World Grain - April 2021 - 49

as safe for human and animal food and the environment by the government in the country of export using
science- and risk-based principles. NGFA continues to
work with its partners in the seed and biotech sectors
to urge that they obtain import market authorizations
in US export markets prior to commercialization, and
more transparency when it comes to commercialization
of gene-edited crops. We are also working to develop a
coordinated strategy for encouraging the development
of a more rational, science- and risk-based approach by
global governments regarding what level of regulatory
oversight is appropriate for gene-edited crops. NGFA
believes strongly in the need for innovation in seed and
crop production, but that needs to be accompanied by
the need to ensure the marketability of crops produced
through such technologies.
On the facility operations side, our industry and their
customers have confronted the challenge of preventing
engulfments in grain bins. NGFA has responded over
the last several years in developing proactive outreach
to both our industry and farm organizations in safety
education and training that we hope will lead to a dramatic reduction in these tragic incidents. Most of these
incidents occur in farm bins, and NGFA is responding
through its foundation to target life-saving messages
directly to farmer-customers.
WG: What do you consider some of your greatest
achievements in your time with the NGFA?
Gordon: I do not see anything to be " my " achievement, but rather the result of foresight and great teamwork involving our industry leadership, committees,
NGFA's staff and the partnership and alliances we
have with our affiliated state and regional associations, the North American Export Grain Association,
the Pet Food Institute and other agribusiness and producer organizations.
One that continues to resonate is NGFA's successful effort to end federal acreage-idling programs.
Starting in 1992, while I was on staff but long before I
became president and CEO, NGFA played the preeminent role - through its US Agriculture 20/20 research
and education program conducted under the auspices
of NGFA's Foundation - to overturn nearly five decades of entrenched government supply management
policies. The message was simple and direct: Acreage
idling policies already had resulted in a decade of economic stagnation that was plaguing US agriculture, and
that South American and other global competitors were
replacing US idled acreage by clearing and planting
new land on nearly an acre-for-acre basis. Fortunately,
we had a legislative champion - Pat Roberts, US
Senator from Kansas - who was willing to take the
research and economic analysis NGFA did and lead the
World-Grain.com / World Grain / April 2021	

charge to enact what became known as the " Freedom to
Farm Act " of 1996. NGFA supported the effort with a
series of local town hall meetings involving local farm
leaders, grain and feed managers, bankers, farm supply
companies and its affiliated state and regional associations that built grassroots support for this major policy
change. When retiring in December, Roberts cited
Freedom to Farm as his signature legislative accomplishment. The challenge going forward is to oppose
attempts by some to misuse the Conservation Reserve
Program to idle productive farmland.
Of course, there have been many others, most recently including NGFA's impact in working with the
Commodity Futures Trading Commission to achieve a
workable speculative position limit rule for hedgers; efforts to help draft and shape regulations implementing
the Food Safety Modernization Act; increasing investments in inland waterway infrastructure; modernizing
truck regulation to increase capacity for ag; efforts to
counter the market power of railroads that increasingly
dictate the terms, frequency and conditions in providing service to ag shippers and receivers; and NGFA's
efforts to help draft federal guidance giving priority to
food and agriculture sector workers for personal protection equipment and vaccinations for COVID-19.
WG: What expansion and growth opportunities do
you see for NGFA members in the future?
Gordon: As always has been the case at NGFA, the
future will be driven by the industry it serves. NGFA's
board of directors, and network of 17 committees -
on which more than 300 dedicated industry volunteers
serve - will work with NGFA's next president and
CEO and its staff to chart that future. I do think our
industry is signaling its desire to create a more diverse
and inclusive workforce and to proactively address issues like climate change and sustainability, as well as
to better inform consumers about the indispensable role
the industry plays in feeding US and global consumers.

I do think our industry is
signaling its desire to create
a more diverse and inclusive
workforce and to proactively
address issues like climate
change and sustainability...
Randy Gordon, former NGFA president and CEO
49
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