Our "North Star"
Putting Farmers at the ForefrontSfL Guiding Principles
Farmers must be at the center of all discussions and decision-making;
significant input will be needed from a wide range of farmer and other producer organizations outside of typical policymaking structures.
There is no “silver bullet” solution for enhancing the resilience of agriculture:
policymakers must embrace a systems approach that recognizes the tremendous diversity of agricultural landscapes and ecosystems and enables producers to utilize the systems and practices that best support their farming operations.
Profitability for the farmer must be a paramount objective
for any roadmap to transform agricultural systems to meet climate and other sustainable development goals. If a farmer is not profitable, he or she will not be able to deliver the outcomes that society hopes or expects.
Science-based decision making
As affirmed in the communique from the 8th Meeting of G20 Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS), science-based decision making, in conjunction with farmer and indigenous innovation, must be the foundation for the adoption of climate smart technologies and practices for sustainable agriculture and global food production[i].
Increase both production and production efficiency
Since crops, livestock and production forest dominate the world’s land area, agricultural systems must be advanced that increase both production and production efficiency per unit of land and water; that meet the food and nutrition needs of the future; and that also greatly enhance ecosystem health by regenerating soils, watershed and habitat for biodiversity at scale, while serving as a critical sink for greenhouse gases[ii]
Mobilize innovation
As reflected in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations, we should mobilize innovation across all elements and participants in the food and agriculture system, unlocking solutions that meet the whole set of production, environmental and social well-being outcomes, rather than relying on predetermined technologies, production types or design components.
System approaches
Adaptation strategies will require system approaches[iii] that utilize a combination of improved efficiency, substitution (e.g. new crop varieties and breeds), and redesign/system transformation to reflexively respond to continuous short- and long-term changes in climate’s impacts on cultivated and natural ecosystem conditions.
Process & Investment
Climate smart agriculture knowledge and recommendations from farmers, businesses and peer- reviewed academic research must be integrated into processes and investments.
Context-specific priorities and solutions
must be aligned with national policies and priorities, be determined based on the social, economic, and environmental conditions at site (including the diversity in type and scale of agricultural activity), and be subject to evaluation of potential synergies, tradeoffs, and net benefits[iv]
[i] G20 Japan. 8th Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (MACS) Communiqué [Press Release]. (2019). Retrieved from http://www.affrc.maff.go.jp/docs/press/attach/pdf/190427-3.pdf
[ii] Campbell, B. M., Thornton, P., Zougmoré, R., Van Asten, P., & Lipper, L. (2014). Sustainable intensification: What is its role in climate smart agriculture? Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 8, 39-43.
[iii] Tittonell, P. (2014). Ecological intensification of agriculture—sustainable by nature. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 8, 53-61.
[iv] North American Climate Smart Agriculture Alliance (2015). A platform for knowledge sharing and application of climate science to agriculture [Report]. Retrieved from: https://www.sfldialogue.net/files/sfl_formation_plan_2015.pdf
Our Work
Today, SfL continues to build and facilitates state, national, and global initiatives and alliances through which farmers, ranchers, foresters and collaborating partners showcase examples of innovation and proactively advocate for policies, partnerships, investments, and research that will enable agricultural landscapes to deliver near-term, cost-effective, integrated solutions to global mega-challenges: food and energy security; sustainable economic development; and environmental improvement.
Click on a platform below to learn more.
Domestic Platform
SfL is currently engaged in a national program of sustainability advocacy by sharing the findings of its established state CSA network and leaders.
Global Platform
Though support from its partners, SfL is educating parties in international forums on proven, pragmatic, profitable climate change solutions U.S. agriculture can deliver at a landscape scale.
The SfL Network
