Our Work
For the last decade, AGree has developed innovative and scalable policies and pilot programs that support farmers in improving agronomic and environmental outcomes while adapting to weather variability. There are real opportunities to use federal agricultural policy to incentivize and scale agricultural practices that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve soil health, and enhance water quality while reducing farmer costs and improving profitability.
Our Focus Areas
AGree’s focus areas represent a systems approach to supporting widespread adoption of conservation practices on U.S. working lands. We are building the business case for conservation adoption through federal policy change, risk management options, and financial tools.
Our work in agriculture data focuses on research pilots and legislation that work with farmers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to demonstrate the value of sharing and analyzing properly protected farmer data.
Agriculture DataWe advance policy improvements to the Federal Crop Insurance Program (FCIP) that eliminate barriers to conservation. We also facilitate the development of new crop insurance products that help farmers cover the risk of adopting new conservation practices.
Crop InsuranceWe develop and pilot financial tools that demonstrate the risk-reducing benefits of conservation practice adoption. We use these tools to encourage the agricultural financial system to incorporate the benefits of conservation practice adoption into investment and lending practices.
Agricultural FinanceWe work to expand risk management options, financial tools, and technical assistance offerings for diversified operations, small and young farmers, and farmers of color.
Diversified SystemsWe advocate for expanding and improving existing USDA conservation programs to exponentially increase adoption of conservation practices on working lands.
USDA Conservation ProgramsWe encourage USDA and Congress to broaden the scope of federal and private investment in agricultural and climate mitigation research, including monitoring, reporting, and verification methodologies.
Ag- Climate ResearchThe original AGree initiative brought together a diverse group of food and agriculture leaders to develop consensus recommendations for seven priority areas — Food & Nutrition; Immigration Reform; International Development; Local Food; Next Generation; Research and Innovation; and, Working Landscapes.
Past InitiativesRecent Research and Recommendations
We develop recommendations and commission research and tools that recognize the connection between conservation practices, reduced agricultural risk, and improved environmental and financial performance.
ResearchOur Team
Representing a diverse range of interests, our members include researchers, academics, farmers, food companies, former officers of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), former Congressional staff, and NGO leadership. Together, we advocate for common-sense policies that protect both natural resources and farmers’ livelihoods. Meridian Institute staff support AGree through strategic advising and coordination of meetings, advocacy efforts, and communications.
Coalitions
AGree builds robust and powerful multi-stakeholder coalitions that use research and on-the-ground experience from pilot programs to develop concrete policy recommendations. Through these coalitions — made up of farmers and farm groups, conservation groups, food companies, and agribusiness — we work together to foster enduring policy change.