Food Integrity Campaign Blog

The Farm Bill: What it is and why you should care

Food Integrity Campaign | January 11, 2023

BLOG SERIES: PART 1

Did you know that every five years the U.S. Congress has an opportunity to shape the future of our food system? This colossal legislative undertaking affects you and me—whether you are a farmer, worker, advocate or eater—and it’s called the Farm Bill. As defined by Congress, the Farm Bill is “an omnibus, multiyear law that governs an array of agricultural and food programs.” It’s the time for policymakers to comprehensively and periodically address agricultural and food issues.

So good news, this year the Farm Bill is up for negotiations, and we have a chance to RE-IMAGINE what our food system looks like! We deserve to make our voices heard in support of a food system that: protects the health and safety of our most essential workers, regenerates our environment, uplifts our farmers, revitalizes our communities, provides transparency to the everyday buyer, provides safe and nutritious food to eaters, and treats animals humanely.

If we don’t want a food system that only benefits multinational corporations, we need to use this opportunity to mitigate the harm and negative externalities passed along the supply chain.
The 2023 legislative session has gotten off to a rocky start. The process of electing a speaker for the majority Republican party in the U.S. House of Representatives has been chaotic. There are concerns from members of the House Agriculture Committee that this division in the Republican party could mean impediments for Farm Bill negotiations and getting this massive legislation to the floor. The Farm Bill is always a bipartisan bill, but due to the Republican party fracture, the process seems daunting.

Check out the next blog in this series. We explain the problem with the current Farm Bill and policy solutions to create a Farm Bill for all in 2023.

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