Comment on Supply Chains for the Production of Agricultural Commodities and Food Products

The economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disaster and climate change-related disruptions, ransomware attacks, and other disruptions have exposed the fragility and vulnerability within our food systems. The pandemic also highlighted the many social, economic, and racial inequities  perpetuated by the current food systems that have disproportionately burdened food systems workers, communities of color, and low-income households. In June 2021, the USDA announced plans to invest more than $4 billion in food supply chains as part of the Biden Administration's Build Back Better Initiative. In this written comment, CLF encouraged USDA to take specific actions to prioritize local and regional food systems, support small and mid-size producers, and further incentivize sustainable and equitable practices.