It also puts him on a collision course with people who are concerned that a switch to organic crops would make it much more difficult for the US to achieve its climate goals. Organic crops tend to produce less yields per acre, and thus, larger territories require the same amount of crops, which in turn increases carbon emissions and threatens biodiversity as more land is converted to agriculture.
On January 14, the Environmental Research Group published the Breakthrough Institute a letter that opposes Kennedy’s confirmation as HHS secretary. The letter states that the Sri Lanka government’s April 2021 decision to switch to organic farming, which led to the falling yields, the rising food prices and protesters storming the presidential palace. The Sri Lanka chemical bans was encouraged by the environmental activist of Dana Shiva, which RFK jr. Described as a ‘hero’ and a ‘role model’.
If he is confirmed in the HHS role, RFK jr. Have a limited influence on agricultural policy, says Emily Bass, co -director of federal policy, food and agriculture at breakthrough. But he would oversee the food and drug administration, enforcing the regulation of food in the US. “Pesticide posts are something he can definitely affect with his regulations,” says Bass. And “Limit the use of genetically modified crops, or more strictly to monitor their existence in the food supply, is something that can cause a cold effect on agricultural production.”
The HHS secretary also oversees the National Institutes of Health, which finance and coordinate medical research in the US. Bass says Kennedy could possibly try to target the agency and the FDA to research pesticides and food additives that are then used to support litigation to change how the US farms. It could move the FDA away from an explicit regulatory agency to more from an activist organization.
His ability to do some of this is likely to be limited by Brooke Rollins, Trump’s choice for USDA head, which is seen as a very conventional candidate for the role. Rollins Chief of Staff is Kailee Tkacz Buller, the former president and CEO of the National Oilseed Processors Association. Rfk jr. Has constantly attacked oilseed and wrote on X that “seed oils are one of the unhealthy ingredients we have in food” and to guide followers to buy hats with the slogan “make a braai oil again.”
In her confirmation hearing, Rollins indicated that she would follow the president’s line on agriculture, and President Trump is unlikely to upset the farmers and agricultural industry who are his natural voters. “I’m working for him. I’m a cabinet member, ”she said at the time.
There are already signs that conservative lawmakers are warming up for organic farming. “Historically, we have not received much interest from the more conservative members of the congress,” says Gordon Merrick, senior policy and program manager for the Organic Farming Research Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes research on organic agriculture.
Now, says Merrick, he holds many more meetings with ‘many conservative’ lawmakers. “Many of them did say that they were interested in hearing more about organic because of the influence of RFK and the growth of Make America again.”