Leonardo Academy, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, seeks your tax-deductible contributions to fund the development of a Sustainable Agriculture Standard and to support active participation by as many stakeholders as possible.

Case for Support

U.S. agriculture is ready to lead the nation in defining sustainability. Agriculture is the original green economy, the foundation on which this country was built, and a vital source of sustenance to people in the United States and around the world.

As we grapple with unprecedented challenges - climate change, natural resource constraints, an ever growing population, and the plight of rural communities - it has become clear that U.S. agriculture must determine how to meet agricultural production demands sustainably.

Toward this end, a historic process is now taking place to develop an American National Standard for Sustainable Agriculture (SCS-001). Following internationally recognized guidelines set forth by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the most diverse group of agricultural stakeholders ever assembled has convened to define sustainable agriculture in the U.S., for the benefit of all.

1. Producers will benefit by having access to recognized sustainability tools and metrics for continual improvement in environmental, social, and economic performance - which supports a competitive advantage in an evolving global marketplace.
2. Users will benefit from a national standard that reduces marketplace confusion associated with the proliferation of sustainability standards and claims, allowing for objective comparison between producers and products.
3. U.S. agriculture will benefit from a national standard that strengthens rural communities and the ability of rural producers to positively impact the environment.
4. The natural environment will benefit from methods and metrics that support stewardship of the earth.

Our goal is to deliver a completed standard for crop production in 2010, which U.S. farm operations can put to immediate use. The ANSI process is open, collaborative, and transparent - and welcomes any individual or organization with a material interest in agriculture. ANSI standards have proven successful across many industries and issues, producing literally hundreds of voluntary standards, including ISO 14000 (Environmental Management Systems), ISO 9000 (Quality Management Systems), and ISO 26000 (Social Responsibility). In contrast to many other standards-setting processes, Standards Committee members do not generally pay fees or dues to take part in the ANSI process, which makes it easier for organizations and individuals with varying resources to participate.

This standards-setting development effort thus relies on the generous contributions of individuals and organizations who share a commitment to U.S. agriculture, rural communities and environmental, social, and economic sustainability. 

With your donations, we will:                               

• Develop metrics for effectively measuring environmental, social, and economic sustainability in crop production
• Provide a framework for continual improvement so producers can incrementally advance along the path of sustainability
• Deliver a tool to measure sustainability in agricultural settings
• Facilitate a national discussion on the role of new technologies in sustainable agriculture
• Facilitate a national discussion on the establishment of minimum thresholds for sustainable agriculture
• Work to deliver the first phase of the American National Standard for Sustainable Agriculture (SCS-001) for crop production, in 2012

• $50 supports weekly maintenance of the publicly-available, online Sustainable Agriculture Standard Reference Library
• $100 funds the attendance of observers, an essential component to a transparent process, at Standards Committee meetings
• $250 contributes to media outreach
• $500 supports the facilitation of Subcommittee conference calls to develop environmental, social and economic criteria for the Standard
• $1000 sends one underfunded Standards Committee Member to a Committee meeting
• $2000 funds a quarterly newsletter updating stakeholders and media on process and progress

Your tax-deductible contribution will go into Leonardo Academy's general fund to support the development of the National Sustainable Agriculture Standard. You may also direct your donation to support a specific Sustainable Agriculture Standard activity. 

For more information, please contact Amanda Raster:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 608-280-0255.

Thank you for your support!

Leonardo Academy's Tax ID number is:  39-188-1853

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Sustainable Agriculture Standard Funding Synopsis