National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture

National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture
Renewable Energy Convening Call
January 30, 2007

Participants: Loni Kemp, Margie MacDonald, Mike McGrath, Dennis Olson, Frank Cavanaugh (?), Brad Redlin Staff: Deb Burd (facilitator), Sheilah Davidson (note-taker)

Committee Focus
The committee will create its own focus. The primary asset the National Campaign will bring is to use alert our action alert base to promote consensus positions.

Brainstorm

For the short term (9-12 months), we could be exploring and building consensus for the Farm Bill
We could also exchange information about what individual groups are planning
We could aim to pick a few priorities-things we hate/love to decide/request when to mobilize the National Campaign's action alerts
Margie will send WORC's position to see if it could contribute to a consensus strategy
We could keep track on state legislation, clearing house for that, try to make sure state bills are compatible with the federal farm bill, and also help states bring forward their own bills if there is a chance of federal funding.
IATP is also working at the international level in terms of trade and regulation. We could share how these issues would impact federal policy
Longer term work could be more proactive

Clarification re issue areas within renewables
This is tricky because we haven't assessed what our partners are doing.

The Minnesota Project: has been focused on cellulosic biofuels. Next generation perennials and mixed species perennials have the potential to advance the sustainable agriculture agenda farther than ever before. This is probably the issue that needs us. Don't know how hard other groups are working on wind and other issues.
WORC: focusing on biomass, to some degree wind and other renewables that can be sustainably and compatibly developed to support the rural economy. Also interested in cellulosic ethanol because of their potential to be produced sustainably. Open to other kinds of biomass that could be distributed in a decentralized way, generating energy from rural America. Also interested in some alternative oil seed crops for rotation in small grain agriculture, which could be decentralized, and are compatible with grassfed beef, supplemental feeding.
IATP: Cellulosic is a high priority focus-two major prongs that have emerged. One is working lands, acreage/crop reserve, incentives for farmers to put sustainable feedstock into those acres. The other is providing subsidies, investment, and research to develop crops. There is a push by Peterson and others to make sure that whatever subsidies we get go to that technology, because we donÕt need subsidies for corn ethanol, which is up and running.

Discussion

The most resonance in this group is around the cellulosic issue. We need to make sure cellulosic is grown sustainably as it gets up and running.
Other pieces could include what are we doing during this transition period with other possible feedstock, how can we support those through conservation planning and principles.
We have an interest in other renewables that support the principles of sustainable development.
Ethanol is not the only way to use cellulose, let's call it cellulosic renewable energy, there may be other options, especially on the local level. We should broaden our focus to include other kinds of energy uses.
There are current Farm Bill has issues to focus on as well. It includes CRP lands coming out of reserve, they will need to be enrolled or we will lose them to corn; we need to shift out of monocultural export crops into the sustainable crops we are advocating.

Next Steps

One of the first things we should do is propose and make a case for this focus for the next 9-12 months, and get agreement on that
Deb will write up the intention of the committee and send around for comment, there will be a quick turn around date to keep things moving. It will be phrased as a proposed focus and timeline.

Resources

IATP: Dennis chaired the energy subcommittee of MSAWG/SAC, the committee made good ground, and he is willing to continue that kind of time and resources to committee. Some of the subcommittee work has been acted on, some wasn't, (mostly a matter of time); it would be appropriate to pick this up and bring discussions forward. Barb Muller and Jim Kleinschmit are also working on the issue. Support for this committee fits into IATPÕs mission for this work.
The Minnesota Project: has some funding to educate and mobilize the sustainable agriculture community on cellulosic issues and opportunities. We have 3 ideas to move this forward:

Preliminary Briefings via conference calls: helping people understand the issue
Planning to do a presentation and workshop at the SAC meeting in March in DC.
Helping with outreach for first conference call

Discussion

It would be good if the energy committee could get some visibility at the SAC meeting.
There could be a third workshop/event in DC, which would be the committee meeting, or we could invite the committee to the workshop and have it be both. This could be a follow up to energy meeting in Mott building a couple of years ago-don't know if we want to call it a committee meeting, or a chance to meet players, not sure how to frame it.
It would be good to have kick off conference call before March 7th, then it would clearly be a new National Campaign issue committee, which could co-sponsor the workshop. This would be a chance to get face to face with people who could be there.
The Minnesota Project has funds for outreach time, but not travel funds. SAC has money to help farmers come in, maybe we could focus on districts where we have farmers we might help to turn out.
WORC: Tie in to western districts will be important. We do fly people in and have a commitment to the National Campaign. We may be able to help get people there and it may overlap with the Competition fly in outreach as well.
Jim Kleinschmit at IATP has a major focus on getting people involved in the issue, he will be working with farmers to experiment with sustainability practices. Dennis will talk to Jim about if it would help his work to get folks to DC.

Committee Outreach

It will be important to do personal outreach.
By Feb 9th, send your list of who should be contacted to Sheilah, she will compile and send that list back out the following week. Then we can figure out who will contact who by phone. Dennis is willing to follow up with SAC/MSAWG list in coordination with Mike and Loni.
Everyone should take a look at the partner list at http://sustainableagriculture.net/partners.php and think who from any of those organizations should be invited.
Think about others that arenÕt on the National Campaign partner list, but could/should be partners, like NRDC, other groups that care about this issue and national policy.
Deb will draft an email announcement and will get it to the committee by early next week. It will go out after the list is finalized.
Content:

summarize the main focus points so they are aware of our proposed work.
link to notes from this call.
suggested times and dates for the first conference call, week of 2/19.
Proposed agenda: We should spend (20 minutes max) on the first conference call for a cellulose, biofuels 101, and also plan for a go-round of what everyone is doing, and a brief description of the March event in DC.
As a P.S: Mark your calendar: Description of March event (from Mike)

Deb will chair the first call, then announce we will be looking for volunteers and elect a chair person. We should note that we need a volunteer who can facilitate as well as participate- a process person who will keep committee productive and on track.