Spring 2012 Process Update on the Development of the National Sustainable Agriculture Standard

Key Dates:

• March 5-7, 2012: Working Group meets at Leonardo Academy offices in Madison, Wisconsin to convert Draft Sustainable Agriculture Standard from template format to narrative format
• March 8 – April 9, 2012: Subcommittees continue work to refine and draft narrative draft standard for review at Sustainable Agriculture Standard Committee Meeting
• April 16, 2012: Updated draft of Sustainable Agriculture Standard will be posted and provided to Sustainable Agriculture Standard Committee for review
• April 24-25, 2012: Annual meeting of Sustainable Agriculture Standard Committee Meeting in Washington, D.C. Draft will be discussed and reviewed by Committee

Key Process Steps

• Sustainable Agriculture Standard Committee develops draft standard -- This is where the process is now
• Draft Sustainable Agriculture Standard is released for Committee Comment -- Public may always submit comment.
• Sustainable Agriculture Standard Committee addresses all committee and public comments and approves to send to Public Comment Period
• Draft Sustainable Agriculture Standard is released for Public Comment -- This is an opportunity for Public to provide comments on all aspects of the draft standard
• Sustainable Agriculture Standard Committee addresses all public comment
• Sustainable Agriculture Standard Committee approves final version of standard to American National Standard Institute for promulgation as an American National Standard

Sustainable Agriculture Standard Committee Meeting in Washington, DC April 24-25, 2012

• The Standard Committee will convene to review and vote on draft standard work
• All stakeholders, process participants and newly interested persons are encouraged to attend all or part of this pivotal Standard Committee meeting as observers.
• Those who are not yet participants or registered observers of the LEO-4000 process and would like to attend the April meeting are encouraged to apply now by contacting This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Opportunities to Participate in Developing the Sustainable Agriculture Standard

• There are currently openings for the subcommittees and the voting Standard Committee.
• Those who are interested can participate at the subcommittee level now and apply for a seat on the standard committee.
• Leonardo Academy is seeking producers, manufacturers, retailers, consumers and end-user representatives while there is still time to participate in writing and reviewing the draft standard.
• To receive an application for membership on the Standard Committee, a subcommittee, or for observer status, contact Jennifer Trucks at Leonardo Academy: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ,'; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text88525 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (608) 280-0255, or visit http://www.sustainableagstandard.org/

The Standard Committee
There are 60 seats on the Standard Committee to accommodate a broad range of perspectives. The Standard committee is made up for 5 categories: Producers, Users, Environmentalists, Academic and Government, and General Interest. The Standard Committee is working to develop a national standard for sustainable agriculture under the rules of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The Standards Committee consists of a skilled, diverse membership representing a broad range of perspectives from across all areas of agriculture, including commodity and specialty crop producers; agricultural product processors and distributors; food retailers; environmental, labor, and development organizations; NGOs; trade associations; government representatives; academics; regulators and certifiers.

The Scope of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard

The current draft standard addresses plant crop production. In the future after the current standard is completed, over time additional aspects of agricultural production like  livestock and specific types of production will be addressed with additional components of the standard.

Public Comment Process

When the committee approves the release of the draft standard for public comment, the public comment period will be announced in the American National Standards Institute publication Standards Action.  After the public comment period is completed, the Standard Committee will review all comments and decide how to address each of the comments received. Once the Standard Committee has addressed all of the public comments, the updated draft standard will be submitted to ANSI for promulgation as an American National Standard. http://www.sustainableagstandard.org/

Donations

The development of the Sustainable Agriculture Standard is funded through donations and grants. Please consider making a donation to Leonardo Academy to support the development of this standard. Leonardo Academy is a charitable (501c3) non-profit organization.  Your support will help advance the sustainability through the development of this standard which will provide a framework for improving  the social, economic and environmental sustainability in agriculture.  To make a tax deductible donation to support the development process, go to http://www.leonardoacademy.org/programs/standards/agstandard/donate.html.

About Leonardo Academy

Mission Statement
Leonardo Academy is a charitable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing sustainability by leveraging innovative tools and information to motivate the competitive market. By utilizing an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability strategies, education and implementation, we strive to make sustainability practical for everyone. We develop integrative sustainability solutions designed to enhance the environmental stewardship, social responsibility and economic prosperity of organizations, corporations and individuals. We see a world filled with sustainable opportunities that can transform the way we live today and ensure the prosperity of future generations.

Programs and Services
Leonardo Academy works on a broad range of sustainability issues and provides comprehensive sustainability programs and services to help companies, organizations, families and individuals implement sustainability. Our programs and services include: organizational sustainability assessments and implementation; emissions footprints, reduction strategies and offsets; event emissions footprints, sustainability assessments and implementation; sustainable event certification through our Cleaner and Greener® Program; LEED® assessments, implementation and certification application preparation; sustainable land management; sustainability training; and sustainability standards development.

Join Our Work
Individuals, organizations and companies are invited to join in Leonardo Academy’s work on advancing sustainability. One important way to join in our work is by making a charitable donation to support these efforts. Online donations can be made at: www.leonardoacademy.org.

For More Information about Leonardo Academy and the Sustainable Agriculture Standard:

Web: www.leonardoacademy.org

Contact:
Jennifer Trucks, Sustainability Standards Development Manager
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
608-280-0255