Representative Alma Adams (NC-12) introduced HR 6569, the EFFECTIVE Food Procurement Act which would Shift USDA away from evaluating bids based only on cost to evaluating bids based on values, including climate mitigation, worker well-being, resilient supply chains, and equity; Provide grants and technical assistance to support small and socially disadvantaged producers and businesses to access market opportunities through USDA’s procurement; Study how USDA can shift its procurement toward a regional model; Measure the greenhouse gas emissions associated with USDA’s procurement and reduce emissions in line with the Biden administration’s existing commitments; and Increase transparency in USDA’s food purchasing.

The carbon footprint of the USDA Foods Program in FY 2018 was 19.1 million tons of CO2e and by shifting some of its purchases toward plant-based sources of protein, in line with Dietary Guidelines recommendations, would avoid 4 million tons of CO2e from being emitted each year – equivalent to taking every vehicle in Mississippi off the road.