Gov. Mike Braun joined seven governors and two premiers representing the Great Lakes region in signing a resolution for sustainable agriculture.
The resolution launches an initiative to advance sustainable agriculture practices across the states and provinces. The initiative was introduced as part of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers 2025 Leadership Summit in Quebec City.
The sustainable agriculture initiative will focus its work on five key areas:
- Healthy economy – Supporting producers and promoting sustainable growth and diversification of the regional agricultural economy.
- Healthy people – Supporting the production of healthful food and high-quality crops, farmed livestock and other goods.
- Soil health – Advancing research and practices that maintain and improve soil health across the region’s diverse agricultural landscape.
- Water management – Encouraging sustainable use and conservation of ground and surface water resources.
- Water quality – Continuing programs and policies that incentivize practices that improve water quality and reduce nutrient runoff.
“This regional initiative will create more opportunities to collaborate and develop innovative solutions that will shape the future of farming and long-term prosperity of our agricultural economies,” said Tim Boring, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development director and initiative chair, in a press release. “In Michigan, agriculture is the state’s second-largest industry, making us uniquely positioned to work with our GSGP partners to ensure this region is a hub for scientific progress that protects our natural resources.”
In the initiative’s first year, state and provincial leaders will develop a regional agenda to guide research that will inform policy and programmatic work. They will also create an action agenda to address challenges facing the region’s agriculture industry and catalyze multi-state and provincial collaboration. Pilot projects will follow in future years.
GSGP unites the chief executives from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania and Quebec. The governors and premiers work as partners to grow the region’s economy and protect surface fresh water. This partnership builds upon forty years of work by the Council of Great Lakes Governors to encourage and facilitate environmentally responsible economic development.
