The neurotoxic pesticide harms children and the environment. There are no safe uses for chlorpyrifos.

Peter Lehner, Managing Attorney, Sustainable Food & Farming Program: “Consumers are beginning to be aware of the fact that meat, and particularly beef, has a very, very high climate impact. JBS is fully aware of this, and trying to get ahead of that by telling consumers, ‘Oh, don’t worry, we’ve got it under control.’ But…

Stronger standards would prevent hundreds of millions of pounds of pollution from reaching rivers and streams, helping to protect more than 22 million people

Inadequately controlled water pollution from slaughterhouses and rendering facilities can make water unsafe for drinking, unfit for outdoor recreation, and uninhabitable for aquatic life, posing serious risks to human health and the environment, especially in vulnerable and under-resourced communities. After more than two decades, EPA finally has begun the process of strengthening water pollution control standards for these facilities, and the Agency now proposes to adopt the weakest of three regulatory options. EPA’s preferred option is inconsistent with the CWA and other federal laws.

Peter Lehner, Managing Attorney, Sustainable Food & Farming Program: “A big potential indirect impact is a bit of education of policymakers. Congress gives special exemptions to animal ag in part because they don’t know, or don’t want to believe, the real climate and pollution impact. So I hope this will get a few more policymakers…

On average, over 17,000 animals are killed each minute in slaughterhouses across the United States. Slaughterhouse byproducts such as fat, bone, and feathers are often sent to rendering facilities for conversion into tallow, animal meal, and other products. Both slaughterhouses and rendering facilities require a near-constant flow of water, and they discharge hundreds of millions of pounds of water pollution each year.

Requiring animal feeding operations to report their toxic emissions of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide will help community members better protect their health

AFOs emit the extremely hazardous gasses ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, and these emissions pose serious threats to people living nearby, including people living in communities of color and low-income communities. EPCRA requires facilities to report emissions of extremely hazardous substances.

The joint letter calls for secured support of the vital USDA Climate Hubs

The Farm Bill is the most important environmental bill Congress will address this year. Usually largely ignored by all but large-scale farmers and ranchers, agrochemical companies and food manufacturers — and their lawyers — it actually profoundly affects us all.

We, the 130 undersigned academics and researchers, implore Congress to prioritize the codification of this program under the Farm Bill and ensure its consistent annual appropriations.

In response to lawsuits, EPA begins process of mandating pollution reductions

The decision protects the health of farmworkers who would otherwise face heightened risk of antibiotic-resistant infections, pollinators, and imperiled species

President Biden’s new directive is an exciting opportunity to leverage the federal government’s tremendous purchasing power to help curb dangerous climate change. It is imperative that food procurement be included.

New York’s community gardens continue to lack legal protections, despite the benefits they provide to communities

Phthalates have no place in our homes or bodies.

The USDA Climate Hubs advance industry research and development, bridging the gap between scientific discovery and practical application. We implore the codification of this program under the Farm Bill.

Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) funding is specifically allocated for projects that help fight climate change. The USDA’s conservation programs are in high demand because farmers know these programs will help keep their farms running long-term. Congress must preserve IRA conservation funding for programs that reduce emissions and help farmers withstand extreme weather events.