Press Releases

Rod Snyder’s Reflections and Gratitude on Departure from Field to Market

October 07, 2021

It is with mixed emotions that I announce I am stepping down as president of Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture. I have accepted a political appointment at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in the role of Senior Advisor for Agriculture to Administrator Michael Regan where I will begin next week.

For more than seven years, I have been incredibly fortunate to work with some of the most dedicated and talented individuals who are committed to building a more sustainable food and agriculture system. From the U.N. Climate Summit in Paris, to the White House in DC, to farm fields and machine sheds in Kansas, Illinois and Louisiana, our members and staff have worked tirelessly to promote a science-based and outcomes-driven approach to sustainability, shifting this conversation from niche to norm across our industry.

Snyder throughout his tenure as President in Brazil, Paris and Iowa.

Field to Market looks very different from when I arrived in March of 2014. We opened a permanent headquarters, hired a full-time staff, tripled the number of member organizations, and launched industry-leading conferences and events. But most importantly, we have built trust among diverse stakeholder groups and strengthened collaboration across the value chain. More than any single project or program, it is this pre-competitive collaboration and consensus building that has been core to our success and will be critically important to the future of this work. I will be forever grateful to our members and staff for their shared commitment and remarkable investment of time and talent that has made this journey possible.

Snyder with the Field to Market team.

I am leaving Field to Market at a moment when the industry’s focus on climate and sustainability is at an all-time high. More companies are establishing climate and nature-based targets and beginning to invest in this work in new and creative ways. In addition, last week’s announcement by USDA regarding the creation of a Climate-Smart Agriculture Partnership Program creates remarkable new opportunities to align public and private sector efforts toward common goals. I have never been more optimistic about the role that the agriculture supply chain can play in supporting the transition to a more sustainable and resilient future.

As the Board of Directors determines next steps for the executive search process, you are in great hands with our talented team. Betsy Hickman and Allison Thomson will share management responsibilities in the interim, including working with the Board to finalize the next three-year strategic plan, overseeing the upcoming biannual plenary meeting and Sustainable Agriculture Summit in Las Vegas and release of the third edition of Field to Market’s National Indicators Report.

It has been the honor of my career to lead this broad, multi-stakeholder alliance of unlikely partners and allies. I am convinced this organization’s best days are ahead and its impact will continue to grow.

Warm regards,

President, Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture

ABOUT FIELD TO MARKET

Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture® brings together a diverse group of grower organizations; agribusinesses; food, feed, beverage, restaurant, and retail companies; conservation groups; universities and public sector partners to focus on defining, measuring, and advancing the sustainability of food, feed, fiber, and fuel production. Field to Market comprises around 200 members representing all facets of the U.S. agricultural supply chain, with members employing more than 5 million people and representing combined revenues totaling over $1.5 trillion. 

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