A New Vision for Food and Ag Policy

1. A New Vision for Food and Ag Policy Deb Atwood Executive Director, AGree National Corn Growers Association Agri-Industry Council March 15, 2012

2. Food & Agriculture Challenges • Food and agriculture systems face tremendous challenges: • A population of 9 billion people by 2050 • Government efforts to raise living standards will put additional stress on natural resourcessuch as agricultural land and water • Growing middle classes around the world will generate consumer demand for goods and services that will increase energy use and shift patterns of food consumption • Rural communities will continue to experience population and infrastructure shifts and face economic and employment pressures www.foodandagpolicy.org

3. A Need for Integrated Policies • Food and agriculture are centralto a number of policy issues, including • Health • National security • Education • Energy • Economy • Natural Resources • Integrated policy approaches to food, nutrition, agriculture, and economic issues are needed to meet changing demands www.foodandagpolicy.org

4. About AGree • AGree’s approach is to: • Create a collaborative process that engages a broad array of stakeholders and utilizes top research and analysis to createintegrated food and agriculture policies • AGree is a new initiative designed to: • Transformlong-termagricultural, food, and rural policy issues • Engage a broad group of stakeholders to look at policy, research, and data in a new way • Be a driving force for comprehensive and lasting change www.foodandagpolicy.org

5. AGree’s Key Issues Building strong communities Meeting future demand for food Improving nutrition and public health Conservingand enhancing water, soil, and habitat

6. A Sampling of AGree’s Strategies Create conditions in the U.S. that attract young people to farming and ranching. Provide access to riskmanagement tools for U.S. producers at a minimum taxpayer expense. Implement policies and programs that use performance-based standards and regulatory certainty to align agricultural production and food supply chains with improved environmental outcomes. Support public and private research, education, and extension institutions that embrace integrated approaches to develop a resilient global food and agriculture system.

7. AGree’s Approach • Food and agriculture policy challenges are highly complex, long-term issues that cannot be solved quickly or through a single policy vehicle. • To be a central force and effect lasting change, AGree will: • Use best-in class researchto identify problems and define solutions • Engage a broad array of stakeholdersthrough an inclusive process • Seek insights, guidance, and ideas that lead to meaningful solutions

8. AGree’s Structure • AGree, the Meridian Institute, and the Foundation Working Group exchange ideas, knowledge, and connections • AGree’s leadership, Advisory Committee, and Research Committee inform one another’s workand guide policy recommendations • The Co-Chairs represent different experiences and points-of-view on food and agriculture • The Advisory Committee provides varied input and perspectives to AGree’s policy development process • The Research Committee grounds AGree’s discussions in established knowledge and identifies key information necessary for successful policy • Staff members provide strategic consultation, convening, and facilitation support AGree Leadership (Co-Chairs, Executive Director, Research Director, Senior Meridian Staff) AGree Advisory Committee Research Committee National Commission or Other High-Level Body (TBD) Meridian Institute Provides strategic consultation, convening, and facilitation support for AGree and the FWGFAP. AGree is based out of Meridian Institute's Washington, D.C. office. Foundation Working Group on Food and Agriculture Policy (FWGFAP) Trusted advisor to AGree. Provides funding and carries out aligned grant making in support of AGree activities.

9. Leadership Co-Chairs AGree Staff Deborah Atwood Executive Director; Former Associate, Corporate Affairs and Public Policy at Mars, Inc.; Special Assistant to U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Jim Moseley Dan Glickman Former Secretary of Agriculture under President Bill Clinton Gary Hirshberg Chairman of Stonyfield Farm Todd Barker Senior Partner, Meridian Institute Mil Duncan Research Director; Founding Director of the University of New Hampshire’s Carsey Institute, Professor of Sociology Jim Moseley Former Deputy Secretary of Agriculture under President George W. Bush; a fourth generation Indiana farmer Emmy Simmons Former Assistant Administrator for Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade, U.S. AID Nelson Fernandez Senior Vice President, APCO Worldwide www.foodandagpolicy.org

10. Committees Advisory Committee The committee comprises 29 experts with diverse experience Committee members provide various perspectives that help to shape and direct AGree’s research, discussion, and policy recommendations Research Committee • The committee is composed of 9 members with diverse expertise • Committee members: • Guide AGree’s research strategy • Identify core research questionsthat need to be addressed • Commission analytical studies and thought pieces on AGree’s issues • Convene other scholars and thought leaders to broaden and deepen understanding of critical issues

11. Roadmap for 2012