Critics say a lack of diversity among nutrition professionals skews America’s understanding of dietary health
In the U.S., the field of dietetics and nutrition — and, accordingly, the corps of professionals who shape how Americans understand dietary health, in part by helping draft the national dietary guidelines — has a diversity problem. Over 71 percent of the country’s registered dietitians are white, and unpaid internships and high tuition costs create barriers to entry that have made the field an increasingly elite profession.
House ag committee details spending for massive budget bill
Democrats on the House Agriculture Committee released details of their spending plan on Thursday, including $23 billion to combat wildfires and millions more to battle climate change. The committee is set to mark up the legislation on Friday, part of the budget reconciliation, or Build Back Better bill, expected to total $3.5 trillion.
USDA to invest $464 million in renewable energy infrastructure in rural communities
The USDA will invest $464 million to strengthen electric service in rural communities through smart-grid technology and help agricultural producers and businesses add renewable energy systems to lower energy costs and build climate-smart energy capacity in 48 states and Puerto Rico, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced yesterday.
Today’s Quick Hits
Climate accounting fraud?: California allowed a ranch in Mendocino County to sell carbon credits to companies, even though the trees the credits were based on were destroyed in a 2018 wildfire. (Los Angeles Times)
Reforestation investment lagging: U.S. seed-collection and nursery capacity isn’t nearly large enough to counter the loss of trees to monstrous wildfires in the West. (Reuters)
Texas farmers restore grasslands: As drought and excessive irrigation drain aquifers, some Texas farmers are replacing crops with native grasslands and cattle. (Associated Press)
Vilsack reassures biofuels producers: About $700 million in USDA aid to help biofuels producers is still on the way, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, noting that the package was now being reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget. (DTN)
