Vilsack: Countries Have a Goal Of Reducing Emissions

Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack, was in Florence, Italy over the weekend at meetings of the G20; that's 19 countries plus the EU, comprising the biggest economies in the world. Vilsack met with dozens of his counterparts trying to create what he calls the Coalition for Productivity Growth. Vilsack said he thinks all nations have a goal of reducing emissions from agriculture and making farming sustainable.

"[However], I think there is a concern in many parts of the world that sustainable agriculture could result in a reduction in productivity. I think we're pushing back on that notion. We believe that actually a more sustainable agriculture can also be a more productive agriculture, and can in fact meet the needs and demands of a growing global population," by helping farms adopt new science and sustainable practices.

And Vilsack said this coalition would help balance the EU's Farm-to-Fork plan which reportedly plays down the use of new science in the goal of sustainable food production.

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