SRAP Live: Building a Socially Responsible Food Future: Full Agenda

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SRAP Live features farmers, activists, and academics who discuss environmental justice, the greenwashing of factory farm gas, community success stories, the injustices faced by contract growers, and more. 

Keynote speakers include Dr. John Ikerd, professor emeritus of agricultural economics, University of Missouri, Columbia, and Jessica Culpepper, SRAP board president and food project director at Public Justice. 

DAY 1: Thursday, December 2, 2021 

12:00–12:15 p.m. CT 

Welcome from Sherri Dugger, executive director, SRAP

12:15–12:30 p.m. CT

Keynote Speaker

Jessica Culpepper, board president, SRAP, and food project director, Public Justice

12:30–1:15 p.m. CT 

Panel 1: Stories From Rural America

This panel features stories from community members about their experiences with CAFOs and the roadblocks they encountered while fighting to protect their health, quality of life, and the right to a socially responsible food system. 

Moderator: Karen Hudson, senior regional representative, SRAP 

Speakers:

1:30–2:15 p.m. CT

Panel 2: Factory Farm Gas: A False Solution That Emboldens Big Ag and Big Oil 

Experts on this panel will discuss factory farm biogas, its impact on environmental justice, and the economics associated with this so-called “renewable energy.” Is biogas really clean energy? How do corporations benefit while communities pick up the costs? This panel will answer those questions and more. 

Moderator: Maria Payan, senior regional representative, SRAP 

Speakers:

DAY 2: Friday, December 3, 2021

12:00–12:15 p.m. CT

Welcome from Sherri Dugger, executive director, SRAP

12:15–1:00 p.m. CT

Panel #3: Can Environmental Justice Be Achieved With Food Sovereignty?

With industrial livestock production comes injustice to the environment, people, animals, and the planet. Experts on this panel explore the need to replace the industrial food system with regenerative farming practices. 

Moderator: Maria Payan, senior regional representative, SRAP 

Speakers: 

1:15–2:00 p.m. CT

Panel #4: Exploring Alternatives to the Industrial Agriculture Model

The monopolization of our food system has resulted in cheap food with hidden costs. Today’s food system exploits farmers and has little regard for the environment, animal welfare, and the vitality of rural communities. Experts on this panel will discuss how Big Ag exploits contract growers with restrictive, one-sided contracts, and will explore alternatives that enable farmers to escape the industrial model and regain control over their operations. 

Moderator: Craig Watts, field operations team director, SRAP

Speakers: 

2:15–3:00 p.m. CT

Panel #5: Policy to Support Local Communities

Experts will discuss current federal policies tackling corporate consolidation, the factory farm model, and injustices within the food system. The panel will provide insights into opportunities for change and the opposition to that change. This session will also include a discussion about the best ways for community members to engage in policymaking at all levels. 

Moderator: Jake Davis, principal consultant, Local Root Strategies 

Speakers: 

DAY 3: Saturday, December 4, 2021

11:30 a.m.–12 p.m. CT

Coffee Room 

12:00–12:10 p.m. CT 

Welcome from Sherri Dugger, executive director, SRAP

12:15–1:00 p.m. CT

Panel #6: People Power: Uniting to Build a Socially Responsible Food Future 

There’s nothing more powerful than when communities unite. On this panel, you’ll learn how grassroots networks nationwide are using the power of the people to move the needle on CAFO regulation in their states. Experts will also discuss how growing state and regional coalitions has created new momentum within the socially responsible food movement.

Moderator: Ashlen Busick, senior regional representative, SRAP

Speakers: 

1:15–2:00 p.m. CT 

Panel #7: Practicing Socially Responsible Agriculture

Today’s industrial agriculture model depends on the extreme confinement of food animals—a system that pollutes the environment, threatens public health, compromises animal welfare, damages local economies, and decreases quality of life in surrounding communities. But we believe a socially responsible agriculture system is within reach. Hear from three farmers about what’s needed to transition to a system where everyone thrives.

Moderator: Sherri Dugger, executive director, SRAP

Speakers: 

2:20–3:00 p.m. CT 

Keynote Speaker: Dr. John Ikerd

The Path Forward: Economically Viable and Socially Responsible Alternatives 

  • Dr. John Ikerd, professor emeritus of agricultural economics, University of Missouri, Columbia