Sourcing Matters.show

ep.108: ‘Repurposing Subsidies for Favorable Outcomes’  Guest: Todd Barker of Meridian Institute --- Favorable Outcomes In this episode you’ll hear that when subsidies are dolled out based on positive outcomes instead of crop type – good things happen.   You see, according to a Sept 2021 UN FAO briefing, agriculture contributes a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions, 70% of biodiversity loss and 80% of deforestation across the globe. And, it’s also true that nearly 90% of the $540 bn in global subsidies given to farmers every year are “harmful.” It’s true that the majority of well-intentioned agricultural support now damages human health, exacerbates the climate crisis, dwindles nature and drives inequality by excluding smallholder farmers. For real food systems change, support needs to be better aligned with favorable outcomes. To learn more about this whole ball of wax we connected with Meridian Institute CEO Todd Barker on the myriad ways that the organization is bringing together stakeholders in the U.S.