USFRA creates new Sustainability Officers Council

The US Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) has created the Sustainability Officers Council, which will allow food companies to access opinions of farmers and ranchers.

USFRA crated the council in response to food companies that make new product claims, procurement and sourcing decisions, without consulting farmers and ranchers.

The council believes that it is important for these groups to voice their opinions in conversations with others in the supply chain about sustainability, food and agriculture.

Under the initiative, USFRA has selected six farmers and ranchers to lead conversations about sustainability in food and agriculture.

The six sustainability officers appointed by USFRA include Kyle Bridgeforth, an Alabama crop farmer; Tom Crave, a Wisconsin dairy farmer; Cassidy Johnston, a New Mexico cattle rancher; Nancy Kavazanjian, a Wisconsin crop farmer; Hilary Maricle, a Nebraska cattle, pig, corn and soybean farmer; and Leon Sheets, an Iowa pig, corn and soybean farmer.

The role of the sustainability officers is to allow anyone who is interested in speaking to a farmer or rancher about current and future sustainability practices in agriculture.

The six farmers and ranchers will participate in conversations with food companies and retailers to provide data and knowledge about modern agricultural practices carried out at existing farms and ranches.

Kavazanjian said: “As former chairwoman of the US Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, I look forward to serving voluntarily as one of the Sustainability Officers and highlighting how all farmers make environmental sustainability a priority.

“These farmers and ranchers serve as a great representation of today’s agriculture, making continuous improvement a priority by utilising technology to enhance animal welfare and conserve our natural resources.”