Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · 1h

Early care providers in Minnesota can apply for Farm to School and Early Care grants to be reimbursed for local food purchases. The application deadline is October 23, 2025. Learn more and apply here: www.mda.state.mn.us/farm-school-early-care-programs

Farm to School and Early Care Programs | Minnesota Department of Agriculture

www.mda.state.mn.us

1

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · 1h

This pilot program used our Minnesota Harvest of the Month resources — adapted for early care settings — to guide interactive exploration of the in-season, locally grown fruits & vegetables. These resources are available here in English, Spanish, Hmong & Somali: www.farmtoearlycaremn.org/harvestece

Harvest of the Month for Early Care — Farm to Early Care MN

www.farmtoearlycaremn.org

1 1

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · 2h

It’s never too early to start learning about local foods! Our latest article spotlights a Farm to Kids pilot program in Hutchinson, Minnesota, where local produce, activity sheets, and recipes were delivered weekly to early care providers, reaching about 600 children. www.iatp.org/fresh-food-t...

Fresh Food for Tots: A Farm to Kids pilot program brings nutritious local food to early care settings

Farm to Early Care programs have been growing across Minnesota, with increasing numbers of early care providers talking about and sourcing local food for the kids they care for. Early care centers and...

www.iatp.org

1 1

Reposted by Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

Ben Lilliston @benlilliston.bsky.social · 6d

I raise a few questions about McDonald's commitment to regen ag here. @nsac-sustainableag.bsky.social puts this initiative in context, including major cuts to #USDA staff managing programs that could help farmers. Great reporting by @clairek.bsky.social www.foodandpower.net/latest/mcdon...

How McDonald’s Latest Regenerative Beef Investment Falls Short — Food & Power

RFK Jr. praised McDonald’s $200M donation as the Trump administration cuts USDA staff that support rangeland conservation. Rather than fund short-term projects, advocates want McDonald’s to pay ranche...

www.foodandpower.net

1 3 4

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · 7d

October is Farm to Kids month! Farm to School & Early Care programs connect kids with local, nutritious foods, and provide an important market for small farmers, strengthening local economies. But it takes more than farmers & schools to make the system work. Learn more: www.iatp.org/farm-school-...

Putting together the puzzle of a successful Farm to School system

As part of IATP's exhibition at Farm Aid 40, we created an interactive puzzle that illustrates the complexities of Minnesota’s Farm to Kids system. This article elaborates on each crucial piece of tha...

www.iatp.org

1 4

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · 7d

While a U.S. government shutdown looms, Congress has once again failed to pass a new Farm Bill, jeopardizing crucial programs that farmers and rural communities depend on. Read our statement: www.iatp.org/2018-farm-bi...

As Congress fails to pass a new Farm Bill, its expiration leaves farmers and rural communities in the dark

MINNEAPOLIS—In response to the expiration of the 2018 Farm Bill on September 30 — and no new Farm Bill to take its place — the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP) has issued the followin...

www.iatp.org

1 3

Reposted by Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

Angie Rupchock-Schafer @angrschafer.bsky.social · 8d

It was a total blast running into the Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social at #FarmAid in Minneapolis!

Even better!? Learning about all their #FarmToSchool work in the Homegrown Village 🌱

www.iatp.org/farm-school-... @farmaid.org

2 4

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · 8d

There's still time to register for tomorrow's webinar! www.iatp.org/event/ppms-w...

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · 9d

Achieving climate, biodiversity & pollution goals — while upholding human rights — requires fundamental transformation of food systems.

Ahead of COP30 in Brazil, IATP joins nearly 100 organizations in a global open letter calling for a just transition to agroecology.

➡️ www.reimaginefoodsystems.org

2 8

Reposted by Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · 15d

Identical commodities can be produced in very different ways, with vastly different impacts on workers and the environment.

Please join our Oct. 1 webinar to learn why trade agreements exclude processing & production methods, and how new approaches could change that. www.iatp.org/event/ppms-w...

Processing & Production Methods Matter: New approaches to food, commodities & the environment. Webinar. Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. 9 a.m. CT

3 3

Reposted by Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

Real Zero Europe @realzeroeurope.bsky.social · 13d

Join the next session in our webinar series!

These sessions unpack some of the most common #FalseSolutions to the climate crisis, exploring the risks they pose & empowering NGOs and activists to challenge them.

🗓️ Monday, 13 October 2025
🕒 15–17 CEST

Sing up now👇 us06web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
1/

1 1 2

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · 15d

Identical commodities can be produced in very different ways, with vastly different impacts on workers and the environment.

Please join our Oct. 1 webinar to learn why trade agreements exclude processing & production methods, and how new approaches could change that. www.iatp.org/event/ppms-w...

3 3

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · 16d

As the European Commission turns its attention to stubborn GHG emissions from the EU’s food & agriculture sector, they are exploring three potential policy options, with a focus on pricing agriculture emissions and using market mechanisms to encourage climate action. www.iatp.org/eu-agricultu...

The EU’s plans to put a price on agriculture emissions

As the rest of the European Union’s economy reduces its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the air is getting thinner for the agriculture sector to escape demands to address the climate pollution caused ...

www.iatp.org

2 3

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · 19d

Our #farmaid40 table will also feature an oversized puzzle illustrating the many essential pieces that make a Farm to School system work — it’s a lot more than just farms and schools! www.iatp.org/farm-school-...

Putting together the puzzle of a successful Farm to School system

As part of IATP's exhibition at Farm Aid 40, we created an interactive puzzle that illustrates the complexities of Minnesota’s Farm to Kids system. This article elaborates on each crucial piece of tha...

www.iatp.org

3

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · 19d

As part of our exhibition for the Farm Aid Homegrown Village this Saturday at #farmaid40, we put together interactive and educational games to introduce visitors to our work and explore some of the unpredictable challenges farmers face: www.iatp.org/farmer-chall...

So you want to be a farmer? Our current system poses many obstacles

As part of our exhibition at Farm Aid 40, we have created an interactive game that highlights some of the unpredictable challenges facing small farmers, and how better agriculture policy can help buil...

www.iatp.org

1 1 6

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · 20d

“Overall, what Trump has done is throw international markets into turmoil. And he’s created doubt in the minds of those who are importing U.S. commodities... that the U.S will not be reliable.” @foodresilience.bsky.social

www.brownfieldagnews.com/news/iatp-bl...

IATP blasts Trump admin’s use of tariffs - Brownfield Ag News

The executive director of the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy says the Trump administration’s use of tariffs has taken a toll on U.S. farmers and ranchers. “It’s been devastating,” Sophia M...

www.brownfieldagnews.com

1 2 4

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · 22d

The plan laid out in the “MAHA” strategy report will in fact be disastrous for the health of America’s children. A handful of good ideas will be outweighed by the deregulation agenda, which enables more factory farms, more pesticides, and more harmful contaminants in our environment & our food.

Friends of the Earth U.S. (Action) @foeus.bsky.social · 27d

When it comes to pesticides, the Trump administration’s MAHA Commission has a serious problem.

The Commission’s newly released strategy for addressing childhood chronic disease is better for the pesticide industry than for people.

🧵

www.commondreams.org/opinion/maha...

The Pesticide Industry’s Fingerprints Are All Over the MAHA Commission’s Strategy Report | Common Dreams

Instead of delivering real change, the strategy appears to be just another example of the Trump administration putting the financial interests of polluting industries above people’s health.

www.commondreams.org

1

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · 23d

bsky.app/profile/farm...

Farm Aid @farmaid.org · 25d

An update: we're on!

And we hope you can join us in Minneapolis.

www.farmaid.org/blog/farm-ai...

Farm Aid 40 to Move Forward In Minneapolis – Farm Aid

Farm Aid is grateful that the University of Minnesota and Teamsters Local 320 have reached an agreement. Farm Aid 40 will go forward as planned.

www.farmaid.org

2 4

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · 26d

IATP is excited to be part of Farm Aid next week — if the festival can take place.

We support Farm Aid's stance defending the rights of workers and hope the University of Minnesota comes to the bargaining table and the Farm Aid concert can go forward.

Farm Aid @farmaid.org · 26d

We are urging the University of Minnesota to settle this contract quickly so that Farm Aid 40 can proceed as intended — to celebrate four decades of farmers, music, and solidarity.

The world is watching, and together we can make sure this anniversary is remembered for unity, not division.

2 3 15

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · 28d

Despite strong objections, including from IATP, a U.N. carbon trading mechanism was adopted last year.

Now, ahead of #COP30, the Article 6.4 Supervisory Body is tasked with the challenge of how to commodify reversible carbon credits. Our latest from Dr. Steve Suppan: www.iatp.org/cop30-commod...

A COP30 Dilemma: How to commodify greenhouse gas emissions reductions

If you want to sell and buy greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction credits, stakeholders in the carbon trading system must agree on what is being sold and on system operating rules.

www.iatp.org

1

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · 29d

A just transition for food systems must center the needs of a wide range of people, including small-scale food producers, Indigenous Peoples & food chain workers. IATP is in Sri Lanka this week, joining the convergence of voices at the Nyéléni Global Forum. nyeleniglobalforum.org/3rd-nyeleni-...

A group of people holding signs and a rainbow flag

Two people on stage at Nyeleni conference

Flags at the diversity forum at Nyeleni, including the U.S. Food Sovereignty Alliance, LGBT pride, Palestine, and LandBack.

2 1 4

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · Sep 8

Amid chaotic pivots in trade policy and repression of climate science in the U.S., IATP continues to fight for just & sustainable food systems. Join us at our upcoming webinar to learn more about our current work: www.iatp.org/event/shapin...

Institute for Agriculture & Trade Policy. Shaping the Future of Food. FAQ & Looking Ahead with Executive Director Sophia Murphy. Sept. 16, 2025. 11 a.m. CT

1 2

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · Sep 4

The USDA has extended the public comment period on the Department reorganization plan to September 30. Stakeholders can submit comments by email to [email protected].

www.usda.gov/about-usda/n...

www.usda.gov

1

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · Sep 4

IATP submitted comments to the USDA recommending against the reorganization plan. Read our full public comment here: www.iatp.org/iatp-comment...

IATP comments to USDA on department reorganization plan

The following comments were submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture on August 28, 2025 in response to the Department's announced reorganization plan. Download a PDF of the full comments here.

www.iatp.org

1 2 3

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy @iatp.bsky.social · Sep 4

The USDA’s “reorganization plan” is expected to result in a massive loss of staff — and with them, institutional knowledge and capacity.

IATP’s Michael Happ spoke with @publicnewsservice.bsky.social about how USDA downsizing hurts farmers and more: app.publicnewsservice.org/story/mn-far...

MN farmer: USDA office shuffle leaves producers in lurch

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is extending the public comment period for a controversial plan involving important services for Minnesota farmers and producers around the country, while skeptics o...

app.publicnewsservice.org

1 2