One of my favorite organizations, NSAC, has a new statement out on food safety. NSAC, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, describes itself, saying:
NSAC's vision of agriculture is one where a safe, nutritious, and affordable food supply is produced by a legion of family farmers who make a decent living pursuing their trade, while protecting the environment, and contributing to the strength and stability of their communities. NSAC's work has resulted in federal programs that promote small and mid-sized family farms, increase new farming and ranching opportunities, invest in sustainable and organic research, reward conservation excellence, and expand local and regional food systems.
In other words, they stand right where I do about food safety. Yes, we need food safety reform, but we don't want it to harm small or mid-size farms or those who engage in sustainable practices. Additionally, because one of the best ways to survive as a small or mid-size farm is to market value-added products, the bill would present a problem if it created insurmountable barriers to farmers wishing to form small businesses that process and market food. Here's how NSAC says that:
To the extent that new federal food safety authority extends to the farm, NSAC urges policymakers to ensure that standards and regulations encourage farmers to seek out innovations and a more sustainable agriculture, and at least not create additional barriers to the widespread adoption of sustainable agriculture practices.
Later in the paper, they add (I LOVE this!):
Agriculture is a human endeavor based on biological processes, and nature cannot be eliminated from the equation. Food safety will not be achieved simply by monitoring and killing bacteria-it must come from a food system that values human relationships and environmental stewardship. The goal should not be to eliminate all risk of microbial contamination, but to reduce risk to the lowest level possible while optimizing the myriad other ways in which agriculture contributes to human and ecological health.
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