NCGA’s Sustainability Commitment
U.S. Corn farmers are committed to continuous improvement in the production of corn, a versatile crop providing abundant high-quality food, feed, renewable energy, biobased products, and ecosystem services. As stewards of the land, we understand the responsibility we have for creating a more environmentally and economically sustainable world for future generations with transparency and through continued advances and efficiencies in land, water, and energy use.
U.S. corn farmers have a long history of continuous improvement, constantly looking for and implementing practices that make them more efficient and environmentally and economically sustainable. NCGA's Sustainability Report details this long history of improvements and also provides a look to what the future may hold.
U.S. corn farmers are committed to conservation and their role as stewards of the land. Through advances in science, technology and precision equipment, growers are focused more than ever on improving resiliency and efficiency. Building on past achievements, U.S. corn growers are committed to the following sustainability achievements by 2030:
The U.S. Corn Sustainability Goals and the NCGA Sustainability Report were developed through a farmer-led effort to proactively drive the U.S. corn sustainability story and to continue growing competitive market demand. Over the course of 18 months, NCGA’s Corn Sustainability Advisory Group—consisting primarily of corn farmers from around the country led the way for developing and approving a Sustainability Commitment Statement, U.S. Corn Sustainability Goals, and led the development of a Sustainability Report.
Partner Organization Support and Testimonies
The U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) applauds NCGA and the entire corn industry for rolling out a set of meaningful sustainability goals that will improve the sustainability of not only the corn industry, but the beef industry as well. As a key partner in the beef supply chain, knowing corn growers across the U.S. are striving for demonstrated improvements in sustainability just like cattle producers sends a powerful message to our downstream customers. The beef industry is similarly working on bold goals, but without key partners like NCGA we cannot go as far. Thank you for joining us in this journey.
As a leader in bioprocessing research and development, the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) sees significant value in driving down the carbon intensity of bio-based feedstocks. Corn is a readily available, abundant feedstock in the United States with unlimited potential for creating sustainably sourced, renewable products. Furthermore, farmers continue to innovate to grow more corn using less land and fewer resources. We’re excited about this progress and the research opportunities we have to use this eco-friendly feedstock for products that will act as alternatives to its fossil fuel-based counterparts in the future."
– John Caupert, National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center Executive Director
U.S. animal food manufacturers depend on corn growers to supply roughly 52% of the total amount of compounded feed produced in the country, not to mention the corn-based coproducts that are also included in feed rations. By understanding how corn growers are producing this nutritious ingredient more sustainably, our members can provide their producer customers with more accurate data on the role that animal feed plays in their overall farm’s impact.
– Constance Cullman, American Feed Industry Association President and CEO
We must work together across the entire value chain to continuously improve the sustainability of U.S. poultry and eggs, and that includes sourcing high-quality and sustainably produced feed for our birds. As a feed source we rely on, the efforts made by U.S. corn growers to increase their efficiency and reduce their impacts is crucial in the realization of our shared vision for abundant and sustainable food production now and into the future. We welcome U.S. corn growers as a partner in our work and commend NCGA for setting goals that we hope they will meet and exceed.
– Ryan Bennett, Executive Director, U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs
U.S. corn farmers are stewards of the land who are committed to pillars of environmental, social and economic sustainability. As the largest sector in American agriculture, NCGA and the 300,000 corn farmers they represent understand their collective responsibility to foster a more sustainable future through continued advances and efficiencies in land, water and energy use.
Corn is a versatile crop providing abundant high-quality food, feed, renewable energy, biobased products and ecosystem services. As corn farmers, we are committed to continuous improvement, always evaluating how we can do better.
By joining forces with organizations in both the private and public sectors, we are bolstering productivity and profitability across the broad agricultural landscape. Through industry and stakeholder collaboration, NCGA is helping to propel advancement much further and much faster than any of us can do alone in navigating a vast climate-smart agriculture future.
Please take a look at these continued advancements and efforts which are being led by NCGA’s Action Teams:
PROGRAM ROADMAP: A POCKET GUIDE TO SUSTAINABILITY
The Success in Stewardship Network will break down the notion that only an elite group of farmers can improve environmental results. Conservation practices that protect the land and water are accessible, profitable, scalable – and surprisingly ordinary on farms across America.
This network, presented by the National Corn Growers Association and Environmental Defense Fund, will celebrate and connect the farmers and programs that have succeeded in overcoming barriers to conservation. We encourage any stewards who participate in a recognized program or adopt conservation measures on their own to become part of the network.
Benefits of recognition
- Perks – Access sponsorship opportunities to attend Commodity Classic, and receive free membership in state corn grower associations and NCGA.
- Peer-to-peer learning and networking opportunities – Share your experiences, learn how others overcame barriers to adoption and discuss conservation opportunities.
- Supply chain recognition – Showcase achievement of conservation objectives and create new relationships with supply chain companies pursuing sustainability goals.
Criteria for state and regional conservation programs to be recognized
- Clear stewardship goal that the program aims to achieve.
- Strong data to measure and document environmental results.
- Defined process for recruiting farmers and helping them adopt best management practices.
- Support from state corn grower association for the program being submitted.
Criteria for individual farmers to be recognized
- Clear stewardship goals you are working toward.
- Defined process for collecting and managing data about stewardship.
- Good data to document results and continuous improvement.
Want to get involved?
Email Rachel Orf, Director of Stewardship and Sustainability, at stewardshipnetwork@ncga.com for more details.
The NCGA Land Use Environmental Sustainability Goal is most closely aligned with the following SDGs and targets:
UNSDG 2: Zero Hunger
2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
UNSDG 12: Responsible Consumption
12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
UNSDG 15: Life on Land
15.1 By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
The NCGA Soil Conservation Environmental Sustainability Goal is most closely aligned with the following SDGs and targets:
UNSDG 2: Zero Hunger
2.4 By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
UNSDG 12: Responsible Consumption
12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
The NCGA Irrigation Water Use Environmental Sustainability Goal is most closely aligned with the following SDGs and targets:
UNSDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
6.4 By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity.
6.6 By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes.
UNSDG 12: Responsible Consumption
12.2 By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.
The NCGA Energy Use Environmental Sustainability Goal is most closely aligned with the following SDGs and targets:
UNSDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
7.2 By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
7.3 By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
The NCGA Greenhouse Gas Emissions Environmental Sustainability Goal is most closely aligned with the following SDG and target:
UNSDG 13: Climate Action
13.1 Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.