Respond to a changing supply chain landscape <\/strong><\/p>\n As consumer-facing brands and retailers set sustainable agriculture goals, ag retailers have a valuable opportunity to be a bridge between corporate commitments and on-farm decision-makers.<\/p>\n SPARC resources give advisers tools to help farmers navigate these industry changes and meet supply chain sustainability commitments.<\/p>\n For example, the \u201cSustainability 101 for CCAs\u201d and \u201cSustainability 101 for Ag Retailers\u201d online modules explain what food companies mean when they ask for sustainable products, and the \u201cEnvironmental Sustainability Metrics\u201d module explains how progress toward industry sustainability goals for commodity crop production is measured and reported.<\/p>\n Improve profitability for retailers and farmers<\/strong><\/p>\n The most successful ag advisers help their clients realize economic benefits.<\/p>\n New research<\/a> shows that on-farm conservation can improve farmers\u2019 bottom lines. The “Farmer Business Case for Sustainability\u201d module digs into the financial benefits of improved environmental performance and operational efficiency. This presents a business opportunity for ag advisers to help farmers implement conservation practices that build soil health, reduce yield risk, and build resilience to water scarcity and extreme precipitation.\u00a0New resources help farmers continuously improve agronomic, economic and environmental outcomes <\/a><\/span>Share on X<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n More ag input providers now offer products and services that improve yields and maximize farm efficiency, while also reducing impact on natural resources. It\u2019s my hope that these newly available resources will help grow demand for these services.<\/p>\n How to get started <\/strong><\/p>\n SPARC currently offers six training modules through the American Society of Agronomy\u2019s online classroom. Participants will earn continuing education credit while learning how to:<\/p>\n SPARC also provides a series of guides, designed to share with farmer clients, that explain agriculture\u2019s environmental impacts and opportunities to demonstrate and communicate stewardship.<\/p>\n As advisers help farmers plan for 2019 and beyond, SPARC resources will help align profitability and sustainability, and increase resilience to extreme weather and market changes.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/growingreturns\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/52\/files\/2019\/02\/farmer-with-ipad-tablet-computer-on-farm-RF-istock_TWITTER-CARD-1024x538.jpg\")
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