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Sustainability efforts will impact future trade negotiations

US agriculture is ramping up its environmental sustainability efforts and measures, which could impact future trade negotiations and bilateral relationships.

Former Chief Ag Negotiator for the US Trade Representative Darci Vetter, who is currently vice chair for food, ag, and trade at Edelman, says US farmers and ranchers will be responsible for meeting future sustainability standards.

“US farmers and ranchers are going to need to stay on top of how they will be expected to report into our export markets and make sure our products remain eligible and provide a positive boost to those who buy our products by showing we have a good footprint when it comes to sustainability,” she says.

She says there are sustainability principles that will benefit US agriculture and support trade negotiations.   

“Let’s figure out those two or three things (carbon sequestration, water runoff, etc.) that we can focus on measuring and reporting clearly, be really inclusive in the process of developing that measurement, and use third-party validators,” she says.

Vetter says the ag industry is dependent on trade and must continue to be transparent to access markets around the globe.

Brownfield spoke to Vetter at the 2019 Sustainable Ag Summit in Indianapolis. The annual event is hosted by six agricultural organizations representing America’s commodity crop, specialty crop, beef, dairy, pork, and poultry industries.

Audio: Darci Vetter