SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE AGRICULTURE PROJECT INC

COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAM: SRAP EMPOWERS COMMUNITIES TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THE DEVASTATING PUBLIC HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND SOCIOECONOMIC DAMAGES CAUSED BY INDUSTRIAL LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION. FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, OUR TEAM HAS WORKED THROUGHOUT THE U.S. TO PROVIDE FREE ASSISTANCE TO ANY COMMUNITY THAT REQUESTS OUR HELP WHEN FACING THE THREATS POSED BY FACTORY FARMS. SRAP'S FIELD OPERATIONS TEAM INCLUDES TECHNICAL EXPERTS, INDEPENDENT FARMERS, AND RURAL RESIDENTS WHO, LIKE THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE, HAVE EXPERIENCED THE IMPACTS OF INDUSTRIAL LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION FIRSTHAND.OUR TEAM OFFERS TECHNICAL AND STRATEGIC SUPPORT TO HELP PEOPLE EDUCATE AND MOBILIZE THEIR COMMUNITIES, NAVIGATE REGULATORY PROCESSES, ENGAGE LAWMAKERS, PUBLICIZE THEIR STORIES, AND ULTIMATELY BUILD COALITIONS TO REJECT HARMFUL INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES AND ADVOCATE FOR A SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE FOOD FUTURE. SRAP ALSO LINKS THE PEOPLE MOST PROFOUNDLY IMPACTED BY OUR BROKEN FOOD SYSTEM WITH A NETWORK OF ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS, AND POLITICAL PLAYERS WHO CAN HELP. WE CONNECT LOCAL EFFORTS WITH STATE AND NATIONAL MOVEMENTS TO UNITE IN OUR CAUSE, COLLECTIVELY WORKING TO BRING BACK THE SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE, INDEPENDENT FARMS NEEDED TO FEED AMERICA. SRAP'S COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAM HELD MORE THAT 14 PUBLIC EDUCATIONAL MEETINGS ON TOPICS SUCH AS RURAL FOOD PRODUCTION AD POLLUTION ISSUES WHICH WERE ATTENDED BY OVER 1,500 PEOPLE.

CONTRACT GROWER TRANSITION PROGRAM: THE CONTRACT GROWER TRANSITION PROGRAM ALLOWS SRAP TO FURTHER TRANSFORM RURAL COMMUNITIES BY ENGAGING CONTRACT GROWERS AND PRODUCERS STRUGGLING WITHIN THE INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE SYSTEM. THROUGH THE TRANSITION PROGRAM, SRAP ENABLES CONTRACT GROWERS TO LEAVE THIS SYSTEM BEHIND BY TRAINING THEM TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITIES MOST HARMED BY INDUSTRIAL AGRICULTURE. SRAP AIMS TO SIMULTANEOUSLY REDUCE THE NUMBER OF CONTRACT GROWERS TRAPPED BY THE CORPORATE AGRICULTURE MODEL, WHILE EMPOWERING THEM TO ADVOCATE FOR A SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE ANIMAL AGRICULTURE SYSTEM THAT PRIORITIZES PUBLIC HEALTH, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND ANIMAL WELFARE. THERE IS NO BETTER ADVOCATE TO ENGAGE RURAL COMMUNITIES FACING THREATS OF INCOMING OR EXPANDING INDUSTRIAL LIVESTOCK FACILITIES THAN THE PEOPLE WHO, TOO, WERE HARMED BY THE INDUSTRIAL SYSTEM. THE SRAP STAFF MEMBERS WHO LEAD THIS PROGRAM ARE FORMER CONTRACT GROWERS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED INJUSTICES FIRSTHAND. THIS UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE MAKES THEM ESPECIALLY EFFECTIVE CHAMPIONS OF AGRICULTURAL REFORM AND ENABLES THEM TO OFFER INVALUABLE GUIDANCE TO RURAL RESIDENTS SUFFERING DUE TO NEARBY LIVESTOCK OPERATIONS AND TO CURRENT GROWERS STRUGGLING TO LEAVE THE INDUSTRY.