Press Releases

USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack Recognizes Private Sector Leadership on Climate

December 02, 2015
Field to Market members showcase how leadership and collaboration on climate action from U.S. agricultural value chain helps support governments’ carbon reduction targets

PARIS, December 2, 2015 — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will join Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture and global sustainable business network BSR today at the Galerie des Solutions in Paris to recognize leadership and collaboration of the U.S. agricultural value chain on climate action at a COP21 side event featuring Field to Market’s president Rod Snyder and BSR’s senior vice president Eric Olson. As a special guest, French Minister of Foreign Affairs Laurent Fabius, president of the COP21, will join to officially open La Galerie des Solutions.

Through this event, the U.S. food and agriculture sector sends a strong message about its increased efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while building a food system that is more resilient to climate change. Few sectors have as much at stake as agriculture in addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by global climate change. While many companies have taken important steps to mitigate impacts within the four walls of their operations, the most significant opportunities lie in collaborating across their supply chains. Today, Field to Market and BSR members will highlight their own efforts in achieving carbon reductions while fostering productivity and global competitiveness and the importance of building partnerships at all levels—from companies and growers to government and civil society—to meet the challenge with the scale and impact required.

WHO: U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack;

COP21 President and French Minister of Foreign Affairs Laurent Fabius;

White House Director of Private Sector Engagement Rob Diamond;

8 Field to Market members, including top food executives and farmers

WHERE: Paris-Le Bourget “Galerie des Solutions”

WHAT: COP21 Side Event: From Field to Market: Leadership and Collaboration in U.S. and Global Agriculture

WHEN: Wednesday, December 2, 2015 – 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. CET

“The agricultural community faces a significant challenge of feeding a growing world population while adapting to a changing climate. Fortunately, there is a movement across the sector to adopt practices that deliver greenhouse gas emissions reductions while improving productivity, said Rod Snyder, president of Field to Market. “Today, companies and farmers will demonstrate how unparalleled collaboration is key to achieving improvements at a large scale.”

Presentations will highlight existing practices and opportunities for further scale with participation by Field to Market members, including top food executives and farmers from organizations such as General Mills, Kellogg Company, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Corn Growers Association, PepsiCo, The Nature Conservancy, Unilever and United Soybean Board.  PepsiCo is serving as the event sponsor.

“As a sector that is highly dependent on specific climate conditions, agriculture is particularly threatened in this era of climatic change. Food and agriculture businesses are increasingly aware that this vulnerability necessitates a responsibility to address climate change and are leading the way, through efforts like Field to Market and the We Mean Business Coalition, to reduce carbon impacts,” said Eric Olson, senior vice president at BSR.

Rob Diamond, director of private sector engagement for the White House will provide closing remarks, highlighting the importance of collaboration and outlining a path forward.

Accreditation to visit La Galerie is required. To request press credentials, please contact maelle@oxygen-rp.com.

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. 

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

"*" indicates required fields

Read Other Press Releases