{"id":9676,"date":"2022-02-27T21:26:39","date_gmt":"2022-02-27T21:26:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sourcingmatters.show\/?p=9676"},"modified":"2025-09-01T18:59:32","modified_gmt":"2025-09-01T18:59:32","slug":"ep-108-repurposing-agricultural-subsidies-systems-change-series","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sourcingmatters.show\/index.php\/2022\/02\/27\/ep-108-repurposing-agricultural-subsidies-systems-change-series\/","title":{"rendered":"ep.108: Repurposing Agricultural Subsidies -ft. Todd Barker"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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– guest: Todd Barker<\/strong> – <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this series I speak with leaders fighting climate change, biodiversity loss, malnutrition and hunger through a focus on SYSTEMS CHANGE.<\/em> Tune-in for a dose of optimism.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Subsidies with Favorable Outcomes <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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-ft. TODD BARKER<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

CEO of Meridian Institute<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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CORE SYSTEMS CHANGE<\/strong>: <\/strong>the 6-part miniseries >><\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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ep. 108: Todd Barker – Chief Executive of Meridian Institute<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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ep.108: ‘Repurposing Subsidies for Favorable Outcomes’ <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Host: Aaron Niederhelman
Guest: Todd Barker of Meridian Institute<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Favorable Outcomes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In this episode you\u2019ll hear that when subsidies are dolled out based on positive outcomes instead of crop type – good things happen.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 $540bn in global subsidies given to farmers every year are \u201charmful.\u201d 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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. and around the world to take action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Incentivizing Collaborative Efforts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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STAKEHOLDER<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CHANGE<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

“Interest in food systems has never been greater. As challenging and controversial as the problems are, we at Meridian<\/strong> are seeing that while issues about partisanship, polarization, and conflict are capturing media headlines – the hunger for collaborative solutions to these problems has never been higher,” <\/em>explains episode 108 guest Todd Barker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Novel Angle at US Crop Insurance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The AGree Economic and Environmental Risk Coalition (AGree E2 Coalition) advocates for federal policy improvements to drive broader adoption of conservation practices on working lands. Conservation practices such as cover crops, no-till, and other recognized good farming practices can reduce farm risk to extreme weather events while improving environmental outcomes and soil health. Meridian Institute launched the AGree Initiative more than 10 years ago after more than two years of collaboration with a diverse group of food and agriculture stakeholders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“The risk reduction benefits of agricultural conservation practices were not being adequately represented in the federal crop insurance programs<\/em>. We wanted to focus on the crop insurance program.<\/em> Our objective was to find ways for farmers to be supported not by crop, but instead for outcome measures like improved soil health, enhanced biodiversity, and climate mitigation.”<\/em><\/span><\/p>

– Todd Barker<\/span>, CEO Meridian Institute<\/p><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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