WASHINGTON D.C. – (October 25, 2022) – As a lot of the political world seems to be to Election Day, Farm Sanctuary hosted 55 Congressional Staffers and 17 animal, diet, sustainability, justice, and farmer alternative advocates to debate meals coverage over vegan meals and drinks. The occasion, held within the historic Rayburn Home Workplace Constructing, comes one month after the White Home Convention on Starvation, Vitamin, and Well being. In accordance with Farm Sanctuary Federal Coverage Specialist Alexandra Bookis, that is the right time to return collectively to reimagine federal meals coverage:
“The White Home Convention made clear: we want an interagency strategy to meals points. We agree, and ask policymakers to go additional. We additionally want a supply-chain-wide strategy, one which prioritizes the well-being of animals, individuals, and the planet over maximizing income for the nation’s greatest landowners and worst company consolidators.”
Farm Sanctuary, the one animal-centered group requested to formally endorse funding for the White Home Convention, sees profit in bringing staffers collectively to debate meals system points over vegan meals and drinks.
“We have to elevate meals system sustainability and justice points, and we have to combine a priority for animals. Meals is on the coronary heart of what many individuals care about – well being, sustainability, vibrant rural and concrete economies, combating environmental injustice and systemic racism. Our purpose is to fulfill of us the place they’re and discover frequent floor to construct shared progress,” defined Farm Sanctuary Senior Director of Advocacy Aaron Rimmler-Cohen.
The occasion, sponsored by Rep. Blumenauer (D-OR) in coordination with the Committee on Science, Area, and Know-how, suggests so-called “different proteins” could possibly be an vital a part of this technique. Farm Sanctuary was fast to focus on the necessity for a “holistic” strategy.
“Sure, we want different proteins as a result of they’re higher, and way more sustainable than the status-quo, and the federal authorities has a transparent position to play to assist R&D and US sourcing from US farmers. However we additionally want Rep. Pingree’s Agriculture Resilience Act, Senator Booker’s Justice for Black Farmers Act, Defend America’s Youngsters from Poisonous Pesticides Act, the Farm System Reform Act, Rep. Hayes’ Tipped Employee Safety Act, and rather more. It must be a ‘sure, and’ strategy the place we work collectively, or we’ll find yourself with extra manufacturing unit farming, extra consolidation, extra injustice – and that hurts everybody, animals, individuals, and the planet,” Rimmler-Cohen argued.
About Farm Sanctuary
Based in 1986, Farm Sanctuary fights the disastrous results of animal agriculture on animals, the atmosphere, social justice, and public well being via rescue, schooling, and advocacy. The group gives lifelong look after animals rescued from abuse at Sanctuary places in New York and California; fosters simply and compassionate vegan dwelling; and advocates for authorized and coverage reforms. To be taught extra about Farm Sanctuary, go to FarmSanctuary.org.