A coalition of U.S. states and Canadian provinces have formed a new initiative aimed at boosting and creating a more sustainable agriculture economy in the Great Lakes.
Gov. Kathy Hochul joined other members of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers in signing the resolution at a leadership summit for the group. The initiative has five key areas of emphasis:
- Healthy economy
- Healthy people
- Soil health
- Water management
- Water quality
The first year of the new initiative will develop an agenda to guide research for policy and programmatic work. The goal is to identify and engage in the multi-state and provincial collaboration toward a more resilient and sustainable agricultural future for the region.
How important is agriculture to the Great Lakes?
Agriculture represents $1 trillion in annual economic activity in the Great Lakes region, with more than 6.5 million people employed. The Great Lakes basin produces $14.5 billion in annual agricultural sales, including 15% of the country’s dairy products.
Agriculture occupies about a quarter of the U.S. land surrounding the Great Lakes and while it’s critical to the economy, it does have environmental impacts. Chemical fertilizer and manure, rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, can feed algal blooms that are toxic for wildlife and people.
What is ‘Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers?’
The governors and premiers who make up the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers are the chief executives from New York, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Quebec and Wisconsin. The group works to grow the regional economy across international boundaries and protect the largest surface fresh water system in the world.
The region represents a $9.3 trillion economy of 111 million people and 55 million jobs. All of the U.S. states in the Great Lakes region had Canada as their largest export partner in the past. The impact of border and tariff rule changes by the Trump administration has not been well documented yet.
— Steve Howe reports on weather, climate and the Great Lakes for the Democrat and Chronicle. An RIT graduate, he has covered myriad topics over the years, including public safety, local government, national politics and economic development in New York and Utah.
