PBFA Shows Up for the Plant-Based Foods Industry at the 2024 National Conventions
Written by: Annie Taranshansky
This summer, the PBFA team – including Board President Nicole Sopko, CEO Rachel Dreskin, Policy Manager Sara McGoun, and Federal Policy Consultant Bev Paul – attended events at this year’s Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, and Senior Director of Policy Marjorie Mulhall attended events at the Republican National Convention (RNC) in Milwaukee to advocate on behalf of the plant-based foods industry. PBFA’s policy team engaged with critical agriculture-focused events that took place during both national conventions, and continued to champion the political priorities of the plant-based foods industry.
Showing Up for Plant-Based Foods at Key Political Events
Our industry’s presence was critical at both national conventions. The conventions serve a much larger role beyond the nomination of the presidential and vice presidential candidates; they also act as a vehicle for high-level agenda setting and the unification of each party’s platform. The plant-based foods industry’s presence at these events was crucial as we work to grow our political influence and broaden our vision of a more resilient and sustainable food system.
PBFA’s Chicago-based members and those visiting for the convention also had an opportunity to gather with PBFA staff for a bespoke, casual member luncheon at Liberation Kitchen, graciously hosted by PBFA Board President Nicole Sopko.
Why Lawmakers Should Pay Attention to Plant-Based Foods
In addition to defending access to plant-based foods and battling harmful labeling legislation, one of our foundational policy priorities is to educate and raise awareness amongst key decision makers – at events like these – about the health, sustainability, and economic benefits that plant-based foods have to offer – ultimately to proactively expand federal and state support for the plant-based foods industry. In the U.S., 10 times more land is allocated to growing crops that feed livestock than growing crops for human consumption – and around 800 times more public funding goes into industrial animal agriculture than plant-based foods.
However, the growing market for plant-based foods is fueling opportunities for farmers and rural economies. The plant-based food industry alone supports more than 55,000 higher-than-average paying jobs, providing $3.3 billion in income each year, in at least 35 different states. And beyond the economic opportunity, plant-based foods are the climate and health solution that we need to thrive in the long-term. Our continued engagement with decision-makers around the positive benefits of plant-based foods is in service to all who stand to gain from a healthy food system, being people, planet, and animals.
Building the Plant-Based Foods Industry’s Political Momentum
Our presence at the RNC and DNC closely followed our first-ever PBFA-wide Lobby Day, held in June at the Capitol. On this Hill Day, we were joined by representatives from nearly 20 of PBFA’s member companies, who effectively communicated our policy priorities to the offices and staff of 40 congressional offices, as well as the House and Senate Agriculture Committees. Our team’s attendance at the national conventions built upon the growing momentum that our members worked hard to cement in June.
Some examples of our most immediate goals include advancing the plant-based sector in the 2025 Dietary Guidelines; advocating for key provisions of the PLANT Act to support agricultural growth for plant-based foods; advocating for government funding for critical research; and ensuring plant-based foods are made available through government nutrition assistance programs. We look forward to our continued engagement with key political stakeholders at future events.