Make America Healthy Again Commission report backs away from misinformation on crop protection tools in second report
The Make America Healthy Again Commission recently released a set of much-anticipated policy recommendations for addressing childhood chronic disease.
The recommendations specific to crop protection tools are an improvement over an earlier version of the report that had zeroed in on key pesticides that have been shown to be safe for their intended uses through federal review and approval processes
“This outcome is a testament to the power of corn grower advocacy,” said Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA) President Jim Kanten. “Growers have been working aggressively to ensure the recommendations are science-based and not an ill-conceived attempt to ban our tools.”
Corn growers became concerned in May when the commission, working under Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., released a draft report specifically naming glyphosate and atrazine as pesticides that required additional evaluation and making false claims about their impacts on human health
The advocacy effort around this issue was impressive. MCGA, along with the National Corn Growers Association, launched an aggressive campaign to ensure that these key pesticides were not banned. Corn grower advocates met with Trump administration officials, members of Congress and took their message to the media.
“This win illustrates the importance of being a part of your state corn grower group,” Kanten said. “Minnesota growers look forward to working with the health secretary, the full administration and our congressional delegation as the MAHA Commission turns to the implementation of the report.”
