AGree, the foundation-funded ag think tank, said today that the new farm bill has “important achievements” but “falls short in terms of helping farmers prepare for the fundamental long-term food and agriculture challenges posed by resource scarcity, population growth, climate change, invasive pests, pathogens and diseases.”

“Farmers and ranchers are feeling the pressure of meeting state water quality requirements and private sector sustainability standards, but this farm bill did very little to support their efforts to improve agricultural ecosystems or reward active engagement in good stewardship of working lands,” AGree said. “While the SNAP program became a focal point for fierce debate, the discussion was narrowly confined to budgetary questions.”

AGree is chaired by former Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, Gary Hirshberg, co-founder and chairman of Stonyfield Farm, Jim Moseley, a farmer and former deputy Agriculture secretary and Emmy Simmons, former assistant administrator for economic growth, agriculture and trade at the U.S. Agency for International Development.

AGree said its leaders would offer ideas for future farm policy in the coming months.