Agriculture

Nine proposals raise questions related to agriculture; these concern antibiotics used in food production and pesticides, in addition to a resubmission about alternative protein development. Three are not yet public.

Antibiotics: Walmart investors may get to vote on a proposal seeking a report “assessing strategies to strengthen the company’s existing supplier antibiotic use standards, such as prohibiting or restricting the routine use of medically important antibiotics by meat and poultry suppliers, and assess the costs and benefits to public health and the company compared to current practice.” Also still pending is a resolution to Wendy’s for a report “providing quantitative metrics demonstrating progress, if any, toward phasing out the routine use of medically important antibiotics in the company’s beef and pork supply chains.”

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REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE TAKES ROOT AMONG FOOD MANUFACTURERS

CHRISTY SPEES
Environmental Health Program Manager, As You Sow

Food manufacturers have a critical role to play in sustainable food systems. As major purchasers of commodity crops, these companies wield immense power to shift the way food is grown. Some, such as Kellogg and General Mills, are starting to use that power to drive positive change after persistent shareholder pressure.

Withdrawals—Two similar proposals will not go to votes:

  • As You Sow withdrew at Costco Wholesale a request for metrics about any “progress toward phasing out the routine use of medically important antibiotics in the company’s private label meat and poultry supply chains.” Costco had argued at the SEC that the resolution dealt with ordinary business by dint of micromanagement and was moot.

  • Green Century withdrew a Hormel after it agreed to provide annual reporting in its use of medically important antibiotics for swine raised on company-owned farms, with the first report in the next year. It also will start a pilot program to tracking use of these drugs with some contract farms, continue discussions with the proponents and continue to work with industry peers.

Pesticides: As You Sow reached an agreement at Kellogg after asking it to provide “available quantitative metrics on pesticide use in the company’s supply chain.”

Alternative protein: A resubmission to Kraft Heinz asks for a report on the company’s “long-term strategy towards protein diversification within its product catalogue.” It earned just 3.2 percent last year.