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Ohio Department of Agriculture Sustainable Agriculture

View new license plate Moving Toward Sustainability by Director Boggs
Director Boggs established the office of Sustainable Agriculture in 2008. ODA is committed to sustaining agriculture that is ecologically sound, economically viable and socially responsible. It is not an approach that seeks to prove one approach to sustainable agriculture over another. We will work to support what is necessary for agriculture to be sustained in Ohio indefinitely. The Department supports organizations and producers that are working to increase the sustainability of agriculture over the long term.

Two of many important components of sustaining agriculture are stabilizing the agricultural land base and supporting a new generation of farmers. ODA's office of Farmland Preservation has been successful in permanently protecting 167 farms and over 30,000 acres. The Department is currently working with farming organizations across the state to support the development, centralization and delivery of Beginning Farmer resources.

The work of sustainability is further supported by efforts of the Ohio Food Policy Advisory Council established by Governor Strickland in August of 2007. The Council is advancing the goals of the Governor to maximize the economic impacts of the food and agricultural system, support the development of local food systems and ensure healthy food access for all Ohioans. For more information visit the Ohio Food Policy Council webpage.

In April of 2009 the Ohio Sustainable Agriculture license plate became available. The sale of this plate will raise awareness about this issue. Also, $20 from the sale of each plate will go into a fund for sustainable agriculture projects across the state. For more information on purchasing a plate go to the Ohio Sustainable Agriculture License Plates webpage.

Ohio Department of Agriculture, 8995 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068