The Midwest Sustainable Agriculture Working Group and the Sustainable Agriculture Coalition work for a system of sustainable agriculture that is profitable for small and medium-sized farmers, environmentally sound, family farm-based, and socially just. Agriculture production that is sustainable in the long-term relies on diverse crop rotations, increased use of perennial species, and the integration of livestock in pasture-based systems. Sustainable and organic agricultural systems require plant varieties and animal breeds that do not depend on high levels of external inputs and that are selected to perform under a wide array of local climate conditions, forage availability, and pest regimes. A diversity of plant and animal genetic resources are also needed to address the growing challenges of global climate change, increasing pest and pathogen pressure, food security, safety and resiliency concerns, and shifting consumer preferences including a rapidly growing market for organically produced food. These genetic resources are a public good that should be maintained both for our current needs and for future generations.

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Seeds&Breeds.pdf	144.9 KB