This agreement streamlines agricultural supply chain data collection and sustainability assessment for the food and ag supply chain, while also offering U.S. farmers the opportunity to receive global recognition for their sustainability efforts

Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture and the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform announced today an equivalency agreement, which formally recognizes Field to Market’s Fieldprint Platform as an accepted means of fulfilling the requirements of SAI Platform’s Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA).

“The recognition of equivalency will allow U.S. commodity farmers utilizing the Fieldprint Platform to be recognized by SAI Platform if desired. The agreement creates greater efficiency for brands and retailers who wish to measure and assess the sustainability performance of their supply chains through greater alignment between our two programs,” said Rod Snyder, president of Field to Market.

Following a year-long benchmarking assessment, Field to Market and SAI Platform have determined that the Fieldprint Platform’s outcomes-based, metrics-driven approach to measuring environmental sustainability, when combined with the robust legal and regulatory framework required of U.S. commodity agriculture results in a framework that is equivalent to FSA Bronze. Participating farmers can earn their FSA Bronze equivalency by completing the Fieldprint Platform and confirming that they comply with all local, state and federal laws and regulations that are relevant for their farming operation. Furthermore, farmers can qualify for FSA Silver or FSA Gold by answering up to 14 additional questions contained in a one-page questionnaire jointly developed by Field to Market and SAI Platform.

In a memorandum of understanding, Field to Market and SAI Platform have agreed not only to formalize an equivalency for U.S. commodity farmers, but also to collaborate and increase the strategic use of their members' resources through ongoing coordination of both organizations’ efforts.

“SAI Platform’s mission has been to develop sustainable agriculture through a continuous improvement process that allows for easy and flexible use by farmers worldwide,” said Jane Duncan, SAI Platform’s interim General Manager. “Our collaboration with Field to Market is an important step in this journey, leveraging the complementary natures of our organizations to better serve our members and push the industry forward. We hope that this MOU will be the start of a long and fruitful relationship.”

About Field to Market
Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture brings together a diverse group of grower organizations; agribusinesses; food, beverage, restaurant and retail companies; conservation groups; universities and public sector partners to focus on defining, measuring and advancing the sustainability of food, fiber and fuel production. Field to Market is comprised of 120 members representing all facets of the U.S. agricultural supply chain, with members employing more than 5 million people and representing combined revenues totaling over $1.5 trillion. For more information, visit www.fieldtomarket.org and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/FieldtoMarket.

About SAI Platform
The Sustainable Agriculture Initiative Platform (SAI Platform) is a global food value platform enabling sustainable agriculture through member-driven pre-competitive collaboration It aims to build knowledge about sustainable agriculture, and to support the development and implementation of sustainable agriculture practices throughout the food and drink value chain. SAI Platform counts over 80 members, who share the same view on sustainable agriculture seen as "the efficient production of safe, high quality agricultural products, in a way that protects and improves the natural environment, the social and economic conditions of farmers, their employees and local communities, and safeguards the health and welfare of all farmed species." SAI Platform develops tools and guidance to support global and local sustainable sourcing and agricultural practices. For more information, visit www.saiplatform.org.

Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture

Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture

Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture™ is a leading multi-stakeholder initiative working to unite the agricultural supply chain in defining, measuring and advancing the sustainability of food, feed, fiber and fuel production in the United States. We bring together a diverse group of grower organizations; agribusinesses; food, beverage, restaurant and retail companies; conservation groups; universities; and public sector partners to create opportunities across the agricultural supply chain for continuous improvements in productivity, environmental quality, and human well-being. With the world population estimated to exceed 9 billion by 2050, the entire agricultural value chain must work together to efficiently and responsibly lay the groundwork for a more sustainable future. From the farm gate to the retail and restaurant counter, the challenge of producing enough food, feed, fiber and fuel for a rapidly growing population, while conserving our planet’s natural resources has become increasingly complex. The nature of this challenge requires an unparalleled level of transparency and collaboration. By uniting the agricultural supply chain and key stakeholders around a common measurement framework, Field to Market seeks to drive continuous improvement in the sustainability of commodity crop production.

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