PBFA Submits Recommendations to USDA on Strengthening Specialty Crops

The Plant Based Foods Association (PBFA) and the Plant Based Foods Institute (PBFI) have submitted recommendations to the USDA in response to the Specialty Crops Competitiveness Initiative (SCCI). The SCCI aims to bolster the agricultural production of key ingredients for plant-based foods, focusing on enhancing research, market development, and support for farmers in the specialty crops industry. The initiative also addresses challenges related to climate change and global market dynamics.

The PBFA emphasizes the need for sustainable ingredient supply chains to support a resilient plant-based food industry in the US. They suggest that collaboration between the plant-based food industry and the USDA could help promote consumption and expand markets for specialty crops. Research, innovation, and programs like the Specialty Crop Block Grant are essential components of the SCCI to support farmers and increase the competitiveness of plant-based products both domestically and internationally.