EDF Statement on USDA's Climate Change & Agriculture Report

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a new scientific assessment today that found climate change will pose a significant threat to food security as well as to U.S. and global agriculture.

The following is a statement from Rebecca Shaw, Associate Vice President, Ecosystems, Environmental Defense Fund:

“Today’s report represents an urgent call to action for food companies, policymakers and agribusinesses to reduce emissions from food production and implement farming practices that increase resiliency. The risk that climate change poses to farmers, especially in developing countries, is unprecedented. 

But we also face unprecedented opportunities – we know how to make agriculture more sustainable, and we have the right tools and practices at our fingertips. Fertilizer efficiency and soil health measures such as cover crops can also mean cost-savings and yield benefits for farmers. In order to implement these measures at scale, we need increased investment from the private sector, and collaboration across the agricultural supply chain. We need to go beyond commitments and towards on-the-ground support for farmers.”