Editor’s note: Advocating for the floral industry’s needs on Capitol Hill is a key priority for the Society of American Florists. What issues are most likely to impact you and your business – and how? What is SAF doing about it? In this ongoing series, SAF senior lobbyist Joe Bischoff breaks down one issue at a time and outlines SAF’s advocacy work on it. This week, Bischoff talks about the Biden Administration’s focus on sustainability and how it’s influencing SAF’s advocacy priorities.
Q: The Biden Administration has made climate and sustainability issues a priority — what does that mean for the floral industry?
A: For this administration, there are two primary filters that every other issue is viewed through — social justice and climate. Climate and sustainability issues touch so many aspects of the floral industry economy, from growers to imports, shipping to retail. Consider all of the inputs and energy that go into bringing flowers to the consumer. We have an administration that wants to address sustainability and greenhouse gasses. Rather than just be the recipient of whatever decisions the administration makes to take action on these issues, we have a window of time right now to be actively engaged as an industry to figure out how we can be a part of the solution. SAF’s government affairs team is actively working on these issues through coalitions that include both agricultural and environmental interests.
Q: In light of the Biden Administration’s focus on sustainability, how should I be thinking about sustainability as a business owner?
A: Look at these issues through a consumer’s eyes, or through the eyes of environmental advocacy groups. What types of industry practices could potentially come under the microscope? We have an administration and Congress that are looking to incentivize actions that help address sustainability issues. As a business owner, what strategies could you use to make a difference in your energy consumption and reduce waste? More efficient refrigeration, deliveries. What is preventing you from implementing those strategies? Is it different equipment? More modern tools? Insulation? Building or greenhouse improvements? Right now the administration is focused on using a carrot, not a stick, to facilitate change. What kind of carrots would be useful for your business?
Q: So let’s say I come up with several “carrots” that would incentivize me to make change – what’s next? What will SAF do with that information?
A: We encourage members to provide their input to SAF’s government relations team because the better we understand the hurdles, the better we’re positioned to advocate for incentives to overcome those hurdles.
Q: How is the administration’s focus on sustainability influencing Capitol Hill’s view of pesticides?
A: There are those in Congress who view pesticides as threatening. And there are others who acknowledge that, without crop protection tools like pesticides, we can’t effectively meet the challenges of climate change. A major educational piece that SAF and other groups concerned with crop protection focus on is that, without pesticides, there is more waste due to increased pest and disease pressure, increased post-harvest loss, which means all of the resources and inputs that went into the failed crop or product were wasted. The more thoughtful voices in the climate debate acknowledge that innovation in the form of biotechnology and inputs like pesticides are necessary tools to achieve the climate goals the administration has set. Through participation on the Minor Crop Farmers Alliance, Specialty Farm Crop Alliance and other groups, SAF is working to make sure that practices and products are available to achieve the goals of climate change policies.
Q: What kinds of carrots might be available to growers who operate sustainably?
A: There are lots of opportunities in this phase of the climate conversation on the Hill. The government and private markets are looking at carbon sequestration, which is when carbon is maintained within products or soil rather than released into the atmosphere. But there’s also a greater emphasis on reduced emissions. This is where floriculture has the greatest opportunity. Growers should be looking at their production practices and considering what kinds of changes would need to happen at their facilities, their soils or the plants themselves to use less fertilizer and make their greenhouse operations more efficient.
We don’t have all of the answers, so we’ll be working with our growers for solutions. USDA will be looking to partner with all sectors of agriculture, including floriculture to help growers develop new practices and achieve measurable emissions abatement. To achieve this USDA and other federal agencies intend to provide financial incentives, which could come in the form of tax credits, direct payments or long-term forgivable loans for expenses around facility modernizations or adopting certain production practices.
Q: What else should we be aware of, as business owners and as an industry?
A: With sustainability and climate issues front and center in the news and in everyday life, be thinking about what questions environmentally-minded consumers might ask about your business practices. Be prepared — because if consumers haven’t started asking these questions already, they will.
For SAF’s part, we’re going to continue to highlight sustainable approaches embraced by the industry and look for opportunities to advocate for federal support for businesses to help achieve climate goals.
Katie Butler is the senior vice president of the Society of American Florists.
