Question 6

This is extremely challenging work given the powerful big agriculture forces that support the current system and the deregulatory agenda of the Trump administration. The opportunity is positioning food and agriculture as central to climate and water protection work. This sector drives methane and nitrous oxide emissions while poisoning waterways with nutrient pollution, yet remains dangerously under-regulated.

The current system is broken. Federal subsidies prop up industrial monocrops and factory farms that devastate rural communities and sicken farmworkers. Meanwhile, we export millions of tons of grain to China's industrial animal operations, outsourcing emissions without accountability. This isn't just environmental destruction. It’s an environmental justice crisis. Manure pollution, toxic air, and contaminated wells disproportionately harm rural, low-income communities and communities of color.

There are three interconnected strategies. First, enforce existing law: demand Clean Water Act permitting for large CAFOs, oppose reckless expansion, and support moratoria where watersheds are already impaired. Second, redirect subsidies from industrial operations toward local food systems that integrate animals properly. This is essential for soil restoration and sustainable production. Third, drive systems change through institutional procurement campaigns and public education that shifts markets at scale, not individual guilt.

Climate, water, environmental justice, and democracy work must integrate, with chapters and grassroots leaders—those closest to affected communities—empowered to lead.

The payoff is measurable emissions reductions, protected waterways, advanced equity, and accountability for one of America's most destructive and politically protected industries.

Important as they are, we have never had enough funding for substantial work in those areas, even when I was on the Conservation Governance Committee 20 years ago. However, our Environmental Law Program and some chapters have successfully fought ag pollution over the years, and we need to expand funding for ELP and better support state-based chapter work.

As someone who lives in an agriculturally rich pocket of the planet (shoutout to the Oxnard plain!), this is an issue near and dear to my heart. I have firsthand experience with the toll that pollution takes on the body, and our community faces exurbanite rates of asthma due to the disproportionate industry burdens that we have been forced to live with. The Sierra Club can continue to advocate for small-scale regenerative agriculture and launch campaigns that encourage community gardens.

We must rely on our allies and chapters. Our chapters are made up of the people that are the closest to these issues, both communities suffering the impacts of the pollution as well as those actively participating in our agricultural system. Any and all work within the agricultural sector needs to be championed by people who understand those sectors and the countless lives they impact. This is a space where Sierra Club must not shy away from partnerships with other organizations. This should include mapping the nation’s regional and national agricultural interests, and finding ways to support progressive voices in those spaces. I don’t think that Sierra Club should be the primary driver, champion, or focus of any food or agricultural sector policy change, but instead should be a willing and active partner in sharing its enormous environmental impact knowledge with stakeholders and allies across the nation.

As a water professional, I would also be remiss not to point out that this question is the only water-related question and does not speak to some of the most pressing water concerns across the United States including but not limited to: groundwater management, oil and gas pollution, surface water quality protections, crumbling water and wastewater infrastructure, water affordability, data center expansion, and drought and flood resilience. The climate is changing and the Sierra Club needs to put significant time and energy into understanding and supporting work on water across the country in order to mitigate many of those impacts.

One of the greatest strengths of Sierra Club is that issues rise organically from the grassroots as our group and chapter leaders confront environmental threats, pursue opportunities and bring them to nationwide attention. As someone who has fought factory farms in Michigan for more than twenty years, I know that food and agriculture issues are particularly challenging because of powerful agribusiness interests, weak environmental regulations, out of whack government funding that supports industrial agriculture through both direct subsidies and university programs, and a positive public perception of farmers that doesn’t differentiate sustainable operations from the severely polluting ones. Over more than two decades Sierra Club entities have tackled water quality, air quality, subsidies, public health, food contamination and other aspects of these concerns. There have been some significant successes, but foundational changes have eluded us.

Issues that get elevated within Sierra Club tend to follow the same path. The issue is well-defined with a discreet set of tools to address it ( legislation, litigation, etc.); there is strong volunteer and staff interest and capacity to take it on; a campaign can be put together around the issue including clear targets, advocacy, research, lobbying, communications, organizing, litigation and fundraising. The food and agriculture issues are extremely broad, which argues for breaking the components down to provide focus and the opportunity for finding needed funding, for example tackling the climate issues through state climate plans, or tackling subsidies through legislation at state or federal levels. There aren’t silver bullets for these issues, unfortunately. 

Matters involving Food and Agriculture should be prioritized with the same diligence as water, air and other environmental issues. Food and agriculture challenges impact the sustainability of communities and are affected by climate issues. There are also disparities in Agriculture that stem from historical discrimination which have a direct impact on the gender gap in land ownership and other inequities in the Global farming system.  

Food and agriculture are at the center of the climate, water, and public health challenges—and must be a clear priority for the Sierra Club. These sectors are major sources of greenhouse gas emissions and water pollution, but they also offer powerful opportunities for solutions that protect the climate, strengthen communities, and support farmers.

Meaningful progress can be made with a well-funded, resources and staff supported campaign. Our volunteer-led grassroots network teams who are advocating for a strong Farm Bill at the federal level need support with dedicated funding, staff, and training that builds skills in organizing, fundraising, and policy advocacy to scale their impact.

Strong collaboration between chapters and grassroot network teams to encourage that chapters include food and agriculture in their conservation and legislative priorities, engage and mobilize local communities to hold elected officials accountable at all levels of government.

Education about soil health, how food policies affect families, public health, clean water and climate, regenerative farming, reducing food waste, promoting sustainable diets, can empower communities to advocate for policy changes, investment in R&D for low carbon tech and support ecosystem restoration, tackling issues through science-based strategies that benefit farmers and communities.

By strengthening coalitions, we can amplify diverse voices, center farmers and frontline communities, and advance just, sustainable agricultural policies. Proven conservation programs that reduce pollution, improve health, and sequester carbon—while supporting family farmers— offer bipartisan solutions. By investing in peoplepower and smart policy solutions, Sierra Club can drive progress toward our 2030 climate and conservation goals.