WASHINGTON, DC – Today, in response to the announcement by Senators Mike Braun (IN), Lindsey Graham (SC), Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), and Debbie Stabenow (MI) of legislation which would establish a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) certification system to help farmers and forest landowners participate in carbon credit markets, John Bode, President and CEO of Corn Refiners Association, commented:

“Bravo to Senators Braun, Graham, Whitehouse, and Stabenow for working in a bipartisan fashion to take critical steps toward addressing the climate challenges we face today. American agriculture, from farmers and ranchers to corn wet mill operators, plays an important role in addressing these challenges head on, and this proposal seeks to reward the strides that have and will continue to be made toward greater sustainability across the food and agriculture value chain. We look forward to working with these Senate leaders to advance policies that support American agriculture.”

This endorsement reflects CRA’s climate change policy principles, which were recently announced in order to guide the industry’s advocacy to ensure a more sustainable future for corn refining, agriculture, and consumers. CRA’s climate change policy principles include undertaking initiatives to reduce the overall carbon footprint of corn refining products and processes, an embrace of greenhouse gas reduction goals that are both achievable and science-based, and recognizing agricultural feedstocks in industrial processes as a key element in advancing greenhouse gas reductions, among others.

CRA is committed to serving member companies as they strive for sustainability in all aspects of their operations, balancing economic viability, environmental impact, and societal benefits.  That is why CRA serves as a leading voice in a broad range of industry and environmental coalitions focused on sustainability across the corn value chain.