NOFA/Mass advocates for sustainable agricultural policies that strengthen the resilience of our local communities. Our policy team works on issues as diverse as organic standards, food system transparency, and regulations that support sustainable farms. 

 

Take Action!- Learn what food and farming issues you can directly impact right now

Our Legislative Priorities- NOFA/Mass works hard to ensure that organic and sustainable farmers are represented in town, country, state, and federal politics. Learn more about our priorities here.

Organic Standards-Find useful resources and educational materials about what organic really means and why it matters.

Partnerships and Coalitions - Learn about ways that NOFA/Mass is part of national coalitions and networks

Want to get involved in policy work? Have a tip or suggestion? Marty Dagoberto, our Policy Director, can be reached at marty@nofamass.org

Donate to our Policy Program to help us complete 2020 priorities

 

 

Partnerships and Coalitions

 

National Healthy Soils Policy Network

Launched early in 2018, the National Healthy Soils Policy Network is a group of farmer-centered organizations that advocate for state and federal policies on behalf of sustainable, organic, beginning, minority and/or family farmers. The group recognizes the importance of using farmer-informed policy to scale up these practices, leveraging robust funding, technical assistance and research to accelerate their widespread adoption at the state level. Members share models, lessons learned and strategies related to policies that incentivize agricultural practices with climate benefits, in particular, those that build healthy soils.

Network members are aligned in their conviction that many farming and ranching management practices can significantly mitigate climate change, enhance on-farm resilience to extreme weather and drought, and improve water and air quality and that these solutions require supportive policies.

Learn more about Network members’ current activities.

Members of the National Healthy Soils Policy Network (links to website included):

California Climate & Agriculture Network (CA)
Center for Rural Affairs (IA)
Illinois Stewardship Alliance (IL)
Kansas Rural Center (KS)
Land Stewardship Project (MN)
Maine Farmland Trust (ME)
Michael Fields Agricultural Institute (WI)
National Young Farmers Coalition (CO, national)
New Mexico Healthy Soil Working Group (NM)
Northeast Organic Farming Association, Mass. Chapter (NOFA/Mass)
Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) NH
Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) NY
Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) VT
Northern Plains Resource Council (MT)
Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association (OH)
Oregon Climate & Agriculture Network (OR)
Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PA)
Rural Vermont (VT)
Vermont Healthy Soils Coalition (VT)
Waterkeepers Chesapeake, Fair Farms Campaign (MD)

 

Contacts

Renata Brillinger, Executive Director, California Climate & Agriculture Network (CalCAN)

renata(at)calclimateag.org or (707) 329-6374

Liz Moran Stelk, Executive Director, Illinois Stewardship Alliance

liz(at)ilstewards.org or (217) 528-1563

 

 

National Organic Coalition (NOC)

The National Organic Coalition (NOC) is a national alliance of organizations working to provide a "Washington voice" for farmers, ranchers, environmentalists, consumers and industry members involved in organic agriculture.  NOC seeks to advance organic food and agriculture and ensure a united voice for organic integrity, which means strong, enforceable, and continuously improved standards to maximize the multiple health, environmental, and economic benefits that organic agriculture provides. The coalition works to assure that policies are fair, equitable, and encourage diversity of participation and access.

NOFA/Mass is a member of NOC through the NOFA Interstate Council. 

 

 

National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC)

 

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is an alliance of grassroots organizations that advocates for federal policy reform to advance the sustainability of agriculture, food systems, natural resources, and rural communities.

NSAC’s vision of agriculture is one where a safe, nutritious, ample, and affordable food supply is produced by a legion of family farmers who make a decent living pursuing their trade, while protecting the environment, and contributing to the strength and stability of their communities.

NSAC member groups advance common positions to support small and mid-size family farms, protect natural resources, promote healthy rural communities, and ensure access to healthy, nutritious foods by everyone.  By bringing grassroots perspectives to the table normally dominated by big business, NSAC levels the playing field and gives voice to sustainable and organic farmers.  To do this work, NSAC:

• gathers input from sustainable and organic farmers and ranchers, and from a diverse group of grassroots farm, food, rural, and conservation organizations that work directly with farmers;
• develops policy through participatory issue committees that involve NSAC member organizations and allies;
• provides direct representation in Washington, D.C. on behalf of its membership to members of Congress and federal administrative offices, such as USDA and EPA; and
• builds the power of the sustainable agriculture movement by strengthening the capacity of its member groups to promote citizen engagement in the policy process.

NOFA/Mass is a participating member of NSAC through the NOFA Interstate Council. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Policy Archive