By Jamie Martin
As the bird flu crisis impacts the agriculture industry, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is offering grants up to $15,000 to help farmers transition from dairy, egg, or poultry farming to more sustainable practices such as crop cultivation and orchard planting. This initiative is inspired by a similar program in Vermont and aims to support farmers affected by the crisis.
Farmers interested in these grants must email Jeanne McVey at Jeannem@pcrm.org with details of their current operations and plans for the grant money.
For example, the Giacomazzi family in California successfully transitioned from dairy farming to an almond orchard using similar support.
Roxanne Becker, MBChB, a medical doctor with the Physicians Committee, notes the health benefits of plant-based farming, stating, “Blueberries, beans, greens, and other plant-based foods grown by U.S. farmers can help people improve heart health, prevent diabetes, and maintain a healthy weight.”
The deadline for applications is March 3, 2025. Transitioning to plant-based agriculture not only helps mitigate the spread of diseases like bird flu but also benefits the environment and public health by reducing methane emissions from livestock and improving water quality.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-livingimages
Categories: National