Why Is Tom Vilsack Wrong About Farm To Fork And What Can We Do About It?

Why Is Tom Vilsack Wrong About Farm To Fork And What Can We Do About It?

European Union's Farm To Fork intends to create a more sustainable food system across the continent. USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has recently come out publicly against the European Union's ambitious Farm To Fork strategy. Farm To Fork is the cornerstone of the European Green Deal, and puts sustainability at the heart of the world's largest food import and export market. Yet Vilsack's criticisms of the E. U. are out of step with consumer sentiments, food justice advocacy and the latest cutting edge research on agroecology. The Farm To Fork framework articulates a roadmap for sustainability, access and nutrition in E. U. member nations. Farm To Fork is based on several focus areas: science-based diet recommendations, better labeling and reduced intake of meat and highly processed foods; protection of pollinators and biodiversity; reduced greenhouse emissions; strengthening and harmonization of animal welfare policies; protection of food workers; increasing organic acreage by 25%, decreasing pesticide use by 50% and fertilizer use by 20%; as well as broad support through marketing, investment and public procurement. The E. U. will also require food businesses to incorporate sustainability into business strategies. While the strategy has attracted some criticism from inside the E. U., including