great things happen matching, former market, different programs for that and grants. Too really support grassroots organizations and their access to these grants that are available. We often are trying to navigate some factors in its hard to get these resources to go into communities. So in the short term theres a lot of tools for the government to support. More access to healthy food. However, in the long term and need to shift the power for the type of Food Environment they like too. Thank you so much great i am out of time madam chair i yield back up. Thank you very much. And i agree with you, this is a hearing we intended to focus on those Practical Solutions. And wait out the escalating Climate Crisis, higher temperatures, the Higher Energy and food costs, the food a system can provide a lot of those solutions pretty want to thank our witnesses for helping us today. Given very clear on the call to action, thank you you have now given us some Practical Solutions on food labeling, how we fund and empower Publicprivate Partnerships. Ive been impressed with what you are doing in san diego for many years on reimagining and reconfiguring the food system. As ms. Gunderson said, the Innovative Technologies are exciting but we need action right away. One of these solutions i think we need to add to the list and talk about is preventing the conversion of cropland. I see it in florida as population grows and other stressors try to expand into critical areas. We want food and everything produced nearby. So, ms. Gunderson what is most important policy at the federal level to ensure we are more efficient on the cropland we have now, we do not continue to convert that cropland to other uses . Sorry. [laughter] yes, i think there are a few. One is supporting the north american conservationer act. There is already a Great Program has been brought up in the past, expanding this program could reduce negative impacts that happen out there. And then also, rethinking renewable fuel standards and policies is the other. And i would point you towards a report that has been written on this by the world that lie of Wildlife Fund who are really the experts. Doctor you have focus on this as well. I do appreciate how you pointed out early that our farmers and producers need help. I met with farmers in florida not tooer long ago across all industries such as cattle, dairy, the plant nurseries, the specialty crops, and they are hungry for help because their productivity is suffering under extreme temperatures, extreme rainfall events. So what do you pointnt out to us as are most important policies that we need to be focused on to help our farmers and to conserve cropland. Yes, thank you for the question. I like to come back to just a few points that frankly i think apply across a lot of different landscapes and the Producer Community you are talking. Where they are row crop producers, Cattle Producers thinking about orchard or private timber stands. And that is, we already have an existing suite of federal and state Conservation Programs that producers know, they are familiar with. There are recommendations how to improve, streamline those make them more accessible make the more equitable. But also those programs are already heavily subscribed one example i gave earlier in a single year 1. 1 billion in one Program Interested but unfunded application. Those are producers coming in, theyve already done the research for they have a proposal they have submitted for competitive review process. We thinkrs about how we can scae up the action of now like Sustainable Agriculture and forestryml practices across the country, it really is about helping meet producers where they are with what they need ngle local grassroots effort what can we be doing to encourage that model and empowering people at the local level across the country . As and you would be surprised. This policy network nationally i know several years ago there were at least 250 organizations in different communities across the nation and the county and state level organizing around the policy very bottomup grassroots approach so you would be surprised a lot of folks are getting together around these issues and i think it crosses political liens through the necessity to support the local farmers andic local businesses. How do we do that together so theres a lot of groups out there that have to listen. Thank you. Next i see mr. Crenshaw has joined virtually. You are recognized for five minutes for questions. Thank you madam chair for holding the hearing. There are some pragmatic ideas on how to improve practices and there is a lot of space for the bipartisan legislation. What we also here is good ideas cut out by more radical ideasas that end up hurting americans especially on their most basic needs, energy and food. Its worth pointing out some of the other countries recently that have taken these radical approaches. Theyve band pesticides and herbicides that provide Crop Protection because of the environmentalistg lobby. Currently in a devastating humanitarian crisis because they havent been able to produce enough food to eat with a nearperfect eas g score of 98 environmental groups sued the netherlands into enforcing the limitation on Carbon Emissions. The netherlands found by their Supreme Court to enforcing this and started enforcing bands on agricultural emissions and ther Prime Minister said the only way they can do it is to cut cattle by 38 . You can imagine whats going on in their country right now with a potential food shortage. The epa said the n Supreme Court wont stop themm from pursuing targets for industry that suggested he will try to use authority 115 of the Clean Air Act to enforce the targets set out in the climate agreement and put us on the same track as the netherlands and sri lanka. The crops go to an increase in have to go unharvested because of damage caused by pests and disease. The epa is restricting the products and natural gas productions for fertilizer and on both of the ways we produce. And restricting several other commonly used herbicides and pesticides. Without immediately available products do you anticipate the farmers increase the number of unharvested products . I apologize im not familiar its a basic question. If you dont have the materials necessary to send off then do you think you will have more unharvested products which is a concern of yours of course. I think in predicting and therefore yes. Youve indicated to the higher Carbon Emissions make a great argument for that i do believe a certain level of Crop Protection can lead to full utilization of crops. On food prices, increasing costs for americans and i want us to continue what we know how torb do, pursue environmental goals and we can protect people while also producing enough food and energy for americans. I believe that and yield back. Thank you. I would like to thank the witnesses for your testimony today on how we build a Climate Smart food system and lower costs for the neighbors and lower pollution from harm and a more sustainable Food Supply Chain. Without objection i would like to enter into the record a july 15, 2022 letter from the Biotechnology Organization in favor of investments and policies supporting agricultural innovation and as a climate solution that helps farmers and ranchers prove resilient in a changing world. Without objection, all members have ten Business Days with which to submit additional questions for the witnesses and i asked the witnesses to respond as promptly as you are able. Thanks again everyone for joining the Climate Smart solutions from farm to fork here today. The meeting is adjourned. Will [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] the nixon tapes, part private conversations, part of deliberations and 100 unfiltered. Let me say the main thing is it will pass and my heart goes out to those people that had the best of intentions as im sure you know if i could have spent more time being a public official in palestine being president i would have kicked their butts out but i didnt know what they were doing. President ial recordings on the cspan mobile lab or wherever you get your podcast. Spark light is working around the clock to keep you connected doing our part so it is a little easier to do yours. Will be fernand as administrator of the federal Transit Administration testified for a Senate Committee about Public Transportation projects under the Infrastructure Investment and jobs act. The Committee Questioned her about Public Safety and the progress of regional projects around the country