The agriculture community is reacting to the release of the report by the Make America Healthy Again Commission headed by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. While the report includes items like vaccines, the use of digital devices and the lack of physical activity, many in the agriculture industry are weighing in on how the report impacts agriculture.
The American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall said, “It is deeply troubling for the White House to endorse a report that sows seeds of doubt and fear about our food system and farming practices, then attempts to celebrate farmers and the critical role they play in producing the safest food supply in the world. Farmers are identified as ‘critical partners,’ yet were excluded from development of the report, despite many requests for a seat at the table.”
Alexandra Dunn, President and CEO of Crop Life America said, “While the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Report recognizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) robust and science-based decision-making, it unfairly casts doubt on the integrity of the federal review process. This report will stir unjustified fear and confusion among American consumers who live in the country with the safest and most abundant food supply. We commend champions of agriculture in this administration and in Congress that have heard the voice of farmers.”
Georgia Agribusiness Council President Will Bentley said, ”Georgia’s farmers rely on proven, science-backed tools to grow the food and fiber that feed and clothe our nation. For more than five decades, glyphosate has been rigorously studied and consistently affirmed as safe. The Georgia Agribusiness Council supports continued access to this essential tool, which helps our producers stay productive, sustainable, and globally competitive.”
Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association Executive Director Chris Butts said, ”Georgia growers need access to safe and reliable crop protection tools to compete in the global marketplace. Deemed safe for over 50 years by numerous studies, glyphosate is a key tool for Georgia growers that allows our farmers to grow the fresh produce that feeds our country.”
“In today’s farming climate, the availability of crop protection tools is critical to managing pest pressure, meeting the demands of a growing population, and staying competitive with foreign producers. American farmers cannot lose products that have been rigorously tested and approved over decades for any reason that is not based on sound science.” — Tom McCall, President of the Georgia Farm Bureau
“Farmers are already facing a host of challenges—uncertainty about their access to critical crop protection products shouldn’t be added to the list,” said Elizabeth Burns-Thompson, Executive Director of the Modern Ag Alliance. “Crop protection tools are not only safe, they are essential to food security, affordability, and the survival of family farms all across this country. Losing access to these critical inputs would be a devastating setback to American agriculture.”
“We must do more to improve the health outcomes of our kids and families, and President Trump knows agriculture is at the heart of the solution. America’s farmers and ranchers dedicate their lives to the noble cause of feeding their country and the world, and in doing so have created the safest and most abundant and affordable food supply in the world. We are working to make sure our kids and families are consuming the healthiest food we produce,” said Secretary Rollins. “I look forward to continuing to work with Secretary Kennedy and other members of the MAHA Commission to improve our nation’s health.”