Agricultural Sustainability Initiative

A multi-sector initiative composed of growers, conservation organizations, and companies was formed to create sustainable outcomes for agriculture. Its initial concern is a sustainability index to measure and track the impact of agriculture in terms of environment and natural resource sustainability. This prototype index will analyze and report use of land, water, energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and crop production inputs in four key commodity crops – corn, cotton, soybeans and wheat.

“Sustainability is becoming increasingly important to consumers as they make their food choices,” said Sarah Stokes Alexander, director of sustainability and leadership programs for The Keystone Center, the non-profit group facilitating the initiative. “By creating this coalition, participants throughout the food supply chain are demonstrating their ongoing commitment to increasing productivity to meet future food and fiber needs while decreasing impacts on the environment.”

Additional details are available at http://monsanto.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=578