The USDA says we should eat mostly plants. Meanwhile, half of the subsidies in 2020 benefited meat producers. In other words, there’s a split personality at the USDA.
These diametric policies undermine the choices of Americans who try so hard to make sure everything they buy is plant-based.
Consider that even small increases subsidies to fruits and vegetables would translate to thousands of American lives saved every year from cardio-vascular disease. Furthermore, fruit and vegetable production doesn’t produce climate-warming greenhouse gasses like meat & dairy. Therefore, it only follows that shifting USDA subsidies to better match USDA nutritional guidelines would make a heap of good sense.
What if USDA Subsidies & Bailouts Favored Plant-based Foods?
AFA is lobbying to shift farm policy to level the playing field. Only then will plant-based foods be able to compete fairly in the free market.
What you can do: Spread the Word! Like, comment, and share AFA’s social media posts about the MyPlate / Subsidy disparity at USDA, and tell your reps to shift subsidies
- AFA MyPlate Instagram Post
- AFA MyPlate Reddit Post
- Contact your representative. Ask for USDA agriculture subsidies to promote foods that the USDA recommends we eat: fruits and vegetables.
If enough of us call for farm subsidies to be aligned to promote nutritional guidelines, then perhaps the split personality at the USDA can be resolved. A unified USDA could mean improved public health and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.