MAHA Strategy Recognizes Importance of Agriculture

Zippy Duvall

President

Hundreds of thousands of families in America are touched by cancer every year. My family is no exception. I think we can all agree that the goal of improving health outcomes is a worthy goal, and it is supported by America's farmers and ranchers. Farmers are dedicated to growing safe and nutritious food for all of America's families. We know that healthy lives are fueled by healthy meals, and those start on the farm.

The Make America Healthy Again, or MAHA, movement has the stated goal of addressing the causes of illness in the U.S., and it's generated a lot of interest in how our food is produced. We welcome the discussion and the renewed curiosity from America's families.

We also welcome the more open dialogue in recent months with MAHA Commission leaders about what it takes to keep America fed and the commitment of farmers to take care of our soil, water and other resources.

The initial MAHA Commission report in May praised farmers as partners, but undermined science and confidence in our food system. It's unfortunate farmers were excluded from the development of that first report and from helping officials understand the complexities of agriculture.

The final MAHA strategy is now out, and it reflects a greater understanding of how our food is grown, as well as opportunities to make smart, science-based improvements. That's progress, and we appreciate the open dialogue during the past few months as farmers from across the country explained the real-world challenges and opportunities they face.

Farmers are always looking for ways to improve, and we welcome ideas that are grounded in science and drive innovation.

The strategy includes a number of goals related to agriculture. A new focus on American-grown fresh fruits, vegetables and meat, along with reintroducing whole milk into the school meal programs can help provide a foundation for a lifetime of smart choices. Reducing or streamlining regulations in smart ways can allow farms operating on very tight margins to innovate, diversify and respond to consumer demand. Prioritizing voluntary conservation efforts for farmers and ranchers and optimizing EPA's already robust pesticide regulatory process are welcome recommendations.

This isn't the end of the conversation, however. This is the end of the beginning. America's families want to be certain that what they put on the dinner table is safe and nutritious, and they will continue to seek out healthy and sustainable food. That's why it's more important than ever for farmers to engage and share our stories with national, state and local officials. We must ensure the policymakers at all levels and our neighbors have a full understanding of the food supply chain and potential unintended consequences of recommendations that could reduce food safety and food security in America instead of increasing them.

Farmers are always looking for ways to improve, and we welcome ideas that are grounded in science and drive innovation. If we are going to have meaningful discussion about opportunities for improvement, we must remain open to engaging with the families who rely on us to keep their pantries stocked. Answering questions gives us an opportunity to highlight just how far we've come. That's exactly what we did for the MAHA Commission and I'm thankful to all the farmers who stepped up to be part of the dialogue.