WASHINGTON, DC – Last month, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), a D.C.-based think tank, announced members of the
Farm and Forest Carbon Solutions Task Force, including leaders across agriculture and forestry who work for trade associations and environmental nonprofits as well as some former government officials. Ben Mosely, USA Rice vice president of government affairs, will be the U.S. rice industry’s representative.
Co-chaired by former Sens. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), the task force was convened with a goal to “shape policy recommendations that enhance the role of American agriculture and forestry as valuable natural climate solutions and provide new revenue streams to farmers, ranchers, and foresters.”
The task force is working to develop an agenda that can unite stakeholders from all aspects of the agriculture and forestry industries. According to the group, effective climate action is finding new ways to incentivize farming, ranching, and forestry practices that deliver both climate and economic benefits while also positioning farmers, ranchers, and forest managers as valued contributors to climate solutions.
“USA Rice is proud to be working with the Bipartisan Policy Center as a member of the Farm and Forest Carbon Solutions Task Force given our industry’s long history of environmental stewardship and innovation,” said Mosely. “We’ve made significant progress in decreasing emissions and reducing water use, while also providing habitat for migratory birds. We are committed to continuing these improvements and look forward to contributing to the BPC task force process and product.”
The task force will meet throughout 2021 to develop sensible energy and climate policies based on evidence in an effort to achieve significant progress toward a low-carbon future.