The Green Party is constantly reviewing our policy platforms as new information becomes available so that we can use the latest information in making an educated decision on the best way to govern.

Agriculture and the entire food system must be transformed so that they truly meet basic human needs and become regenerative, sustainable and active forces in healing the Earth.

The Illinois Green Party seeks to encourage patterns of food purchasing and dietary choices that foster self- reliance, both in our country and abroad. We support the movement to “eat locally” whenever possible, and the urban food-growing movement, as these help promote energy sustainability and community-based economics. We support policies that will help advance these movements.

We promote eating lower on the food chain, giving preference to regionally produced, organic foods grown on biologically balanced soils. We favor confronting the health, ethical, environmental, and economic issues related to the drawbacks of meat- and dairy-based diets. We call for truth in nutrition science, nutrition education and nutrition labeling, instead of the current regime in which government nutrition information and recommendations are repeatedly twisted by food processing corporations with an interest in keeping Americans on an unhealthy diet.

We call for the establishment of an ecologically based, sustainable agricultural system that moves as rapidly as possible towards regional/bioregional self-reliance. The emphasis of agricultural research should shift to support these goals.

Soil conservation and regeneration and water conservation must be promoted as one of our top priorities. Alternatives to fossil-fuel-based fertilizers — alternatives that will regenerate the soil — need funding along with a phase- out of the use of artificial fertilizers. This will help lessen farmers’ over-dependence on big petrochemical/agribusiness corporations.

We need improvement and acceleration of small watershed programs and a task force to review and update our drainage laws to protect and conserve our soils. We support the “agricultural stewardship incentives” proposals of the Illinois Stewardship Alliance.

The Illinois Green Party calls for halting all uses of poisonous pesticides and encourages the widespread use of integrated pest management.

We oppose the patenting of any life form and the introduction of any genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into our ecosystem. At a minimum, we support the position of the American Farmers Union, which calls for a moratorium on the patenting, licensing and introduction of GMO foods “until the broader legal, ethical, and economic questions are resolved.” We are categorically opposed to food irradiation, which creates new, unknown health risks while it lowers nutritional quality. As long as GMOs and irradiated food exist, we insist that they be clearly labeled so the public can make informed decisions.

America needs to change farm programs and tax and fiscal policies that presently place small and family farms in a disadvantaged position compared with that of large, corporate farms. We endorse policies that advance community and family organic gardens as a top Green priority. At the same time, we oppose “factory farming” practices, which are inhumane to animals, damaging to the environment, harmful to surrounding communities and harmful to consumers, including the widespread use of antibiotics on livestock.

We call for strengthening “organic certification standards.”

We support legalization of industrial hemp, a remarkably versatile product that can at once provide a valuable source of income for farmers and a valuable source of fuel, paper and other applications.

In order for regions/bioregions to increase self-reliance in food production, the Illinois Green Party will encourage the initiation of steps to form food producer associations and cooperatives within regions, and to form economic development organizations that advance the manufacture of value-added agricultural products within regions. We also encourage community-supported agriculture programs, from community gardens to farmer/consumer purchasing agreements. Farm service, credit and action programs for family farmers should be administered by democratically administered community and county committees of farmers, in cooperation with local conservation district boards.

We support policies that will require land grant universities to be more fully engaged in research in sustainable, organic, ecologically balanced agriculture.

It is crucial to protect genetically diverse seed stocks. Therefore, we join citizen-led organized resistance to bio- devastation, genetically engineered foods and corporate control of the world food supply. We oppose corporate control of seed stocks and support farmers’ control of their own seed supplies.

More specific to Illinois, we oppose the Peotone Airport and other misuses of our eminent domain laws to take away agrarian land, not for legitimate public purposes, but to promote reckless, sprawling development. While we support protection of genuine wetlands and natural areas, no farmer should be forced to stop farming land which has a cropping history without being given a right to appeal and without full and fair compensation for the land.

Illinois farmers need property tax relief. In keeping with our platform on Education, Taxation and Budget, we support the property tax relief provided by House Bill/Senate Bill 750 and will fight for its passage, or the passage of a similar tax reform that will shift funding for education from local property taxes to a more progressively structured state income tax.