National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) is a nonprofit policy alliance representing more than 130 organizations working to strengthen sustainable food and agriculture policy in the United States. Based in Washington, D.C., it connects farmer- and community-based organizations with federal policymakers, agencies, and national advocacy networks. Its work is centered on policy research, coalition building, legislative advocacy, regulatory engagement, public education, and support for grassroots participation in federal policymaking. NSAC's policy model begins with the experience of sustainable and organic farmers, ranchers, local food organizations, rural development groups, and other member organizations that work directly with producers and communities. Member input is organized through issue committees and councils, which develop policy recommendations and annual priorities. NSAC staff then carry those priorities into advocacy and educational work with Congress and federal agencies, while member organizations help communicate policy positions and implement programs at state, regional, and local levels. The coalition defines sustainable agriculture broadly. Its stated conception of a sustainable agricultural system combines access to affordable, nutritious food with viable livelihoods for farmers and agricultural laborers, environmental stewardship, and the health and resilience of communities. This approach places farm conservation, organic production, local and regional food systems, rural economic development, agricultural research, beginning-farmer support, market access, and fairness in agricultural competition within a connected policy framework. NSAC emerged from the consolidation of two advocacy traditions. The National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture was formed in 1994 to bring diverse sustainable-agriculture voices together around federal food policy. The Sustainable Agriculture Coalition originated in the Midwest in response to the farm crisis of the 1980s and later voted in 2003 to establish a national coalition with a stronger presence in Washington. In 2009, the governing bodies of the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture approved a merger, creating the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. The organization has participated in the development and defense of a range of federal programs. These include conservation initiatives such as the Conservation Stewardship Program, the Wetlands Reserve Program, and the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative; rural and farm-business programs such as Value-Added Producer Grants; support for beginning farmers and ranchers through the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program; local food and market-development initiatives through the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program; organic certification assistance through the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program; and agricultural research and education through the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. NSAC is governed through an Organizational Council, Grassroots Council, and Policy Council, supported by issue committees. The Organizational Council is responsible for membership, organizational development, planning, and execution of the coalition's mission. The Grassroots Council coordinates member advocacy, public messaging, and action alerts, with a Diversity Committee focused on equity and social-justice considerations. The Policy Council establishes annual policy priorities after considering recommendations from issue committees. The coalition's influence therefore derives less from selling a conventional product than from coordinating specialized member organizations around federal policy outcomes.

The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition is the product of a longer U.S. sustainable-agriculture organizing movement rather than a conventional commercial brand. One institutional predecessor, the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, developed in the Midwest in response to the farm crisis of the 1980s. That crisis encouraged organizations concerned with family farms, conservation, rural communities, and alternative agricultural systems to seek policy approaches beyond conventional commodity and production programs. The National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture was established in 1994 to unite diverse organizations and voices around federal food and farm policy. Its purpose was to give sustainable and organic farmers, rural organizations, and allied advocates a coordinated presence in national policymaking. A national policy focus allowed participating groups to connect local experience with debates in Congress and with the programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and related agencies. In 2003, members of the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition voted to create a national coalition structure capable of expanding representation in Washington, D.C. This development strengthened the connection between the Midwest-based coalition's origins and a broader national advocacy agenda. The two organizational traditions ultimately converged in 2009, when the governing bodies of the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture approved a merger. The resulting National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition combined national policy advocacy with a member network rooted in states, regions, and producer communities. Following the merger, NSAC's operating model emphasized two complementary forms of work. Its Washington staff conduct direct advocacy and policy education with legislators, congressional staff, and federal agencies. Member organizations provide local and regional knowledge, organize grassroots participation, help communicate policy positions, and support implementation in their communities. This structure allows the coalition to advocate for federal programs while retaining a connection to farmers, ranchers, food-system organizations, and rural stakeholders. NSAC has worked on the creation, improvement, funding, and implementation of several federal programs associated with sustainable agriculture. Its policy portfolio has included the Conservation Stewardship Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, and Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative within the conservation policy sphere; Value-Added Producer Grants for farm and rural business development; the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program; the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program; the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program; and the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program. These initiatives reflect the coalition's broad definition of sustainability, which links environmental health, farm viability, nutritious food access, labor conditions, and community well-being. The coalition's internal governance is organized around three councils and a set of issue committees. The Organizational Council oversees membership and organizational planning. The Grassroots Council coordinates member mobilization, communications, and campaign activity, while its Diversity Committee addresses equity and social-justice considerations in advocacy. The Policy Council establishes annual priorities after reviewing proposals from issue committees. Committees cover research, education and extension; marketing, food systems, and rural development; conservation, energy, and environment; farming opportunities and fair competition; and food-system integrity. Through this structure, NSAC functions as a policy intermediary and coordinating institution for a wide network of member groups across nearly all U.S. states and the District of Columbia.

• 2009

  Sustainable Agriculture Coalition and National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture merge

  [1]National Sustainable Agriculture Coalitionen.wikipedia.org

  The governing bodies of the two organizations approved a merger that created the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition.

• 2003

  Sustainable Agriculture Coalition adopts a national focus

  [1]National Sustainable Agriculture Coalitionen.wikipedia.org

  Members of the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition voted to establish a national coalition structure and expand representation in Washington, D.C.

• 1994

  National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture formed

  [1]National Sustainable Agriculture Coalitionen.wikipedia.org

  The National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture was created to bring diverse sustainable-agriculture organizations and perspectives together around federal food and farm policy.

A farmer-informed, member-led national policy coalition focused on making U.S. food and farm policy more sustainable, equitable, environmentally responsible, and supportive of rural communities.

• Policy advocacy

  Federal policy research and advocacy

  NSAC researches federal food and farm policy, develops recommendations through member-based issue committees, and advocates before Congress and federal agencies. Its work is informed by sustainable and organic farmers, ranchers, rural organizations, and other groups involved in producer and community-level work.

• Advocacy network

  Grassroots coalition coordination

  Through its member network, Grassroots Council, action alerts, public messaging, and issue committees, NSAC coordinates advocacy among organizations representing communities across the United States. Members contribute local knowledge and support outreach and program implementation outside Washington.

• Research and education

  Sustainable agriculture policy resources

  The coalition produces educational and analytical materials concerning conservation, organic agriculture, local and regional food systems, rural development, agricultural research, beginning farmers, farm competition, and food-system integrity.

• Conservation and environmental policy advocacy

  United States

  NSAC advocates for federal conservation, renewable-energy, and environmental policies, including programs such as the Conservation Stewardship Program, Wetlands Reserve Program, and Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative.

  Source
• Local food and rural development advocacy

  United States

  The coalition supports federal policies that expand value-added farm marketing, farmers markets, local food systems, and rural economic vitality, including the Value-Added Producer Grants and Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program.

  Source
• Beginning farmer and rancher support advocacy

  United States

  NSAC advocates for federal assistance that helps beginning farmers and ranchers develop skills, access resources, and establish viable operations, including the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program.

  Source
• Organic agriculture and sustainable research advocacy

  United States

  The coalition supports organic certification cost assistance and public agricultural research and education, including the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program and Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program.

  Source

1. 1National Sustainable Agriculture Coalitionen.wikipedia.org
2. 2National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition official websitesustainableagriculture.net