Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

Learning from Germany’s Decades of Public Biogas Support | Agricultural and Rural Convention Ireland, Spain and Poland are among a number of Member States now looking to biogas to support the transition to sustainable energy systems. But is investing in biogas infrastructure a beneficial use ...

How not to do it: Germany has spent decades investing in biogas - what lessons for Ireland, Poland, Spain & other MS? Op-ed by Sophie Scherger @iatp.bsky.social
www.arc2020.eu/learning-fro...
#EnergyTransition #Biogas #Germany
@seobirdlife.bsky.social @nabu.de @foeeurope.bsky.social

IATP's Michael Happ and @nsac-sustainableag.bsky.social allies meeting with staff from Rep. Finstad and Rep. Omar's offices.

IATP was proud to join NSAC’s lobby day in Washington, DC yesterday, calling on Congress to take real action to address the farm crisis, fund conservation & local food programs, and support sustainable, long-term solutions to keep farmers on the land. sustainableagriculture.net/blog/release...

USDA’s new Regenerative Agriculture Initiative: A step forward or greenwashing? In late 2025, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), along with the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the launch of a Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Pr...

The Regenerative Agriculture Initiative (RAI) does not add any new funding or staff support for sustainable farming practices. Instead, it sets aside existing conservation program funding for practices designated as regenerative. www.iatp.org/new-regenera...

USDA’s new Regenerative Agriculture Initiative: A step forward or greenwashing? In late 2025, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), along with the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the launch of a Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Pr...

The Trump administration recently announced the launch of the Regenerative Agriculture Initiative, a gesture toward “MAHA” promises to reform America’s broken food systems. We took a look at the details of the plan. Unsurprisingly, it falls far short of what is needed. www.iatp.org/new-regenera...

Flying Under the Radar: Gaps in satellite detection of factory farm methane emissions Summary

Despite being major sources of the potent greenhouse gas methane, factory farms aren’t required to report their emissions. In recent years, researchers have begun using satellite imaging to detect methane plumes from factory farms — but the picture is still incomplete. www.iatp.org/factory-farm...

USDA’s new Regenerative Agriculture Initiative: A step forward or greenwashing? In late 2025, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), along with the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the launch of a Regenerative Agriculture Pilot Pr...

NEW: USDA & HHS recently announced the launch of the "Regenerative Agriculture Initiative" (RAI), which sets aside $700 million in existing conservation funds for practices designated as “regenerative.” The program has potential — but falls fall short of what is needed. www.iatp.org/new-regenera...

IATP comments on the intersection of climate change, food systems, and human rights The challenges to our climate and food systems intersect in important ways, not only because of the impacts of erratic weather on food production or the emissions generated by agricultural production,...

Last week, IATP and the @ips-dc.org submitted comments to the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Climate Change for an upcoming study on food systems built to prevent climate harm and protect human rights.

Read the full submission and introduction in our latest article: www.iatp.org/comments-int...

IATP comments on the intersection of climate change, food systems, and human rights The challenges to our climate and food systems intersect in important ways, not only because of the impacts of erratic weather on food production or the emissions generated by agricultural production,...

As the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Climate Change prepares for a major study on transforming food systems to protect human rights & prevent climate harm, IATP & @ips-dc.org submitted comments highlighting how policies protecting corporations are key barriers to progress. www.iatp.org/comments-int...

Over 30 Organizations Urge USDA to Limit Federal Support for Manure Digesters Hundreds of millions intended to cut energy costs have been funneled to manure digesters, benefitting industrial-scale livestock operations.

“These enormously expensive digesters serve as a subsidy for factory farms, incentivizing them to get bigger to produce more waste as they push small and mid-sized farms out." @benlilliston.bsky.social

foe.org/news/orgs-ur...

Are Incentives for Fuel Made from Livestock Manure Leaving Small Farmers Behind? - Inside Climate News Biogas made from dairy and pig manure has long been an energy source non grata for environmental groups across the country.  The fuel is touted by agribusiness, utilities and renewable natural gas dev...

The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) can fund on-farm renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. But funds are limited, and grants for industrial-scale manure digesters lock in the factory farm system and close out smaller farms from support. insideclimatenews.org/news/2801202...

Our latest article examines this trend and features an interactive visualization of the changes in EQIP practice popularity from 2021-2024. www.iatp.org/climate-smar...

Climate-smart farming has risen the ranks in Midwest states Since 2021, EQIP contracts for "climate-smart" practices have increased above general practices in all 12 Midwest states with help from IRA funding  Summary

NEW: With an influx of IRA funding, EQIP conservation practices designated as “climate-smart” quickly became the most popular contracts in Midwest states. This step forward for climate resilience is now at risk following changes to EQIP funding in the latest budget bill. www.iatp.org/climate-smar...

Learning from Germany’s decades of public biogas support While biogas — energy produced mostly from crops or animal manure — has long been promoted as part of the European Union’s (EU) energy transition, it now receives renewed attention as a tool to addres...

New from IATP Europe: Germany's biogas industry is propped up by public subsidies and has had consequences for the environment & agriculture sector. Learning from Germany’s mistakes, the EU should only include biogas as one part of a holistic food system transformation. www.iatp.org/germany-biog...

Learn more about the ICE OUT Minnesota strike here: www.iceoutnowmn.com

IATP joins ICE OUT Minnesota statewide strike IATP is joining hundreds of businesses, faith communities, labor unions, schools, and nonprofits across Minnesota on Friday, January 23 in closing our office doors and putting away our keyboards for I...

IATP will be closed Friday as we join the state-wide strike to halt economic activity in Minnesota and demand ICE leave our state. www.iatp.org/iatp-joins-i...

Here - I write about the emergency bailout cycle for farmers without a plan to address fundamental issues (low prices, high costs, corp concentration, dysfunctional trade policy). Cycle of emergency bailouts likely to continue.

Trump administration throws money at an emerging farm crisis, with no end in sight On New Year’s Eve, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the details for $11 billion of a $12 billion farm bailout plan.

Trump’s trade wars have ravaged an already fragile farm economy, between lost export markets & soaring input costs. On New Year’s Eve, USDA announced the details of yet another farm bailout plan, with no plan to address the root problems and no end to the cycle in sight. www.iatp.org/trump-bailou...

Ways to Support Minnesota’s Immigrant Communities as ICE Activity Escalates Food drives, fundraisers, trainings, restaurant specials, and other resources to support immigrant communities during ICE's massive Operation Metro Surge.

For those in the Twin Cities, here is a compilation of local restaurants, businesses, organizations, and churches who are organizing food drives and fundraising to support their community members: mspmag.com/arts-and-cul...

For those inside or outside of Minnesota, you can donate to mutual aid efforts in Minneapolis, including front line organizations, community food distribution, neighborhood and school-based aid, and rent assistance: linktr.ee/mplsmutualaid

An Update from Minneapolis: What’s going on, and how you can help While we work nationally and internationally, IATP is deeply rooted in our home state of Minnesota and our city of Minneapolis, where we have been based since our founding nearly 40 years ago.

While we work nationally & internationally, IATP is deeply rooted in our home state of Minnesota and our city of Minneapolis, where we have been based since our founding nearly 40 years ago. Our community has been facing a surge of ICE violence. Here’s how you can help: www.iatp.org/ice-in-minne...

“This is kind of a perfect storm, and that’s why people are really concerned about a potential emerging farm crisis, if it’s not already here." @benlilliston.bsky.social

USDA funding freeze is latest in string of federal attacks on Minnesota programs The announcement continues a concerning trend of partisanship within the USDA, hurting its credibility and harming our farmers, rural communities, and those facing hunger

Amid ICE violence in Minnesota, USDA announced Friday that federal financial awards to the state would be suspended, citing unproven accusations of fraud. Confusion remains about which programs will be impacted — but the move continues a concerning trend from USDA. www.iatp.org/usda-funding...

USDA funding freeze is latest in string of federal attacks on Minnesota programs The announcement continues a concerning trend of partisanship within the USDA, hurting its credibility and harming our farmers, rural communities, and those facing hunger

NEW: Late Friday afternoon, Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins announced a suspension of USDA funds to Minnesota — the latest action in a dangerous trend of partisanship from the agency. Four days later, the state still lacks clarity about which programs will be impacted. www.iatp.org/usda-funding...

IATP condemns the murder of Renee Nicole Good yesterday at the hands of ICE agents. ICE has brought chaos and violence to our city of Minneapolis and across the U.S. No one in our communities should have to endure this — regardless of citizenship status. We call for ICE to be abolished immediately.

Book ORFC 2026 Tickets! - Oxford Real Farming Conference

Online conference tickets are still available here: orfc.org.uk/book-orfc-20...

Food, Trade And Turmoil: Navigating Global Disorder - Oxford Real Farming Conference Sweeping US tariffs are sending shockwaves through global markets, sparking retaliations, market upheaval & fears of a global recession. The Global South — already grappling with a historic debt crisi...

This week is the Oxford Real Farming Conference, an alternative farming conference which brings together voices from across the food system in the U.K. and beyond. IATP’s Sophia Murphy will speak on a panel this Friday, available to stream live for online ticketholders: orfc.org.uk/session/food...

2025: A Challenging Year in Review, and What’s Next From tracking food and climate issues through a tumultuous year to drafting a new model treaty for sustainable agriculture and trade, 2025 has kept us busy.

From tracking food & climate issues through a tumultuous year to drafting a new model treaty for sustainable agriculture and trade, 2025 kept us busy!

Read Executive Director Sophia Murphy's blog reflecting on the year, and what we're looking forward to taking on in 2026. www.iatp.org/2025-review

Your support of IATP is appreciated! Your tax-deductible donation to the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy supports our work locally and globally at the intersection of policy and practice to ensure healthy, fair and sustainable...

Our vision is bold but simple. We want a food system that prioritizes the wellbeing of people and the planet over corporate profit.  Will you support us with a donation today? www.iatp.org/donate

YouTube video by Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy IATP's 2025 Wrapped

2025 was a challenging year, but we accomplished a lot! Here’s a look back on some of our work, achievements, and moments of joy from this year!

youtube.com/shorts/U7jW0...