Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers Launch Regional Sustainable Agriculture Initiative

The Conference of Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers (GSGP) today launched a new regional initiative to advance sustainable agriculture in the region. The agriculture industry contributes over $1 trillion (US) to the region's economy and employs over 6.5 million people. Yet, it faces increasing risks to operate and grow, including rising production costs, uncertain international markets, an aging farming cohort, loss of available farmland, decreased labor availability, and less predictable weather and more extreme events. This new initiative seeks to strengthen the region's agriculture economy and increase resilience and food security by addressing these risks.

In the Initiative’s first year, State and Provincial leaders will develop a regional agenda to guide research that will inform policy and programmatic work. They will also create an action agenda to address challenges facing the region’s agriculture industry and catalyze multi-state and provincial collaboration. Pilot projects will follow in future years.  Overall, this collaborative will help advance a more resilient and sustainable agricultural future for the Great Lakes St. Lawrence region.

Read the resolution launching the initiative.