Whatever the crop, a quality and plentiful harvest – free from pests and diseases – is the ambition of farmers around the globe.
Throughout Views on Agriculture, partnerships across food production have been evidenced, all with the aim of bringing in a bountiful and sustainable harvest. Every year, almost 150 leaders, representing every link in the food and agriculture value chain, meet on a US farm or ranch for what they call a “roll-up-your-sleeves” experience.
This Honor the Harvest event, “where suits meet boots”, is organized by US Farmers & Ranchers in Action and aims to foster conversations, generate new ideas, and partnerships. The ambition is that these connections lead to actions which will create a more sustainable food system. At the most recent Honor the Harvest event, held in September 2023, the main goals were all about collaboration:
At the most recent Honor the Harvest event, held in September 2023, the main goals were all about collaboration:
• To explore topline challenges and design sustainable solutions that strengthen US agriculture
• To collaborate across the agricultural value chain to solve the planet’s most challenging issues
Mary Shelman, Founder of Shelman Group and former Director of the Agribusiness Program at Harvard Business School, attended the 2023 event, and she highlighted two key take outs.
A call to give farmers principles over policies – noting that farmers seek the freedom to adapt their practices in response to whatever weather or other events affect their crops or livestock from year to year.
The ongoing power of “Come See Us” – underlining the importance of stakeholders taking the time to visit farmers, to hear their first-hand experiences and collaborate together.
This collection of Views on Agriculture concludes that it is by working “together, we grow”.
Editor's note
Progressive Partnerships was the concluding page of the printed edition of Views on Agriculture.
