State Senate revamps agriculture committee

SACRAMENTO
January 13, 2009 12:03am

The California Senate is sharply revising the goals of its venerable Committee on Food and Agriculture to focus on animal welfare, sustainable farming and the security of the state’s food supply.

The pending reorganization will move forward a committee that was traditionally too narrowly focused on production, say Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, and Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez, D-Shafter.

They say there will be an emphasis on transparency and consumer education in advancing best practices among producers.

“More Californians are paying close attention to where their food comes from and how healthy it is,” says Mr. Steinberg.

“There is a large and growing movement within the agriculture industry to focus on food products that are produced locally and responsibly that didn’t get the attention it deserved under the old committee format,” adds Mr. Florez. “As we work to reign in sprawl in California and develop sustainable communities, agriculture is a critical component that needs to be addressed.”

The Senate F&A Committee, historically comprised of rural members, will reach out to include urban legislators whose residents are often even greater need of improved access to the fresh fruits and vegetables that are critical to a balance diet, the Democratic leaders say.

As chairman of F&A, Mr. Florez has plans to conduct a number of oversight hearings this year, including:

• An inquiry into how the use synthetic fertilizers was allowed in produce certified as organic,

• A look at the public health impacts of the non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in animals used for food,

• Models of sustainable farming practices for operations large and small,

• How to improve farm animal welfare in California in light of the passage of Proposition 2, and,

• A review of the investigations into E. coli contamination in the state’s leafy greens.

“Eating is an act of faith, and I believe it is the role of government to ensure that this act of faith is well placed,” says Mr. Florez.

A website will be launched in conjunction with the announcement to provide information on the change and encourage public input in policy discussions at http://www.californiasafefood.com.