![[logo] US EPA](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20080917061905im_/http://www.epa.gov/epafiles/images/logo_epaseal.gif){kind=logo}
Agribusiness
Agribusiness Links
You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.
Contact
EPA Agriculture Advisor
Jon Scholl
Counselor to the Administrator for Agricultural Policy
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(202) 564-1530
Sector Profile
EPA's Sector Strategies Program seeks industry-wide environmental gains through innovative actions taken by a number of manufacturing and service sectors. The National Food Processing Association (NFPA) has accepted the Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation (OPEI) invitation to work with EPA to find sensible solutions to sector-specific problems. The food-processing segment is one of the largest portions of the agribusiness sector. NFPA is the voice of the $500 billion food processing industry on scientific and public policy issues involving food safety, nutrition, technical and regulatory matters and consumer affairs. NFPA's members process and package fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and specialty food and beverage products using a variety of technologies including canning, freezing, refrigeration, dehydration, and aseptic manufacturing.
Working with the Industry
Program partners are focusing on three priority areas:
Promoting Environmental Management Systems (EMS)
NFPA and NFPA member companies and EPA will work together to develop and implement a plan for delivering needed outreach, training resources, and support to build a "business case" for EMS for the food processing industry and others in the agribusiness sector. The goal is to develop strategies and policy recommendations to address opportunities. Activities will include issue analysis; problem solving, EMS tool development and convening dialogue.
In summer 2003, Sector Strategies released the final version of the EMS Implementation Guide for the Meat Processing Industry. The Guide was the result of a pilot project undertaken as part of EPA's Sector Strategies Program with the meat processing industry. The EMS Guide is very detailed and tailored for meat processors.
EPA partnered with the Iowa Waste Reduction Center (IWRC) and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to pilot test the Guide with five companies: Advanced Brands, Excel, Farmland, Humboldt Sausage, and West Liberty Foods. IWRC and IDNR provided technical assistance to the five companies in the form of workshops, site visits, and teleconferences. EPA conducted an evaluation of the project and finalized the Guide to reflect lessons learned from the pilot. In a ceremony in Des Moines Iowa, EPA recognized state partners and five meat processing companies for their outstanding voluntary contributions to environmental protection by participating in the Meat Processing EMS Pilot project. EPA recognized Advance Brands, Excel Corporation, Farmland Foods, Inc., Humboldt Sausage Company, and West Liberty Foods for implementing a comprehensive environmental management system.
In October 2003, Sector Strategies released a brochure highlighting the benefits of EMS implementation at meat processing facilities. Environmental Management Systems: Systematically Improving your Performance was created with help from Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Waste Reduction Center, and six meat processing facilities have already adopted EMSs.
Overcoming regulatory or other barriers to performance improvement:
NFPA and EPA will identify the most significant impediments to better industry-wide performance then develop strategies for implementing industry wide adoption.
The Western Iowa Livestock External Stewardship Pilot Project was a product of our working relationship with the meat processing portion of the agribusiness sector. As part of our program, stakeholders outlined a project to test whether the livestock industry, working together with state and federal agencies and producers, could design, implement and measure, voluntary environmental stewardship towards nutrient management. The project emphasizes consultation, cooperation, and communication among meat processors, livestock producers, and government officials. The Project was led by Farmland Foods, Prestage-Stoecker Farms, and independent livestock producers with support from Iowa NRCS, Iowa DNR and Iowa State University. Tireless contributions from all involved contributed to the success of this partnership.
Stewardship Project Final Report (PDF) (56 pp, 2.9MB, About PDF)
Performance measurement
NFPA and EPA are working to analyze data availability for the Agribusiness sector, and then develop strategies to measure sector performance trends and document progress. Partners are exploring creative ways to measure and report industry-wide environmental and economic progress using performance indicators, success stories, and other tools.
You can read the Agribusiness chapter in the Sector Strategies Performance Report.
Trade Associations
National Food Processors Association 
Richard N. Jarman
Vice President, Food and Environmental Policy
1350 I St, NW
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20005
Voice - (202) 639-5925
Fax- (202) 639-5991
Related Links
- The National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center (Ag Center)
- Natural Resources Conservation Service (NCRS) to Identify Agricultural Wetlands
- EPA Office of Pesticide Programs: Agricultural Worker Protection Standard 40 CFR Parts 156 & 170 Interpretive Policy
- The Food Quality Protection Act (FGPA) of 1996
- Ruminant Livestock Efficiency Program
- AgSTAR Home Page
- EPA Office of Water: Agricultural Water Reuse Program
- EPA Office of Global Warming: Climate Changes and Impacts on Agriculture
- EPA Animal Feeding Operations
- Effluent Guidelines: Preliminary Data Summary: Feedlots Point Source Category Study
- Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program
- Project XL: Berry Corporation