Supporting Monarch Habitat Restoration on a Productive Agricultural Landscape

Eric Sachs, Monsanto Co.

Agriculture is at the Center of Global Challenges

Wildlife HabitatWildlife Habitat Providing ecosystem services & resources Providing ecosystem services & resources

for monarchs and other pollinatorsfor monarchs and other pollinators

Production Agriculture Growing food, feed, fuel & fiber

Production AgricultureProduction Agriculture Growing food, feed, fuel & fiberGrowing food, feed, fuel & fiber

•• Population is GrowingPopulation is Growing •• Farmable Land is DecliningFarmable Land is Declining •• Diets are EvolvingDiets are Evolving •• Climate is ChangingClimate is Changing

Wildlife HabitatWildlife Habitat Providing ecosystem services & Providing ecosystem services & resources for monarchs and other resources for monarchs and other pollinatorspollinators

Current Challenge

• Improving agricultural sustainability

• Benefits address important Ag issues

• Increase farmer awareness and adoption

• Help farmers engage in Sustainability Partnerships

Key Driver: Social Innovation

Cooperation Between the Nonprofit, Government and Business Sectors

J Phills Jr, K Deiglmeier, & D Miller (2008) Rediscovering Social Innovation, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Fall 2008

“Most difficult and important social problems can’t be

understood, let alone solved, without involving the

nonprofit, public, and private sectors.”

“Increasingly, innovation blossoms where the sectors

converge. At these intersections, the exchanges of ideas and

values, shifts in roles and relationships, and the integration

of private capital with public and philanthropic support

generate new and better approaches to creating social value.”

Sustainability is a Business Imperative

We live in dynamic times. Rising affluence, increasing urbanization and the needs of our growing planet are putting pressures on our environment and our ability to support these demands sustainably. The topic of sustainability has taken center stage around the world…We recognize that we have a place in these discussions and a commitment to be a leading corporate citizen.

Hugh Grant, Chief Exec Officer

Monsanto Company

2012 Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Report http://www.monsanto.com/whoweare/pages/corporate-sustainability-report.aspx

Current sustainability initiatives need to work closer with Ag sector programs and Partnerships committed to sustainability

Imperative: Broaden farmer participation in Partnerships focused on habitat restoration and Ag sustainability

Non-Profits

Existing Organizations with Potential to Expand and Support Monarchs

FarmersFarmers

USDA

Moving Forward: Promote voluntary engagement of farmers in sustainability programs

• Engage and enroll Ag sector and leading farmers in value of sustainability programs;

• Integrate monarch habitat into existing conservation, land management and habitat initiatives;

• Drive on-farm implementation with leading farmers

Engaging & Enrolling Farmers

• Share knowledge and information

• Provide guidance and assistance

• Pay attention to farmer’s needs

Engage & Enroll Farmers

Share Knowledge and Information • Explain the relationship between agricultural practices

and loss of milkweed habitat

• Show how milkweeds and other forbs and grasses can

be kept out of crop land and maintained in other

non-cropped areas

Provide Guidance and Assistance • Integrate monarch and pollinator habitat into existing farming systems

• Provide access to experts and knowledge resources

• Support incentive programs to offset ‘costs’ and reward desired behaviors

Pay Attention to Farmer’s Needs • Maintain flexibility and profitability of farming practices

• Support sustainable weed management practices on cropped land

• Simplify implementation of on-farm buffers and habitat on CRP land

• Avoid regulations that limit farmer’s options or interfere with production