ISSUE COMMITTEES
To effectively promote sustainable agriculture, the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) takes a systems approach to its policy option development and advocacy work: giving attention to a breadth of issues, from stewardship of the land and natural resources, to interdisciplinary efforts in research and education, to local economic development. To organize this work NSAC divides its issues into four clusters:
- Conservation, Energy and Environment
- Marketing, Food Systems and Rural Development
- Farming Opportunities and Fair Competition
- Research, Extension and Education
These issue clusters also represent the four policy issue committees made up of NSAC member organizations and allies who discuss and help to develop NSAC’s policy positions and grassroots strategies. Each year at the NSAC annual winter meeting, the NSAC Policy Council votes on which specific legislative campaigns or policies for each issue committee will be priorities for the coming year. In making a decision, members consider the overall balance and coordination, commitment levels of member organizations, and resources and staff time available to the proposed priorities.